Before I explain why you shouldn’t place your winter tires only on the front wheels of your car, I’ll point out it’s best to have them on all four wheels.

British Columbia and Quebec require them on all four wheels during winter. In B.C., they’re required from Oct. 1 to April 30; in Quebec, they’re required from Dec. 1 to March 15.

Furthermore, provinces that offer auto insurance discounts for drivers with winter tires require them on all wheels for the discount to apply.

But, if for some reason you are planning to put them only on two wheels, here’s why it shouldn’t be on the front wheels.

The majority of cars are front-wheel driven, so it might seem natural to put your grippier tires there, as it could help get you unstuck and going. But here’s the thing, if you can’t get going, you can’t crash.

However, once you’re going, having your winter tires on the front and not on the rear will result in a loss of vehicle stability.

Then, when you take a corner or hit the brakes, the increased grip in the front and the lack of grip in the rear can cause your vehicle to oversteer (that’s when the rear of the car swings out).

The last thing you want when you’re trying to stop is for your vehicle to spin completely around.

Placing your winters on the rear axle only is technically not recommended either, as it can cause understeer, but is certainly considered the safer option of the two.