If you drive a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle, or an all-wheel drive (AWD) car, your owner’s manual may have specifications for tire size and type.
If you’re like most 4WD or AWD owners, you probably don’t know what size and type of tires are on your vehicle. And if you read your owner’s manual, it probably says something like “all tires must be the same size and type.”
This is not a good policy for 4WD and AWD vehicles. In fact, it may be a very dangerous policy to follow. So you have a flat tire, or you are looking to replace your old tires. Do you need to replace all 4 tires on your car?
Table of Contents
Do You Need to Change All Tires?
In the past, many people replaced all 4 tires when they needed new tires. But in modern times, you can replace just one tire. So do you really need to replace all 4 tires on a 4 wheel drive vehicle?
The answer is yes and no. It depends on how much money you want to spend, how long it will take for your other tires to wear out, and how long you plan on keeping your car.
The difference in rolling circumference between old and new tires can also cause problems with your AWD system. An AWD vehicle needs all four wheels to be the same size, so they’ll turn at the same speed when you accelerate. A mismatched set of tires can cause a differential pinion to break, which is an expensive problem to fix.
The short answer: Assuming all 4 tires are the same size, you can replace either the two front or the two back tires first.
Let’s get a little more technical. When you drive your car around a corner, it leans to one side. That leaning force is called centrifugal force. Because of this force, the outer tire must travel a longer distance in one turn than the inner tire. This means that both tires move at different speeds.
When your car is equipped with an AWD system, the speed difference between each tire is monitored by a differential. The differential allows each wheel to spin independently while transferring torque to the wheel with more traction on slippery roads.
When to Replace All Your Tires?
If you can afford it and the other tires are worn out anyway, then yes, replacing all 4 tires with matching ones is a good idea. This is because if your tires are not matched properly, then it can affect the steering of your vehicle.
When this happens, different parts of your car will wear down at different rates, which means that your car has a much shorter life span than it should have.
If any of your tires are severely worn down or damaged, then replacing them all is a good idea because the safety of yourself and others is more important than a few extra dollars in your pocket.
When it comes to 4 wheel drive vehicles, many people wonder if they need to replace all 4 tires at the same time.
When replacing your tires on a 4 wheel drive vehicle, it is recommended by the tire manufacturers that you replace all four tires at once. While you can replace just one tire on a 4 wheel drive vehicle, it is not recommended.
All four tires should match in size, brand, tread pattern and type. For example, if your car has high performance tires, the new tires you purchase should be the same type of high performance tire.
The three main reasons you should replace all 4 tires at once are:
- Tire treads wear at different rates depending on many factors. Even if the treads are all within requirements, there’s also wear on tire compounds and internal structures that can affect handling and safety.
- By replacing all four at once, you will have more reliable traction and equal wear across all corners of your vehicle, which can help with handling and braking. It can also help with fuel economy!
- However, if you don’t have the money or other circumstances make it impossible to replace them all at once, the best thing you can do is match up the 2 new tires closely to each other in both size and tread life.
If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, do all of your tires need to be the same? And do they all need to be replaced at the same time?
The short answer is yes. While it is not required by law that you change all four tires on a 4-wheel drive vehicle, it is highly recommended.
Why Do All 4 Tires Need to Match?
A 4-wheel drive vehicle is different from other vehicles in how it controls traction, steering and braking. When only two tires are changed, these aspects are affected and can result in difficulty controlling the vehicle.
The differences in tread depth, tire diameter, and tire construction can cause some tires to slip or drag when cornering or braking.
As a result, the vehicle may pull to one side or drift sideways on wet roads. The risk of skidding or sliding also increases when only two tires are replaced.
The differential will compensate for the speed differences when you have 2 new tires and 2 old ones by limiting power to prevent damage to your transmission or drivetrain.
The most important thing you should keep in mind is that your new tires will have better grip and braking than your worn out ones, which may cause damage to your transmission if they spin too fast.
You should replace all four tires at the same time as an all-wheel drive vehicle needs to have the same rolling circumference to operate properly.
If you replace only two tires, they will spin at a different speed than the other two, which could trigger problems with the transmission.
When Should All 4 Tires Be Replaced on a 4-Wheel Drive Vehicle?
The general rule of thumb is that if any tires are below 3/32 of an inch, they should be replaced with new tires. If your tread depth varies between two tires more than 2/32 of an inch then it’s time for new tires.
You do not need to replace all 4 tires on a 4WD at the same time. If a tire goes bad, you can just replace that one. However, it is best practice to replace all four tires at the same time.
If you want the best performance from your vehicle and want to avoid some wear and tear on your drive train, you should replace all 4 tires at once, if possible.
Tire treads wear at different rates depending on many factors. Even if the treads are all within requirements, there’s also wear on tire compounds and internal structures that can affect handling and safety.
By replacing all four at once, you will have more reliable traction and equal wear across all corners of your vehicle, which can help with handling and braking. It can also help with fuel economy!
However, if you don’t have the money or other circumstances make it impossible to replace them all at once, the best thing you can do is match up the 2 new tires closely to each other in both size and tread life.
You have a 4WD vehicle or SUV. You need to replace one or more tires. Do you need to replace all four at once?
So, the short answer is: it depends on your situation and the condition of your other tires.
