Do I Need To Replace More Than One Tire At A Time?

Replacing a tire can be daunting, especially if you have an All-Wheel Drive (AWD). This is because you often have to replace all the tires in one go. It might not make sense to get rid of three perfectly functional tires just because the fourth needs replacing. However, understanding the underlying wheel dynamics will let you see why this is a good idea.

Various manufacturers and car experts have established that a vehicle should have four matching tires. The type, the model, and even the amount of wear and tear should be the same. When all four tires are the same, it ensures that cornering, braking, and acceleration are balanced and predictable. However, if any of these factors differ between two wheels, this difference will compromise the traction characteristics and the performance. 

In today’s article, we’ll discuss when to change your tires and things to keep in mind if you just have to replace one or two tires instead of all four.

Change Is The Only Constant

There are various reasons behind changing or replacing a tire, and one of the first things to consider is tire tread depth. The tread on new tires ranges from 10/32 of an inch to 12/32 of an inch. Changing the tire tread when it goes below 4/32 of an inch is necessary because ignoring it might cause fatal accidents. Lower tread depths are deadly on wet roads because the vehicles run a higher risk of skids and accidents. Lower treads prevent the car from braking instantly and add a lag time to the car’s response. 

The front tires carry the engine's weight and tend to wear out much faster than the rear tires. They also take the total weight of the car when it's steered in different directions, adding additional friction and wear and tear. 

Getting your tires rotated regularly is important to prevent faster wear and tear of just the front tires. Rotation will ensure that all the tires wear down simultaneously, and you won’t have to worry about changing completely functional tires. 

Yet another reason to change your tires could be a tire pressure leak. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System or TPMS Sensors inform you about low tire pressure. However, don’t rely on TPMS to send you an alert to change the tires. Inspect all tires manually before every trip. 

The most common reason to change the tire after the wear and tear caused to the tires while driving is aging. Tires age, just like any other car component. The deteriorating quality can become a safety hazard. 

Now, let's take a look at the factors to consider before changing just one tire. 

Things To Keep In Mind While Changing Just One Or Two Tires

Sometimes you can change just one tire or two tires instead of all four. Here are the factors to consider before doing that.

• The type of tire - Tires have patterns and cuts, and while you are out shopping for that tire you need to replace, it is advisable to get tires from the same company and of the same model. It is important to note that the tread condition should be the same for all of them or similar to ensure a balanced ride. Subtle differences in the tire's diameter can affect its behavior while braking, accelerating, cornering, or handling water. Make sure that the new tires have the same tread pattern as the old one or similar. 
• Tread carefully - If you don’t want to suffer the consequences of replacing just a couple of tires, it is advisable to check if the tread left on the other tires is adequate or not. If the tires are new, then changing just one or two tires might do the trick. However, if they are old, it will be difficult to change just a couple of them. You need to make sure that the difference between the old tires and new tires doesn’t exceed 4/32 of an inch to remain on the safe side, literally. 
• Type matters - We recommend changing all four tires for an AWD because the higher tread of new tires makes them spin slower than the older tires with a lower tread due to a reduced diameter. If the wheels of a vehicle are moving at different speeds, it might strain the engine, and some components might malfunction, causing major damage. 

Summary 

Once you have decided to change just one tire, it is time to pick out its placement. Depending on the situation and tread on the tires, in most cases, it is advisable to put the new tires on the rear axle. It will prevent oversteering, spinning out and vehicle instability. If you have a routine check-up for your car, ensure that tire tread and tire management is part of that routine. Keep in mind to regularly rotate your tires, check air pressure and repair flat tires.

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