Replacing 2 tires, where should the new ones go?

I see that the thread thinks these tires are for a trailer. I don't think it matters as long as the trailer tows level.

However, I have to take exception to @Grandpere's recommendation to put the new ones on the front. The reason is this: presumably the old tires will wear out before the new ones, when that happens, you will have infinitely better traction on wet roads on the front axle, and this is a prescription for disaster. When considering future events, you must think in terms of probability, what is likely to happen vs what is theoretically possible. Your odds of a blowout are extremely tiny, but your odds of hitting a puddle are all but certain. Think about it, in your entire driving life, exactly how many blowouts have you had? Can you even guesstimate how many puddles you've hit?

If you hit that puddle with good tires on the front, and worn out or bald tires on the back, you are going to go for a ride through the weeds, mostly sideways, but a little backwards. Your crash protection is designed to be most robust if you are going forward and hit that tree, but if you are sideways, you have almost nothing. If you have an axle sliding because of that puddle, you want it to be the front axle, not the rear. If you are going to hit anything, you want to take the blow on the front of the car, not the side.

Reputable tire dealers know this too. The NHTSA recommends new tires always go on the back, NEVER the front for this reason. A reputable dealer should refuse to put them on the front, as he risks getting sued should you take that ride sideways through the boonies.

nayther wrote:

Interesting information. the tire dealer I've used for 35 years always puts them on the front if I buy just two. I'll have to show them this info.

That has always been the thought, but it has turned out to be wrong. Even with front wheel drive cars, new ones should go in the rear.

BB_TX wrote:

Grandpere wrote:
new ones always go on the front axle because there is less chance of a blowout on the steering axle.

On a car or truck two new tires should always go on the rear.

Tire myths

Another

For a trailer it does not matter.

Interesting information. the tire dealer I've used for 35 years always puts them on the front if I buy just two. I'll have to show them this info.

Grandpere wrote:
new ones always go on the front axle because there is less chance of a blowout on the steering axle.

On a car or truck two new tires should always go on the rear.

Tire myths

Another

For a trailer it does not matter.

Just put them both on the same axle then rotate them front to rear periodically to even out the wear.
BTW the accepted practice on the tow vehicle is to put the best tires on the rear. When towing, you really lose stability if a rear tire is low whereas you can use steering to correct for the effect of a bad front tire. If you've ever had a back tire go down you'll readily agree with this.

I asked this same question a month ago and most people thought the back tires tended to scrub and wear more - which was what I had observed as well.

Better to buy five new ones and rotate them all periodically. See www.michelinrvtires.com for why to include the spare.

put four new ones on,

Sorry, I missed that it is for the trailer, so Fred is correct, position does not matter.

It is a trailer, so the tire position does not matter at all.

Fred.