If you are getting 2 new tires, should they go on the front, or the back? I've heard the front (for a front wheel drive car) from mechanics before (and firestone mechnics at that... who you would think would know these things), but I heard an episode of Car Talk where they said they should go on the back (in a discussion where the caller's mechanic had told her to put the new ones on the front). I don't know for sure that the car in question was a front wheel drive, but I believe it was (97 Accord), and they didn't mention front-wheel vs rear-wheel making a difference.

I'd put them on the Non-driven axle first to bed them in.Then give them about 3000 miles then swap them to the driven axle.
4WD vehicle?... I would say front axle to take your new tires because they are driven via a separate drivetrain which only switches in when "load" demands it
http://www.pepboys.com/learning_center/car_care/articles/tire_rotation.html
Little job to do when swapping besides checking pressure balance inspect the grooves and pick out any stones or debris that is trapped on the grooves (saves it "hammering" causing vibration /possible puncture?) will only take you less than a minute.

Thanks for the site... they advise: "If you don't buy four, always install the best tires on the rear of the vehicle."

I always put my best tires on the front axle.

I'm going against the site for a simple reason. I want my best tires up front to give me the best traction while steering.

I asked my husband about this and he advises putting new tires on the drive axle because, he says, it will give better control, especially in a front wheel drive.

When I buy tires for my car, I always have the new ones put on the front (front wheel drive)...and the best two of the remaining four tires go on the back....then the next time I buy two tires, they get rotated.

With a front wheel drive vehicle, I want my best tires on the steering tires!