Rear Winter Tires Only
 

I just found out that my rear tires are worn out. My fronts are fine. I was thinking about putting winter tires on the back and then get new rear summer tires in the spring. tirerack.com said that it is not suggested to only use two winter tires. Does anyone here know why? What am I sacraficing if anything. I was recently laid off and don't have the $$$ for 4 tires.

tks..Jeff

understeer. You wanna be able to turn on snow, if you have no traction up front you'll continue to go in a straight line. In fact it may be a better idea to put the snow tires on the front if you only get 2. but definitely in a light RWD car you really are gonna need all 4 and maybe even think of carrying some sandbags.

ITs always a bad idea to have so diff traction between the front and rear tires. I mean you can always try, but for your life's safety I suggest you to stick with the same kind of tires at all times

Hahaha...dude, you'll be able to drive forward because it's a RWD car, but you won't be able to steer. Think about it...

If you don't have the $ for 4 tires, why not sell your 8 and buy a cheaper car. No point in being cheap with your (and your family's) safety.

more traction up front than in back, you'll get oversteer (read that as you'll spin)
more traction in back than in front, you'll understeer (reat that as you'll plow straight ahead when you try to turn).

Steering.....
 

Just go with the "pusher" snows on the back and the hard plastic skis on the front - steering is seriously over-rated!

(Where is that eye-rolling smilie when I need it?)

If you only have snows on the back, it makes sense that only the front will end up in the ditch, right? :yesnod:

S

It would be similar to putting one rollerblade on the left foot and an ice skate on the right foot and trying to ice skate.

Another reason companies will not endorse one pair of winter tires is they could be held liable if they sold and installed only one pair of winter tires and an accident occured because of it.

Claimant stating that they were unaware it was dangereous to only have one pair of winter tires. Expert that sold and installed tires failed to mention the hazzard of one pair vs full set...

I used to have snow tires on the rear, and all-seasons on the front in my Miata. Got me through three harsh winters without incident (easy as hell to drive, too). The problem with the RX-8 is that the front tires are NOT all-seasons. They don't have the right tread pattern or enough tread depth to function effectively on any amount of snow. Trust me, unless you swap out the front tires with even a cheap set of all-seasons, you won't be able to do anything in inclement weather. As others have said, you could start moving easily enough, but wouldn't be able to turn or stop to any degree.