All the above comment are helpful. I suggest buying new and not compromising, as one who has had a near fatal accident because of poor tyres. Depends how much you think your life is worth and that of your passengers and anyone else on the road. Buy from a specialist tyre supplier and then choose a good non-recognised brand if you are not after great milage. Most tyres are in fact all made in the same factories in Asia anyway. The difference is in the quality of materials. I had an inkling that fitting second hand tyres was not legal here?
Good point about affecting other road users.
This guy is nuts, makes you worry about others with the same attitude. He would spend it on a lawn mower but risk his life, LOL.
My 4 year old van nearly failed its first CT yesterday on one tyre that was the same make, the same size, the same type but a slightly different tread pattern. The tester let me off because I said I'd change it for the spare, which matches the other three.
So yes, it does seem to vary from tester to tester.
Hmm…?
Actually that was the worst advice, all experts agree that the best/newest tyres should go on the rear of the vehicle as controlling a front wheel skid is easier than a rear wheel skid. There are numerous tests and evidence to show this.
Welcome Mark. You are replying to a 9 year old thread. The poster has not been on here since 2016.
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Hi Sue
It was for current visitors who may take the advice or use that post as a pointer to very bad advice. Google brings this post up when searching for tyre advice in France.
The problem with the internet is it is eternal
Have a good day
M.
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It’s is an opinion. I’d love to see a link to all experts agreeing to that. I have always been told to put the better tyres on the driving wheels and that’s what I have always done. It’s hard to imagine a car being driven under normal conditions where slightly more tread depth on the rear tyres would make the difference between them gripping or not.
Not really an opinion, it is based on extensive testing of vehicle behaviour, here is some links for you to read and videos to watch as to why this is the case. Weight transfer makes the back end goes light when lifting and that means it takes less water on the road to induce aquaplaning meaning the car can swap ends really easily
https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/choosing-your-tires/replacing-only-two-tires.html
A quick google of “which axle should have the new tyres” will yield you a massive consensus on this subject and even 5th gear did a big segment on this subject a few years back.
I hope this helps clarify the situation. (Had to remove many links due to new user restrictions, sorry)
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For what it costs to remove the front wheels, maybe re-balance them and put them on the back with a marginal tread left on them that will require a change anyway soon, and with the price of tyres for an average hatchback, say - might as well change all of them together.
(Yes maybe different if you have full beef 20"ers…)
So true Mark. My post you liked is eleven years old 
Unless I switched my cars’ tyres during their lifetime the non driven pair will usually last more than twice as long as the others. On one of my cars the front and rear tyres are very different so switching front and back is not an option. I’m a bit of an anorak when it comes to tyres and tend to change them long before they actually ‘need’ changing. I will continue to do as always and keep the deeper tread on the driven wheels.
I was quite clear before and have followed what I believed was the best advice. I was simply surprised that you quoted most experts. As you have subsequently pointed out opinions vary.
Cat has already asked you to lighten up. Please stop correcting everybody.
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Don’t do it.
I would be tempted to try one of the online tyre suppliers as it will not be too expensive.
Someone like this:
You will be able to assign a local company to install them.
Opinions do vary, not amongst experts though who say “always on the rear”.
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Sorry Mat, I think I caused you to give advice on an 11 year old thread, my bad.
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What is it of late that replies are pouring in on old posts - in this case, twelve years ago!
Many forums put a limit of a year for replies that makes sense. I suggest SF might look at doing this as well.
People with too much time on their hands?
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Dodgy advice is dodgy advice however old the post.