When should you replace all four tires?
It’s generally recommended that you replace all four tires at the same time. If one of your front tires is worn more than the rear, for example, this can cause stress on the drivetrain and lead to higher fuel costs.
If you’re replacing two tires, it’s important to put the new ones on the rear. Even if you don’t have a 4WD vehicle, this will provide better traction when braking if the road surface is slippery.
Besides safety benefits, replacing all four tires can help maintain resale value. When shopping for used vehicles, most people prefer that all four wheels be in good condition (or at least similar condition).
The short answer is this: Yes, you should replace all four tires. And the reasons are many. But don’t just take our word for it — check out this video that demonstrates what happens when you replace two tires but not four:
The tire industry recommends replacing all four tires at the same time.
You might think that only two of your wheels do the driving — so why worry about the other two?
But here’s what happens when you don’t replace all four tires: The new ones will deliver better braking, handling and fuel economy than your worn or older ones, but only if they’re all the same size, brand and tread design (or as close as possible).
If your new tires are a different size from what you currently have — even in a slightly larger diameter — then all kinds of problems can arise, such as poor fuel economy, poor handling and decreased braking performance.
Let’s look at an example: Say you have an AWD Honda Pilot with 60,000 miles on its factory-installed tires. You bring it in for a routine oil change and your mechanic tells you that two of your tires are nearing the end.
Most tire experts agree that you should replace all 4 tires at the same time, no matter how much tread is on them. “Tires are like shoes,” says John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of automotive engineering and repair. “You wouldn’t put one new shoe on your right foot and a worn shoe on your left foot.”
Mismatched tires can cause:
- Uneven steering or braking
- Increased likelihood of hydroplaning in wet weather
- Decreased stability at highway speeds
- Increased stopping distance on wet pavement
When Do You Need New Tires?
If you notice any of these signs on your Subaru, you may need new tires:
- Cracks in the sidewall
- Balding or thinning tread
- Bulges or blisters
- Cupping or scalloped wear
- Vibrations while driving
No, it’s not necessary to replace all four tires at once. That said, “even if you replace just one or two, it’s important to understand that the added cost is for your safety,” says John Nielsen, director of automotive engineering and repair at AAA. The additional cost will vary depending on your vehicle and tire choices.
Choosing just one tire can be a tough decision — especially when you’re juggling other expenses like groceries and gas. What most people don’t know is that replacing only one tire can have an impact on their car’s performance and safety.
Here are some things to consider before you decide to replace tires in pairs or all four:
Keep in mind that AWD vehicles have different wear patterns than 4WD vehicles. AWD vehicles have all-season tires on each wheel, so when one wears out, it’s often most cost-efficient to replace all four tires at once.
However, 4WD vehicles typically have all-terrain tires on the front axle (which are directional) and off-road tires on the rear axle (which aren’t). With this type of setup, you can usually get by with replacing only two tires per axle.
Tire damage can come from a variety of sources and affect different areas of the tire. For example, if you hit a curb or pothole with your front tires, the sidewall may be damaged and need to be replaced.
If the damage is just on one tire, you should replace that one tire unless it was caused by an underlying issue with your car’s suspension.
If you notice a problem with one of your tires, you should get it checked out by a professional. Tire issues can quickly escalate if they are not taken care of.
For example, your front tires may have been hit by a curb, but if your suspension was damaged in the process, it could lead to more serious problems down the road and potentially cause your tires to wear out faster than they otherwise would have.
If you have all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD), then you should replace all four tires at once for optimum performance and safety. This is because AWD and 4WD vehicles rely on all four wheels working together to achieve proper traction on any surface.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I put different size tires on my AWD car?
You can, but it is generally not recommended. Tires that are not the same size and type can lead to inconsistent handling and braking, which could be dangerous. If you only replace 3 tires and one of them is on the front axle, it can cause some steering issues (especially if you suddenly hit a patch of rain or snow).
2. Should all 4 tires be the same PSI?
If you have a vehicle that does not have all-wheel drive, yes. However, for vehicles with an AWD system, pressure should be checked in both the front and back tires as well as the tire’s inner and outer sides. This will help prevent any issues from arising when driving on rough roads or in inclement weather.
3. Can I buy 2 tires instead of 4?
While this can seem like a good idea at first, buying two new tires instead of four is actually a very bad idea. If you only buy two new tires it can make your vehicle unsafe to drive and cause uneven wear that may lead to a blowout or tire failure. At the very least you will end up spending more money than if you had bought four new tires up front.
4. Is it OK to only replace 3 tires?
No, it is not OK to only replace 3 tires on your vehicle when your other tire needs replacing. If you do so it will cause uneven wear and tear.
If you have a flat tire or an old tire that needs replacing, then replacing just one tire probably won’t hurt anything (as long as it is not on the same axle as another new tire). But if multiple tires are in bad shape, then we recommend replacing them all at once.
Conclusion
You should replace all four tires at the same time rather than just the damaged one. The tires on your vehicle when it was new were designed to work as a set. Replacing just one tire could cause issues with traction control, stability control, ABS or other safety systems.
Therefore, if one tire has less tread life than another, it will not perform as well as it should. It’s important that all four tires on your vehicle are the same brand, size and pattern.
