posted on December 13, 2000 08:38:05 PM
If you have a 1986 Ford Tempo, 2 doors with front wheel drive do you need 2 snow tires or 4? Wondering if the kid is trying to pull a fast one as I think she only needs 2. Thanks for any help.
fonze
[ edited by fonze on Dec 13, 2000 08:41 PM ]
posted on December 14, 2000 03:20:15 AM
Hello fonze,
All 4 tires on the car should be of the same type, size, and specifications. Some performance cars use different sizes on the front and rear but the suspension and vehicle dynamics are set up for this configuration.
If snows are used on the front only, dry road handling could be compromised. It would even be dangerous if the tire's road holding capabilities were significantly different.
An 86 Tempo could manage very well year round with 4 decent all-weather tires unless you live in an area with significant snowfall.
I have always purchased my tires through mail-order and payed much less than regular retail prices, even with shipping. A web search should result in many hits for tire vendors. I reccommend The Tire Rack and Exotic Wheel and Tire. They will also provide free advice. Any car magazine would also have many sources. You can even buy an inexpensive tire/wheel combo so that the tires can be self-installed upon delivery.
posted on December 14, 2000 05:47:41 AM
Just agreeing with Xardon, The Tire Rack offers significant discounts over tire stores, even those that claim to be discount chains, even after shipping and paying to get them mounted. I've been purchasing with Tire Rack for over four years and have had nary a problem.
posted on December 14, 2000 07:54:04 AM
I believe there'a a tire store around here that will not install snow tires on a front wheel drive car unless they are used on all 4 wheels. I have driven a front wheel drive car with snow tires on the front only, and (IMO) it can definitely be squirrely at times.
posted on December 14, 2000 11:51:19 AM
Hello,
Thanks for your help. I live in the Seattle area and we don't get much snow, but sis lives in a colder area. Have a great Day!
Melanie
posted on December 15, 2000 09:30:22 PMxardon
Have the "rules" changed in the past few years?
I haven't bought snow tires since radials came out ( and I do live in a "high snow area" Last time I bought them tho, (for a pick up) I only needed two for the rear...are the rules different for front wheel drive vehicles?
Thanks!
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
When bias ply tires were the only type available (more than just a few years ago ) many people only used snows on the rear tires. Most cars were rear wheel drive then, too. Acceleration and drive wheel traction, however, are not the only factors to consider when measuring performance in snow. Steering response and stopping distances are greatly dependent on the front tires. It has always been better to put snows on all 4 tires even though it was once uncommon to do so.
Cars today are considerably more affected by the performance characteristics of tires. Improvements in suspension systems and vehicle dynamics rely on the enhanced roadholding and resistance to flex of radial tires in order to function properly.
As I mentioned in the previous post, the dry-road characteristics of snow tires are different than regular tires. If snows are only on two wheels the traction and road gripping capabilities will be different front to rear. This could result in an unexpected and possibly catastrophuc loss of vehicle control in a panic braking situation or on a curve.
I've probably read entirely too many car magazines!
Last time I bought them tho, (for a pick up) I only needed two for the rear...are the rules different for front wheel drive vehicles?
) many people only used snows on the rear tires. Most cars were rear wheel drive then, too. Acceleration and drive wheel traction, however, are not the only factors to consider when measuring performance in snow. Steering response and stopping distances are greatly dependent on the front tires. It has always been better to put snows on all 4 tires even though it was once uncommon to do so.