question on truck tires

[rbohm]

Originally Posted by MrWillys

The premise is similar to putting snow chains on the drive wheels. More aggressive tread will gain better traction in adverse conditions, so putting them on the drive wheels makes sense.

^^this^^

[SoHoVe]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Why would you want your back tires to grip but your front tires to slip In adverse conditions? A setup like that means loss of steering capability if the front wheels lose traction.

^^^ this is what I was thinking...I would expect this set up would make the steering feel really loose if driving thru water on the highway at speed (which happens in Houston frequently).

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by SoHoVe

^^^ this is what I was thinking...I would expect this set up would make the steering feel really loose if driving thru water on the highway at speed (which happens in Houston frequently).

Y'all are way overthinking this.

Hydroplaning is a different mechanism than slipping in mud or snow. Properly designed tires will shed the water out to the sides of the tire.

Having dedicated mud or snow tires on the front of a non-4WD vehicle is overkill (not to mention adversely impacting handling and ride), you don't need them.

If you're blasting through standing water at highway speeds (yes, sometimes it surprises you) no tire is going to maintain road contact in the front of the vehicle.

[blackhemi]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Why would you want your back tires to grip but your front tires to slip In adverse conditions? A setup like that means loss of steering capability if the front wheels lose traction.

Originally Posted by SoHoVe

^^^ this is what I was thinking...I would expect this set up would make the steering feel really loose if driving thru water on the highway at speed (which happens in Houston frequently).

In this case, I think they are after "getting out of a mess" or "getting going" situations.


But, on the wet situation, hydroplaning, maintaining control at speed, etc, you always want the good tires in the back. There is no but, or's, or if's about this.

Rear wheels provide stability. Loose traction back there on a slight curve in the rain, odds are, you will be screwed before you even know what happened. Loose traction in the front, you will feel it way sooner in the steering wheel and its usually very correctable.