The recent tyre replacement/repair discussion, which was luckily closed before someone told us tyres were our sole touch with the road, hinted at a problem that has yet to be rectified.
The "best tyres go in the back," as the old saying goes, and since "best" is usually understood to mean "newest" and "most tread," this is generally accepted as good advice for driving in rainy conditions.
Despite the fact that this was seemingly dismissed by all other posters in the discussion, I find this suggestion believable, having "lost the back end" of a couple of FWD cars due, I THINK, to lift off engine braking in slippery situations.
To add insult to injury, I was once a passenger in a Commer van (not exactly the most stable looking vehicle) that busted a rear tyre on the A1 and no one noticed until the remains caught fire, so I'm not entirely convinced by the official advice that a rear tyre blowout is more dangerous than a front one. Extremely challenging to extinguish.
This is problematic since best tyres on the back (which is valid) contradicts with best bust on the back (if valid), making a decision more difficult than it has to be.
Moderators, please be assured that I am not trying to get around the ban on discussing whether or not it is preferable to buy something brand new rather than something previously owned or repaired. I want to bring up a certain question I have.
Opinions can be somewhat informative.
There is more value in actual experience.
The Holy Grail would be citation of reliable sources.
Even though it's highly technical in nature, I filed it under "discussion" because that's where it originated.