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Replacing Two Tires

The back of a Honda civic with 2 new tires

While you'll get the best performance out of your ride by replacing all four tires simultaneously, we know that sometimes you may only need to replace two tires. But if you're only getting two new tires, where should they go?

Need help finding your new tires? You're in the right spot!

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The old myth is that your new tires should go on the front, but in recent times, that has been proven to be unsafe for your vehicle. When replacing only 2 tires, your new tires should always go on the rear axle!

illustration of new tires installed on the rear axle

New Tires on the Rear Axle

When replacing only two tires, we recommend mounting the new rubber on the rear axle. This is because having fresh tires on the rear helps provide more traction and reduces the risk of hydroplaning.

This is true even when the front tires are worn. If the front tires lose traction, the unworn rear tires will help stabilize the back of the vehicle while you steer. This helps the vehicle continue traveling in a straight line so you can safely maintain control.

New Tires on the Front Axle

Placing your new tires on the front of the vehicle creates a less manageable driving situation.

Here's how: When worn-out rear tires lose grip on wet roads, it results in what we call oversteer, or fishtailing. Even pro drivers have a hard time regaining control when their rides fishtail because steering or braking won't be able to get the back end of the vehicle back under control. That can mean a total loss of vehicle control.

illustration of new tires installed on the front axle

Need help finding the right tires for your personal driving needs? We've got you covered with Treadwell, our tire buying guide. Plus, we have the lowest prices on our industry-leading inventory of tires.

Plus, if you need to replace your tires as soon as possible, we can provide payment arrangements with our financing options.

If you have any questions or require assistance, stop by any of our America's Tire locations and we'll get you taken care of! Customers who buy and book online save time in-store!

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