Advise where to install new 2 new tires

[switchman]

Hi all ! Where do you recommend placing 2 new tires ? My front DWS are about shot with only 36k miles on them, rears were replaced last year due to nail damage and only have 15k miles and are fine.

should i put new tires in back and move back to front ? I'm still getting same dws 18".

I can't get rid of vibration at 70+ miles and still having wheel shake when braking from high speed even after replacing thrust arm bushings and ball joint. I'm also doing front brakes as i i'm pretty sure its contributing to the high speed braking issue. i'm surprised that i've put in 47k miles from last front brake job and have not gotten the brake pad warning yet.

[SlickGT1]

The vibration while braking is the brakes. Actually rotors.

The going theory is that you want new tires in the rear. The logic is that if you were to lose control of the car, your rear would stay planted. Otherwise you rear can come around if bald tires are in the back. On fair road conditions, this is a non issue as the fronts will still load up from the weight shift while braking.

[motordavid]

If it were my car, I would put the new tires on the front: the fronts steer, the front tires are the impact/traction pads for most normal braking, (due to weight shift), they cut through the film of water on the highway, etc. And, your current rear tires may have half/nearly half life left. Haven't studied the situ on the web, though I suspect there are pages of 'both' views. Just an off the top of my gourd opin.

When the new tires go on the front, or your move rear to front, etc., a very careful wheel balance may alleviate some of the vibration and brake shudder, in my experience, esp since you have already done one of the 'this fixes it' fixes without resolve.
My 50Cts...
GL, mD

[JCL]

On the front. Easy decision.

[switchman]

Thats what i was thinking, putting them in front as the front does a lot more for vehicle control but have read others say put them in back. Rear tires appear to be wearing out a little bit more on the inside, so my first thought was to move to front.

I don't rotate tires with BMW cars but have done so with others.

Thanks for you responses.

[amacman]

I usually fit the newest / deeper tread on the front for winter / wet traction and braking .
Never had an issue on any vehicle regardless of which or how many wheels are driven .

Professional advice is to always fit the deeper tread on the rear to avoid oversteer as the rear of a vehicle can be lighter than the front and all wheels are on a different scrub radius when cornering .

Lower tread on the rear can cause oversteer . Lower tread on the front can cause understeer . Choose your poison .
I found a demonstration video and a tire rack write up via google . There is a scientific explanation somewhere online I read a while back , possibly by Michelin or similar .

Tire Tech Information - Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?

Install Two New Tires on the Rear Axle - YouTube

[SlickGT1]

I read and know of the same material. Unless you have practiced extreme control loss and recovery, the novice reaction is to hit brakes, then, maybe steer while on the brakes. Or yank the wheel. In both instances your rears have a chance to lose it and come around. It can come around quick. Personally, the X can take a turn. The IS at least. I've put a 3.0 on two wheels, and slid my 4.8is.

[mgbmwx5]

Originally Posted by JCL

On the front. Easy decision.

+1

[JCL]

Originally Posted by amacman

Professional advice is to always fit the deeper tread on the rear to avoid oversteer as the rear of a vehicle can be lighter than the front and all wheels are on a different scrub radius when cornering .

Agreed. But said professional advice was first issued prior to the advent of any stability control systems, and in the era of rwd, when oversteer was more likely. Modern vehicles have stability control and ABS, and are heavily biased to understeer. Which is why I would do the same as you do on a modern awd BMW, and put the new ones on the front. That doesn't mean that I run the rears until they are bald, however.

[switchman]

Taking all advice seriously, and thanks to amacman for pointing out Tirerack article. Very informative.
We seem to have a very wet summer here in southern VA so i'm leaning to put new tires in back. My front tires now are down to the wearbar and have been driving I-95 a lot lately in bad weather and have been fortunate not to have any incident of hydroplanning. so i'm going to follow "new tires in rear" advice.

Thanks for all your responses.