It is time to put a new pair of tyres on my FL2 and I remembered that my old FL1 was rather fussy about this seemingly simple task. If new tyres were put on the front it triggered diff & transfer box whine suggesting all kinds of self destruction was imminent, but if they were put on the back everything was hunky dory.

So basically I am asking should I simply replace my front tyres or move the part worn ones to the front and stick new ones on the rear? Cheers,
Raz
FL1 TD4 GS Auto 2001 Silver
FL2 TD4 Auto 2007 Black
FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2012 Fuji White

I wondered about his and spoke to my dealer's service department; they said that on the FL2 (unlike the FL1), it doesn't matter (as far as transmission wind up is concerned) if new and used tyres are mixed between the front and rear axles. Surprisingly, my first set of tyres is due to wear out all at the same time, so it isn't an issue.

If you only have to replace a pair, I would follow the usual tyre manufacturer's advice to fit the new tyres to the rear which means you will be much more likely to understeer than oversteer when you finally pass the limits of grip.

I put two new tyres on the front with no problems.

I don't imagine that you would have a problem, the benefit of putting them on the rear on the Freelander would be marginal. The important thing is that, on the FL, you won't be doing any damage mixing old tyres and new between the axles.

Put them on the rear. Standard advice from the manufacturers - visit any tyre supplier's website.

Past master wrote:

Put them on the rear. Standard advice from the manufacturers - visit any tyre supplier's website.

Is that advice still valid on 4 wheel drive vehicles as most are only 2 wheel drive  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

I believe so. This has been discussed on here before and that was the concensus. Basically a front blow out is easier to contro than a rear one, so they say.

I'm not sure about the blowout thing but the over/under steer argument makes a lot of sense. A new tyre will often give better grip than a worn one and this means that in a (too) fast corner your car will behave very differently depending on where you put the new tyres. So I guess you have to choose if you prefer to lose the steering or the back end in a skid  Cheers,
Raz
FL1 TD4 GS Auto 2001 Silver
FL2 TD4 Auto 2007 Black
FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2012 Fuji White

One should always apply the tires with more thread to the rear axle. You can keep the front axle under control by adjusting the steering angle and playing with the accelerator pedal but there's nothing you can do if the rear of the car starts to slip in a corner.

I was always told that any 4X4 needs to have all four tyres replaced at the same time to make sure that there are no overall wheel size difference, Raz already mentioned it happening on his freeby1, also for the same reason the front and rear wheels should checked/realigned as they must be straight not even slighty "crabbing" does this not apply to the freeby2 or any new 4X4 for that matter?

Ghyllie oo! Shiney!
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55 Nissan Navara SE Black - My Toy.
08 Freelander 2 XS Santorini Black - Her Majesty's Toy.

Definitely on the Rear - I'm sure that it suggest that in the hand book also.

DR There's always a way forward!

2008 Freelander Td4 GS - Stornoway Grey - Now Gone - Sob
2011 Freelander Td4 GS 150 - Rimini Red - in its place - Better x far x 4!!