Got about 5.5 mm on the back but the fronts read 3.5 and below,...a tyre shop claim I should replace all 4 at the same time.,cause its a 4x4.,,,,,,dont really have the cash to do it after paying my tax bill,and would rather just buy 2 new front tyres ESP as my have snow the weekend. Current: Freelander 2 GS, Orkney Grey, Factory fit privacy glass, design pack and Clearview pack. Almond Leather ,rear spoiler,rear mudflaps.my13.

Gone:Freelander 2, GS, "61"

Gone: Freelander 2, GS.e, "59"

Gone: Freelander 2, S, "08"

It's fine, best put the new ones on the back though.

wizking wrote:

It's fine, best put the new ones on the back though.

Comes from the FL1. They had slightly different ratios between front and rear axles so if the new ones were put on the front and gripped more than the rears, it would put strain on the VCU and transmission.
Don't know if this is the same on FL2
Mate of mine had no end of problems on his FL1 and 'experts" looking at his car when it started being a pig to drive after he had new tyres put on the front.
I told him to put the new ones on the back, which everybody scoffed at, and guess what, became a dream to drive again.

In case of blowout. Much easier to handle a front blowout rather than a rear, so recommend best tyres on rear.

well,you learn something new everyday

First things first
On the FL1 if you put new tyres on the front it would destroy the diff in less than 100 miles - mine spat the oil out in less than 30!
The FL2 is a different animal, with completely different transmission, so the issue is not there.

If you replace the front tyres on a front wheel drive car, they grip well but the rear slides, this can spin the car which is Very difficult to control. If you replace the rears, they keep the rear end in check, the front will understeer, which is normal on front wheel drive, and more easily controlled. I have seen videos that show this far better than any words can explain.

As the FL2 can default to a greater bias to the front wheels at speed it might be better to treat it as front wheel drive with respect to tyres.

No idea about rear wheel drive as the last one I drove was a Sierra Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Take a look here;

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic11331.html?highlight=tyres+front

And as you will see, I didn't know this and put my new ones on the front!! Having said that, never had a problem.

The answer to your question is that it will be fine.

It's not like you've got slicks on the back. And if you had a puncture in the middle of nowhere you'd be putting a new one on whichever corner.

Just stick them on! Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

wizking wrote:

In case of blowout. Much easier to handle a front blowout rather than a rear, so recommend best tyres on rear.

If you watch videos of people losing control you will see that in a high percentage it is the rear end that starts twitching first resulting in a spin. Trying to control the back end with the steering is harder than controlling the front end....more so on a front wheel drive car. John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

I would always put new on the back, when you are braking it doesn't matter if you are 4wd or not.
As mentioned by other people you want the back to grip to prevent oversteer or spinning. This
is not just due to the tread depth (although in standing water it is) Old tyres lose grip due to compound
hardening with age. Hence the need to replace old tyres before they are worn out.

Rog Freelander 2
Rangerover L322 4.4 TDV8

virtualrog wrote:

Old tyres lose grip due to compound
hardening with age.

Everyone's rattling on about oversteer and understeer.

Firstly, how are you all driving?! I drive pretty quick, especially in the GTI but I have never unintentionally had a slide.

And secondly, we have stability control which does the job for you with the brakes.

Plus the OP did state that the tyres staying on the vehicle had 5.5 mm of tread left...hardly 'oversteer' provoking even with the stability control turned off  Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Sorry Dave can't afford a second car so FL does everything.
Even with nearly new winter Goodyears on, she definately slides (oversteer?) at least two or three times a day.
Darn site worse in summer with the mud tyres on. Nothing shocking, nothing surprising just steady howl from the tyres (window down) and dailing more steering in than I am getting.

so my guess is the FL does understeer when provoked Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner