[philtrick123]

Just got some second user winter wheels.
Two have 7mm thread the other 2 have 5mm thread.
I presume I should put the 7mm on the rear, 5mm on front.

Thanks

[Mingstar88]

more thread in the front for better braking in winter

[pokerface]

I'd want the better gripping tire in the rear in order to mitigate the tail from swinging out.

[dandanio]

In a AWD car it is not as critical as in a FWD car, but usually you put better thread on the rear wheels to get better braking/anti-fishtailing. In the winter it is not how fast you can go (front tires on a FWD), but how quickly you can stop (rear tires on FWD).

[bagekko]

FYI, most tire manufacturers do not recommend tires to be used in snow that have less than 6/32 of an inch of tread, and those 5mm ones are about that depth.

[kevink1]

I would think that you would want the better tread on the steering wheels.

[pokerface]

Further reading. Take it as you will...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=52

It didn't take long for this hands-on experience to confirm that the "proving grounds" name for the facility was correct. The ability to sense and control predictable understeer with the new tires on the rear and the helplessness in trying to control the surprising oversteer with the new tires on the front was emphatically proven.

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by bagekko

FYI, most tire manufacturers do not recommend tires to be used in snow that have less than 6/32 of an inch of tread, and those 5mm ones are about that depth.

I thought recommended minimum depth is 4mm for Winter tyres.
It's a tricky one because we don't generally get much snow (if any) in the south of England, and one of the main reasons for the winter tyres is an upcoming ski trip to Europe were it is the law to have Winter Tyres.
If I had 4mm winter tyres, I'd be tempted to keep them on the X3 after the winter, to use the tyre to the full before disposing of them at 3mm.

If I look on Ebay there are loads of 4mm 2nd user Winter Tyres for sale, not many newly new 7mm.

[barcelona]

I agree with those who say the rear, in terms of hydroplaning to regain control.
The torque drive on awd F25 is normally 40/60 F/R.

All-wheel drive vehicles are more likely to hydroplane than two-wheel drive vehicles, because their computerized differentials may shift power from the front to the rear tires, creating a hydroplaning situation ( how things work).

Q: My winter hakka r2's tires are now on, in spring should my all-season be rotated or reinstalled in exact same location?

[faztaz]

I always install the tires with most tread in the front (steering).

[RhoXS]

Originally Posted by kevink1

I would think that you would want the better tread on the steering wheels.

For winter driving on greasy streets, it has been my repeated experience with the factory Goodyear RFTs that steering is not a real problem if one has reasonable expectations. On the other hand, breaking is a consequential problem. My X3 handles surprising well even on bad streets but braking is a very significant issues. In other words, I am thinking my emphasis would be to enhance breaking performance as steering is not now unreasonable.