Can anyone tell me why Transport Canada is forcing buyers to put new snow tire on rear of front whel drive car

Question

I recently purchased 2 new ice tires to replace my worn snow tires on the front of my car. I asked the dealer to mount the tires on the front.

He pointed to a notice from Transportation Canada that stated that if only 2 tires were being replaced, that they would have to be mounted on the back axle. ....and that they could be legally fcharged if they mounted them on the front.

Now, i have to remove and replace them myself.

Does anyone know the reasoning for this?? They tried to tell me that the car would be more stable in a "situation". I tried to tell them that i wouldn't get into a "situation" if i had traction on the steering wheels.

Answer 1

the vehicle should have 4 matching tires but lacking this of course on a fwd car the snows go o the front. the tire manufactures do state when putting only two new tires on that they should go on the rear but this does not apply to when you are adding snow tires

Answer 2

Even though the front wheels are responsible for steering, acceleration and most of the braking, don't forget about the braking done by the rear wheels.

If the rear wheels are not equipped with winter tires too, you are essentially disabling the rear brakes due to lack of traction.

Answer 3

you are correct...I have driven front wheel drive cars with just snows on the front and they handle just fine. 90% of the braking is done by the front wheels too. It is safer to have the same type tires on all four wheels, that true but its safer to have the snows on the front (for a fwd car) than to have them on the rear.

Answer 4

They are correct!!!! The new tires on your FWD car should go on the back axle!

The tire manufacturers, reps and dealers all say this because the newer tires on the back will, in 'situations' create understeer which is easier for most drivers to sense and control.

With the new tires on the front, in a 'situation' you will get oversteer which is generally (vastly) a surprise as it is difficult to sense for drivers and unless trained to control, most every driver on the road can not handle an -expected- oversteer, never mind an unexpected one. It's all about your own as well as others' safety. Keep them on the back!

The secondary reasoning is mainly to prevent hydroplaning. This can occur in rain or snow depending on conditions. If you search a bit on the net there are a few articles in car mags, one on tirerack and a few automotive tech sites that are worth reading, but please, don't put the new tires on the front axle.

Secondary to this is hydroplaning, which is increased with the new tires in the front.

Answer 5

You mentioned replacing snows with "ice tires". Are these new tires studded? If so, it's also the rule in the States. The reasoning is that you already have less traction on the rear than the front. If you put studded tires on the front only, you increase that difference. This gives an increased tendency for the rear to swing around on you.

Answer 6

The french government knows what they're doing...  or do they?????

Easy fix, jack up the passenger side. unbolt the wheels and swap...  Then, jack up the drivers side, unbolt the wheels and swap...  

Take you less than an hour and may even save your life!

And by the way, a new tire with deeper tread prevents/prolongs the possibility of hydroplaning a lot longer than worn tires.  If the logic that worn down tread prevents hydroplaning, then slicks would work better.....  and any idiot knows this isn't true.  Worn tires being better in hydroplaning situations has got to be the most ignorant statement that I've ever heard or read....  PERIOD...   Experience and logic from driving race cars for decades.   EVERYBODY....  read this EVERYBODY puts their slicks away during rain (and snow) and goes with a tire than has a good drainage design and deeper tread grooving.