I just changed 2 tires for my car. I didn’t change all 4 because the old ones were fairly new. They said that it was safe to place the new tires at the back of the car (it’s a 2 wheel drive) and placed the old tires to the front. The new tires are different brands than the original ones. Is that safe?
By the time I finish typing this you will get a lot of answers saying they should be on the front.
All of those people are WRONG.
It is the official recommendation of the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the Tire Industry Association and all of the major tire manufacturers that when only 2 tires are being replaced the new tires be installed on the REAR AXLE.
In fact, Michelin Tire just lost a $34-million liability lawsuit because one of their stores put 2 new tires on the front axle, the car lost control and spun turning one of the passengers into a quadraplegic. And the reason for putting the tires with the best traction on the rear axle is just that – to prevent a sudden loss of traction at the rear of the car which inevitably results in a violent and uncontrollable spin. The Michelin Tire web site has a 2.5 minute video demonstrating why.
http://www.michelinman.com/tire-care/tire-saving-tips/replacement-questions/
So if they were installed on the rear you were dealing with true professionals who knew what they were doing and yes, that is the safest place to have them.