Is it ok to only put on 2 snow tires?
I’ve got a 95 mustang. I live in Colorado, so rear-wheel drive sucks in the snow and ice. I’d like to get 2 studded snow tires on the back. Is it going to matter if I don’t get any on the front?
It doesn’t matter so long as you don’t care if you can stop or turn. I’m sure that semi that’s stopped in front of you will be able to get going and out of your way when he sees you sliding towards him in his rear view mirror. Winter tires on the rear only will help only with acceleration. It does almost nothing to improve your safety once you get going. This link will explain why, in a scientific manner, not just based on “that’s the only way I’ve ever done it so it must be OK”. Be sure to watch the videos.
Rear-drive all-season front, winter tires rear:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=110
Rear-drive with only all-season and only winter tires:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=103
Winter tires should always be used in sets of 4. I can never fathom why people think its OK to have traction on only one end of the car. By extension that would mean its OK to run bald tires in the front in the summer because traction isn’t important there. But nobody would advocate THAT, would they?
Shawn’s Custom wheels & Tires
