It really depends if the car is front wheel drive or rear wheel drive. If it is a front wheel drive put the tires on the front, for better traction. If it is a rear wheel drive put them on the rear, for better traction.

On a front wheel drive car: the front wheels On a rear wheel drive car: the rear wheels On a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle: doesn't matter. In winter: On the rear wheels. Why? Because with the new tires on the front, you still have worn tires on the rear. With that combination, you're bound to fishtail, slide, oversteer (whatever term ou use) nine out of ten times you go around a sharp corner, especially on ice. I'd rather have understeer than oversteer any day of the week if I'm driving on a low-traction surface like snow, ice, freezing rain etc. Plus, would you rather understeer into a ditch or slide like crazy, possibly into traffic on the opposite side of the road?

Generally, I always put the new tires on the front and put the better pair of existing tires on the rear. In all vehicles, the front wheels provide a majority of your steering and braking control. When driving low-traction conditions, proper weight transfer technique can also be used to help steer REGARDLESS OF DRIVETRAIN, but doing so requires your front end to be well-connected to the ground regardless of your drivetrain type. For my driving style, worn rear tires are actually an asset for a FWD in the snow. Some people may feel that putting them on the rear of a RWD vehicle is better. I only agree if the existing rear tires show more wear than the fronts, though that is usually also an indication that your driving style is a little too lead-footed. Some people claim that understeer is always better and so it is okay to have worn tires on the front. My opinion is that anybody who lives where there is snow/ice should know how to counter-steer and use a delicate touch on both pedals. I've slid around sharp corners while missing both the ditch and the oncoming cars; something I could never pull off without good FRONT tires. Controlled oversteer beats uncontrolled skids any day. If you don't have the skills to control your oversteer on snow and ice, you are a danger to others and simply should not drive in the winter, period.

Whenever replacing 2 new tires the tires with the deepest tread (the new tires) should always be placed on the rear of the vehicle regardless of drive axel unless the vechile has a staggered tire sizes (different sizes fornt and rear, on performance vehicles) and you are only replacing the fornts. But why you say, (especially if you have a front wheel drive) like my Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Taurus, Nissan Quest Etc. Its quite simple but people are generally to ignorant and jump the gun insisting that they are always right. Well agree with me here that the tires with the deeper tread will grip the road and channel water more effectively than worn tires. Right? The fact is that as the vehicle moves through standing water or durring incliment weather one set of tires will generally hydroplane first, this being the worn tires which most people insist should be on the rear. If the new tires are placed on the front and the worn tires on the rear the rear tires will hydroplane first. When the rear tires lose traction due to hydroplaning the vehicle will begin to fishtail causing the vehcile to go into an oversteer condition where the rear of the vehicle slides out to one side, trying to catch up to the front of the vehicle, braking durring an oversteer condition only worsens the situation. If the new tires are placed on the rear axel assembly the driver an feel any loss of traction through the steering wheel and can the make the proper steering or braking adjustments to maintain control of the vehicle to reduce the likelyhood of losing control. Then there is the second argument, but my front tires steer and drive my front wheel drive vehicle. The answer is quite simple again durring dry weather you will still be able to drive and steer your vehicle regardless of the tread depth as long at there is rubber contacting the road you will be able to drive and steer. If the condition is so bad that you cannot drive and steer your vehcile in either dry or wet weather with the new tires on the rear then you need to stop being so cheap, think about the safety of yourself, your family and other drivers on the road and purchase 4 new tires. Thanks for reading this as I have been in the tire business for 10 years and am now an engineer for Michelin North America. We have worked diligantly doing numerous tests regarding where to install new tires on all types of vehciles and I will give you a few words of advice, always insist that your two new tires are installed on the rear of your vehicle. You will thank me when you see that it is not your car spun around into oncoming traffic on the freeway durring a rainy day. Secondly, It is always ideal to have four tires of equal tread depth and an identicle tread pattern to retain the better handeling and ride quality characteristics of the vehilce.

I concur with the Michelin engineer. I have seen the videos that Michelin once provided on their website proving this point. A Ford Taurus (front wheel drive) with its best tires on the front is driven on a very wet track. The rear breaks away repeatedly, and causes spinout. The same vehicle with tires rotated (best on rear) drives the same track, same speed and wetness, but the rear holds, while the driver is able to control the front with the steering wheel. As counter-intuitive as it seems, seeing is believing.

Put the tyres on your drive wheels, Front wheel drive ---Front tyres Rear wheel----Rear tyres

On the front!

You should never assume anything. We all know what happens when one assumes. The car was driven by a professional test driver, and the Taurus was at least a 2004. It was on water, not ice. Of course, Jervinator, no one should question your qualifications. Especially your driving experience in a '92 Taurus spinning bald tires on ice. Duh!

Okay, I work in a tire shop and they have been here since 1982. We have always been putting new tires on the rear of the vehicle, even if it's front wheel drive. We just got an email yesterday stating that Michelin just LOST $32.4 mill. court battle because they did not publicly notify the dealers that sell their brand that NEW TIRES NEED TO GO ON THE REAR. A couple were riding in a car that had new tires installed on the front of it. The car's back end came out from under them on a turn, causing it to hit a tree and catch on fire. The passenger was paralyzed from the accident. So tell me, how it is possible that the courts would side for the paralyzed woman rather than Michelin if the new tires are supposed to go on the front?

Always safer put the news tires on the rear (it's just physics) : New tires mounted on the Front The worn rear tires have less tread and lower hydroplaning resistance. They can lose their grip on wet roads, causing the rear end of the vehicle to swing around out of control. New Tires Mounted on the Rear Deeper tread with greater hydroplaning resistance helps new tires grip wet roads. The driver can steer to compensate for the lower wet traction of the worn front tires and safely maintain control. see http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTiresRear.dos

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTiresRear.dos

How about if your tires still have good tread (but aren't new) on them and you spin out YOU ARE GOING TOO FAST FOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS! Myself I prefer to have the most tread on the wheels that do the turning and most of the stopping. I.E. the front...and if I have traction problems in the rear because of worn tires...I would just go buy new ones...

didn't read other answers cause I'm too drunk. Simple: accelerate into a ditch or steer out of it?

I once posed this same question to my brother, a tire sales person, he said "Teresa you need to buy 4 new tires" and found me a good deal.

on the front while i agree that you could spin out you need to be carefull in bad weather conditions no matter how good your tires are. the reason i say on the front is because if its a slippery road and you try to break on a red you may skid and hit another car while spinning out of control would only happen if you accelerate while making a turn whihc in bad weather is not smart. like someone said if you have money buy 4 new ones.