Can you just run two on the front since that is the drive wheels.?

 

You still need traction in the back.

 

Check with a reputable tire dealer for the answer based on State Law.

My state of Washington requires 4 of the same snow tires.

Silverfox

 

Running them only on the front will result in major oversteer (where the rear wants to pass the front). Go to 4 snow tires.

 

Important!!! You cannot have winter tires in the front and summer tires in the back. This is really dangerous. Summer tires are made of a "summer" rubber compound, which begins to lose its properties already at + 5C. In other words, at freezing temperatures you will have rigid plastic tires at the back.

As for WINTER !! tires on the front and rear axles. Not advice, just experience.
I will not speak against the guys, they know the laws of the states. In addition, you need to consider insurance rules if these rules govern tire installation (you are often limited by strange rules in the United States).
Essentially ... I put other tires on the rear axle many times, in the sense that my front tires were different from the rear tires. They differed in tread pattern, tread depth and rubber grade simultaneously or in various combinations. Not out of love for experimentation, simply tore one of my wheels and was forced to buy a pair on the secondary market for a replacement. Naturally, I bought the cheapest, oldest tires. There was a case when on my rear axle there were tires with the same tread pattern, but of different brands from different manufacturers.
Despite this, my Hippo always held fast to the road. Not a single sudden drift during emergency braking. My rear wheels never tried to overtake the front ones even on ice. I don’t drive slowly, I can probably say that I drive aggressively. But! Fact is fact.
I repeat once again: my words are not a guide to action. Russian law does not limit me, but you abide by American law. But be aware - the danger of "wrong" rear tires is greatly exaggerated. You can without fear allow yourself this once in case there is no other solution. For example, drive to a dealer or get out of the woods.

PS. My wife's Focus:
Cordiant SnowMax (studded) front + Michelin (not studded, "Velcro") rear. She went so last winter, is going to continue this winter.

 

I run Bridgestone Blizzaks on 8 of my 9 vehicles. All four are Blizzaks on each one.

As Whopper and Geg said, it's very dangerous to only put snow tires on the front only.

Imagine your car going around a slippery turn with only front snows. The front snow tires grip well, the rear tires break loose much more easily and the back tries to come around, spinning the car.

Front wheel drive is even more sensitive to only having 2 snows on the front. Taking your foot off the gas will apply engine braking to the front, making oversteer even more likely.

If you don't put 4 snow tires on, it's safer to keep the all-season tires on all 4 wheels because the car will have equal traction front and rear.

Steve

 

x2 what fastsuv stated - Oversteer can be fun in certain circumstances, however when traction is limited such as in snow/ice, the understeer designed into almost all vehicles is MUCH preferred and much easier to control than oversteer.

Years ago I was in a Fiat 128 FWD that my buddy had just installed new snow tires on the front, with his all-season on the rear - he took me for a drive to show off his new tires, and we did a snap spin right in the middle of the city street when he had wound it out, then took his foot of the gas - that sudden transition was all it took to cause the spin. We did more than a 360 and it was violent and scared the carp out of us both. He ended up going and getting snows on the rear that same day.

 

It is my Understanding that you should put "Equal Tires" on all 4 wheels with proper air pressures.
That means... Not just "Mixed Snow Tires" of some kind.

It means the same tire and with the same tread depths on all 4 wheels !!
I wonder how many people just think it's OK to fudge on that critical information....??

Silverfox

 

Yes , that's right.
I also think that some differences in the front and rear are not critical. But if during the selection process the costs / efforts are approximately equal - I choose 4 identical wheels with equal properties (pressure, tread depth, etc.).
It is canonical, it is generally accepted, it will not cause silly questions.
You can crash a car - it’s a disaster, but there are more dire consequences. You can cripple someone. You are not to blame, but you should not give extra chances to enemy lawyers.

 

love my BFG Advantage 215 50 r17 they are good in the rain and work well in the snow.

just got a new set last week. they are nitrogen filled by the store. snake oil but did not cost extra.

i do realize the title but wanted to put a good word in for these all season tires.