Suggestion on which end to put new tires

[Miata GT]

I have been having an issue since my last alignment with vibration coming from one tire/wheel. No matter which end of the car, or which car I put this tire/wheel on I have vibration. It is damaged in same way.

Finally after balancing over and over and having the wheel checked I am having the tire replaced. I plan to replace both on the 'axel' but can't bring myself to replace all four because they are otherwise in great shape...seems like I could put money elsewhere.

At any rate, if all works out which end is better to put the new ones on? The front seems logical for steering, but the rear seem s logical to control oversteer better.

Thoughts?

[Native]

IMHO, working under the assumption that the newer tires are stickier, I'd put them on the looser end of the car - if it pushes, get better traction up front, and vicey-versey.

Or, if your setup is pretty neutral, seems that you'd be doing more steering and braking (street or track) than oversteering - put 'em up front.

[Native]

I had another idea:

flip a coin - heads is front, tails is back. Drive it. If you don't like it, and think swapping them front to rear will help, do that.

[Loren]

Most cars you'll want to put the better tires on the rear. Understeer is "safer".

On a Miata, you're more likely to wear the rear tires faster than the fronts, so it makes sense to put the deeper treads in the back.