Replace just one tire?

[Herr Kutz]

On the way to work yesterday one of my vehicles tires got a flat. It looks like it's non repairable. I purchased these tires just over a year ago and have approx 8k miles on them so the rest of the tires have pretty good tread. Can I replace just one? Unfortunately I cannot get an exact match because I purchased them while on vacation and don't have the same store in my area...and it looks like they don't even offer the same tire anymore, even online.

https://imgur.com/xZSmIz9

 

[heymrdj]

On the way to work yesterday one of my vehicles tires got a flat. It looks like it's non repairable. I purchased these tires just over a year ago and have approx 8k miles on them so the rest of the tires have pretty good tread. Can I replace just one? Unfortunately I cannot get an exact match because I purchased them while on vacation and don't have the same store in my area...and it looks like they don't even offer the same tire anymore, even online.

https://imgur.com/xZSmIz9

At 8k you’ll probably need a used tire to match the tread depth.


(Spam removed)

 

[boomerang]

Buy a kit and plug the tire yourself. A tire store won't patch that area of the tire because of the liability issues.

I've plugged tires in the outer tread rows before and have never had a problem but there is no predicting the outcome. The leak will be fixed it's the longevity of the plug that is in question.

If you choose to replace it, depending on the tires you bought, 8K may be negligible regarding tread wear but you should let us know if the car is AWD because that may necessitate replacing two tires.

 

[Rifter]

Buy a kit and plug the tire yourself. A tire store won't patch that area of the tire because of the liability issues.

I've plugged tires in the outer tread rows before and have never had a problem but there is no predicting the outcome. The leak will be fixed it's the longevity of the plug that is in question.

If you choose to replace it, depending on the tires you bought, 8K may be negligible regarding tread wear but you should let us know if the car is AWD because that may necessitate replacing two tires.

I agree, plug it yourself.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I didn't think of plugging it myself bros. it's too late now though, I'm sitting in the waiting room waiting for my tire to be replaced.

 

[JCH13]

Womp womp.

New tires can be shaved to match used tires if needed.

 

[eng2d2]

can I have your old tire? should have plug

 

[Herr Kutz]

can I have your old tire? should have plug

Yeah, come pick it up.

 

[KentState]

Depending on the tire, 8k may not be much.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

At 8k you’ll probably need a used tire to match the tread depth.


(Spam removed)

Unless you are a professional driver with a million dollar car, there is NO reason to replace more than one tire OR match tread depth. The idea is so silly, let me be the first to point and laugh at you.

 

[heymrdj]

Unless you are a professional driver with a million dollar car, there is NO reason to replace more than one tire OR match tread depth. The idea is so silly, let me be the first to point and laugh at you.

Wow such stupidity. It will pull, the axle is no longer balanced. Go crawl back in your cesspool of retardation and inbreeding.


(Spam removed)

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Wow such stupidity. It will pull, the axle is no longer balanced. Go crawl back in your cesspool of retardation and inbreeding.


(Spam removed)

Go throw money at useless snake oil if it makes you feel better. I'm still pointing and laughing.

 

[heymrdj]

Go throw money at useless snake oil if it makes you feel better. I'm still pointing and laughing.

I’ve ran one new tire before. You could no longer let go of the wheel and it track perfectly straight, it pulled.


(Spam removed)

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I’ve ran one new tire before. You could no longer let go of the wheel and it track perfectly straight, it pulled.


(Spam removed)

Show me one iota of proof that 1. The coefficient of friction has changed adversely? I'm betting the slickness of the new tire and any nubs left on are emtirely responsible. Spending hundreds of dollars or more on an issue fixed by sandpaper is wasteful no matter how much disposable income or time you have. It's plain silly.

 

[KentState]

I’ve ran one new tire before. You could no longer let go of the wheel and it track perfectly straight, it pulled.


(Spam removed)

FWD, RWD, AWD? Which corner did you replace? Have many miles were the tires rated for vs when did you replace the one? What type of car?

 

[heymrdj]

FWD, RWD, AWD? Which corner did you replace? Have many miles were the tires rated for vs when did you replace the one? What type of car?

Just a hair under 14K on the tires. Michelin LTX replaced with another LTX. Front driver tire. RWD. 04 Expedition


(Spam removed)

 

[KentState]

Just a hair under 14K on the tires. Michelin LTX replaced with another LTX. Front driver tire. RWD. 04 Expedition


(Spam removed)

In that situation I could see it being a problem since all 4 tires serve a purpose. A FWD car with a rear tire replacement may not be noticeable since you are really pulling around the rears and the fronts do so much of the work.

 

[mindless1]

It is useful to remember that a different brand or model of tire may differ in real diameter even if marked as the same size tire. That could make an 8K difference more, or less of a factor.

The same is true for a different tread pattern or rubber compound, combined with the different diameter could cause reduced handling esp. in rain.

