Mismatching tyres on 4x4 - yay or nay?
Submitted by lunker on Wed, 2013-10-23 11:40
Hey guys, I'm after the opinions of non-tyrestore workers. I have one front tyre on the Bravo chewed out on the inside, but I'm not really in a position to buy a new set of tyres. The remaining three are still pretty good.
I don't really like the idea of running a mismatched tyre (even of the same size) on the front. So, do you reckon I swap the backs to the front and replace the single tyre, or buy two new ones to keep axles the same?
Or, perhaps someone has four they want to sell for a good price ;-)
Cheers!
lunker
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 08/01/10
Forgot to mention, I am
Forgot to mention, I am running 205r16
tim-o
Posts: 4657
Date Joined: 24/05/11
It is ideal to have both
It is ideal to have both fronts the same type and tread depth, odd tyres on the rear are ok, presuming they are all same size and meet or exceed the load rating. If you are chasin a second handy, dont buy one that has cracks in it (perished). If only one tyre is choppin out then dont assume a 'toe and go' wheel alignment will fix it. Get them to check camber and caster and check the control arm bushes, ball joints and tie rodand rack ends
I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.
lunker
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 08/01/10
Thanks heaps, and yeah I will
Thanks heaps, and yeah I will get them to have a good look over. There's a bit of a clunk occasionally on full lock so there's something happening up there
tim-o
Posts: 4657
Date Joined: 24/05/11
Prob just needs grease on the
Prob just needs grease on the lock stops
I am, as I've said, merely competent. But in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.
keg
Posts: 396
Date Joined: 17/07/07
i always thought
you had to have the same tread on each axle.front and back can be different but front
have to match and rear have to match(legally anyway)
but as tim-o said, the important thing is to make sure you have the same radius tyre front and back otherwise
you will wind the transmission up and risk damage.
Rob H
Posts: 5749
Date Joined: 18/01/12
legally (and hence insurance
legally (and hence insurance wise) each axle must have the same tyres
but if you have different on the same axle it will NOT cause transmission wind up-thats what your "differential" is for.
If you have your centre diff lock engaged it will be only on a slippery surface and hence easily deall with any wind up.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
lunker
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 08/01/10
I had a feeling axles were
I had a feeling axles were supposed to have similar tread and the same size... then again, you're really using 4x4 on slippery/loose terrain anyways, so maybe it wouldn't make a difference?
Swompa
Posts: 3803
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Steering tyres should be the
Steering tyres should be the same. I had three puncture on my patrol in a month and ended up with odds. Just make sure the ones in front are matched and it will get you through.
Jim
Posts: 1326
Date Joined: 05/05/06
Bummer my mate said to put
Bummer my mate said to put the mismatched ones up front cause they are the drive wheels, so I did. That was 6months ago. Guess I better put them upfront!
Bend over
jayce
Posts: 564
Date Joined: 10/12/11
You can miss match the tread
You can miss match the tread pattern anywhere around the car. How ever for handling issues it is much better to keep the tyres on the front matching. So if you can only do 1 tyre at the moment put it on the back and match the front 2 tyres.
The law states that the tyres between axles can be up to 4% different (from memory) other wise the muscles cars wouldn't be able to run bigger tyres on rear. But for a 4wd it is not suggested as it will cause wind up in transfer case having different axles.
Tyres need to be the same size side to side on each axle.
Sorry if that doesn't make sense
And yes I do know a bit about as I have been fitting tyres for the last 10 years how ever I don't work for a retail shop any more.
lunker
Posts: 107
Date Joined: 08/01/10
Thanks heaps for your help
Thanks heaps for your help guys. I will be keeping an eye out for a matched pair in that case!