I got some new tyres for my pug306HDI. Michelin "energy" things. They went on the front. Conventional wisdom says if you get new tyres for an FWD put 'em on the back. Today I found out why..... I must have got as close as it's possible to get to spinning it & recover. Fortunately there was nothing coming the other way. Damp tarmac, not going fast (was following another hatch). Needed 2 handfuls of opposite lock to keep it on the grey stuff (never nice 'cos you lose track of where straight on is on the steering wheel).
Turns out the back nearside tyre is a "TIGAR" from yugoslavia, probably a part worn to get an MOT for sale by motor trader.
Thankfully not a very expensive lesson learned.......
Bob

ASDA are open on a sunday and they sell pants quite cheap.

been there done that i always swap the good ones to the rear.

glad things didnt go bad for you

I remember the first time i lost control of my jag. Nearly managered to hit 3 cars and a lamp post but luckily i manager to hold on to it. We live near a park and there were wet leaves on the road. Turned out one of my tyres was bald along the inside edge.
Pretty scary.
Glad you and the car are ok

It takes a hundred miles or so to get the release agent out of the tyres as well - no doubt more if its wet which can make for some interesting handling characteristics.

cheers guys,
thought somebody might know something about "TIGAR" tyres (they bite).
Funny old world - with RWD when the back end comes round there's usually something you can do about it (usually because it's your fault....) - with FWD all you can do is hang on & say rude words!! I can't remember ever being that far out of shape before, it certainly felt like I wouldn't be able to hang onto it & then another potential disaster when it snapped back.....

Cheap tyres can give awful handling in the wet but it should be controlable --

A fwd car spinning out so fast makes me think something else is wrong -- if the car has a load sensing valve rear brake hydraulics check it isn't stuck full on.