You can put the new tire on the rear, but eventually it ought to be rotated to the front, assuming the owner wants best wear and it isn't a staggered setup. Generally speaking, most people consider the max difference in new tire diameter vs old to be around 3%, but that's not a binary yes/no value. The more off the new tire is, the more significant the issue.

 

[clok1966]

8k one tire is fine unless you have been driving with "spirt" and wore one tire prematurely. Almost all cars (not all) on the road are not "solid" axel if that was the case when you turned a corner the inside wheel would slide the whole way as it turns way less then the outside wheel (its the same on the rear end). Under Acceleration in grass or other places have you never noticed one wheel spins and the other does not? Yes some cars do spin both, but not how you "think" it works. one wheel spins the computer applies brakes to that wheel as it thinks its not getting traction and the other spins, so it appears they both spin at the same time/speed, but they do not. Having a tire off by a mm or so will not cause you any issues. In fact i bet if you could measure that precise two BRAND new tires would not match 100% hell they are not even perfectly round, one will have higher spots then the other in different places.. its just such a small amount it doesn't effect you, much as the slight difference there would be in your case. many cars have space saver spares, they are often 2-4 inch smaller then the normal tires. yes they don't want you driving hundreds of miles with them, but if it was some huge deal they wouldn't use them at all ( DO NOT drive with one for extended periods, follow the 50 mile rule).

with all that said. Two tires the same size but different brands as stated can be vastly different. If the tires are close (yes i mean very close, i cant say any exact measurement.. but you don't want an inch difference.. hell i would stay away from 1/2 an inch.. but under that 1/4 or less (which most tires should match close to of same size but different manufactures) should be ok on most cars. Yes some cars have differentials that can wear or break with odd sizes.. but they are not the average car, there are exceptions to most things.. And some stated AWD, 4WD etc.. 99% of them wont care either as long as they are quite close.

Anybody selling tires will want to sell in sets, who wouldn't if it was your bread and butter? I have an old Buick with 4 different tires on it, never had a matching set hell the front tires right now are an actual size differnece.. i have put a little over 80,000 with different ones on it, its over 300,000 now.. (3.8 is just flat out impressive motor) never had any issues..

In the end, its your money, use it how you see fit. don't take my word or anybody else as gospel, read up and make your own mind up. You have a $80,000 car, might not be so out of line to put $400 of new tires on it for peace of mind.. you drive a $8,000 car, dont have money burning a hole in your pocket, one tire might just be OK.

 

[JCH13]

8k one tire is fine unless you have been driving with "spirt" and wore one tire prematurely. Almost all cars (not all) on the road are not [1]"solid" axel if that was the case when you turned a corner the inside wheel would slide the whole way as it turns way less then the outside wheel (its the same on the rear end). Under Acceleration in grass or other places have you never noticed one wheel spins and the other does not? [2] Yes some cars do spin both, but not how you "think" it works. one wheel spins the computer applies brakes to that wheel as it thinks its not getting traction and the other spins, so it appears they both spin at the same time/speed, but they do not. Having a tire off by a mm or so will not cause you any issues. In fact i bet if you could measure that precise two BRAND new tires would not match 100% hell they are not even perfectly round, one will have higher spots then the other in different places.. its just such a small amount it doesn't [3] effect you, much as the slight difference there would be in your case. many cars have space saver spares, they are often 2-4 inch smaller then the normal tires. yes they don't want you driving hundreds of miles with them, but if it was some huge deal they wouldn't use them at all [4] ( DO NOT drive with one for extended periods, follow the 50 mile rule).

with all that said. Two tires the same size but different brands as stated can be vastly different. If the tires are close (yes i mean very close, i cant say any exact measurement.. but you don't want an inch difference.. hell i would stay away from 1/2 an inch.. but under that 1/4 or less (which most tires should match close to of same size but different manufactures) should be ok on most cars[4]. Yes some cars have differentials that can wear or break with odd sizes.. but they are not the average car, there are exceptions to most things.. And some stated AWD, 4WD etc.. 99% of them wont care either as long as they are quite close.

Anybody selling tires will want to sell in sets, who wouldn't if it was your bread and butter? I have an old Buick with 4 different tires on it, never had a matching set hell the front tires right now are an actual size differnece.. i have put a little over 80,000 with different ones on it, its over 300,000 now.. (3.8 is just flat out impressive motor) never had any issues.. [5]

In the end, its your money, use it how you see fit. don't take my word [6] or anybody else as gospel, read up and make your own mind up. You have a $80,000 car, might not be so out of line to put $400 of new tires on it for peace of mind.. you drive a $8,000 car, dont have money burning a hole in your pocket, one tire might just be OK.

Holy crap... where to start...

[1] A 'solid axle' (not axel) has nothing to do with having a differential or not. 'Solid axle' refers to a type of dependent suspension design, also called a beam axle. Aside from that I would be stunned if you could cite a name-brand vehicle built in the last 50 years that didn't have a differential.

[2] Brake assisted 'virtual limited slip' drives have only become common-place somewhat recently. Various mechanical limited slip differentials are still quite common, as are different traction control schemes. But please, by all means, tell us neophytes how cars work, we clearly what we "think" is wrong.

[3] *affect, not effect

[4] This is a REALLY bold statement to make, especially when it comes to replacing odd numbers of tires. One should consult their owners manual for guidance. TR has a great article on this: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=18 which notes several manufacturer specs that vary widely. Mis-matching tire sizes wrong enough can cause ABS and stability control issues, transmission mis-shifts, differential overheating and wear, excessive driveshaft joint wear, and other issues.

[5] You shouldn't be proud of the safety risks your creating for other drivers, nor should you be proud of getting away with poor practices. Apparent lack of damage or consequences in one case is not evidence of acceptable practices or good decision-making.

[6] Please, no one take this person's word.

 

[clok1966]

Holy crap... where to start...

[1] A 'solid axle' (not axel) has nothing to do with having a differential or not. 'Solid axle' refers to a type of dependent suspension design, also called a beam axle. Aside from that I would be stunned if you could cite a name-brand vehicle built in the last 50 years that didn't have a differential.

[2] Brake assisted 'virtual limited slip' drives have only become common-place somewhat recently. Various mechanical limited slip differentials are still quite common, as are different traction control schemes. But please, by all means, tell us neophytes how cars work, we clearly what we "think" is wrong.

[3] *affect, not effect

[4] This is a REALLY bold statement to make, especially when it comes to replacing odd numbers of tires. One should consult their owners manual for guidance. TR has a great article on this: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=18 which notes several manufacturer specs that vary widely. Mis-matching tire sizes wrong enough can cause ABS and stability control issues, transmission mis-shifts, differential overheating and wear, excessive driveshaft joint wear, and other issues.

[5] You shouldn't be proud of the safety risks your creating for other drivers, nor should you be proud of getting away with poor practices. Apparent lack of damage or consequences in one case is not evidence of acceptable practices or good decision-making.

[6] Please, no one take this person's word.

I agree HOLY CRAP where to start.. but if you say so.. I did mention at end of mine.. "In the end, its your money, use it how you see fit. don't take my word or anybody else as gospel, read up and make your own mind up."

using people who benefit from selling tires as a source is biased.. Not saying its not worth reading, hell not even saying its wrong,Quite simply there is 1000 of pages on the web going both ways. Many mechanics, car designers will disagree and agree with both sides depending on how close the tires where in size. I could post some on both but the googling for people seems silly as I could just post the ones I agree with and skip the ones i don't. The real thing in this case is the difference in size.. and yes i will admit, i may have been a bit too loose with my ideas on it.. again i want to mention i said READ and make your own mind up. And last the straight axel comment, maybe im wrong but nobody cared for an actual in depth explanation so i kept it as simple as i could, they haven't been used in cars in many, many years, but some think both tires spin at the same time and are connected like a solid axel would be. Rear ends (and front ends) that can handle slower Turing wheels in corners have been around for many many years.. electronic controlled not so long.

i stand by my READ (make sure you read more then one or two pages on it) and make up your own mind and don't take anybody here as gospel either way.

oh [3] *affect, not effect - thank you, we don't learn from mistake unless we know we made them. Grammar has never been my strong point, but we all try to improve.

 

[JCH13]

I agree HOLY CRAP where to start.. but if you say so.. I did mention at end of mine.. "In the end, its your money, use it how you see fit. don't take my word or anybody else as gospel, read up and make your own mind up."

using people who benefit from selling tires as a source is biased.. Not saying its not worth reading, hell not even saying its wrong,Quite simply there is 1000 of pages on the web going both ways. Many mechanics, car designers will disagree and agree with both sides depending on how close the tires where in size. I could post some on both but the googling for people seems silly as I could just post the ones I agree with and skip the ones i don't. The real thing in this case is the difference in size.. and yes i will admit, i may have been a bit too loose with my ideas on it.. again i want to mention i said READ and make your own mind up. And last the straight axel comment, maybe im wrong but nobody cared for an actual in depth explanation so i kept it as simple as i could, they haven't been used in cars in many, many years, but some think both tires spin at the same time and are connected like a solid axel would be. Rear ends (and front ends) that can handle slower Turing wheels in corners have been around for many many years.. electronic controlled not so long.

i stand by my READ (make sure you read more then one or two pages on it) and make up your own mind and don't take anybody here as gospel either way.

oh [3] *affect, not effect - thank you, we don't learn from mistake unless we know we made them. Grammar has never been my strong point, but we all try to improve.

Thank you for a level-headed response despite my snark.

I agree that most tire resellers will try to snow people on tire-buying decisions. However, I have come to trust TR's technical articles because in several of them they recommend lower-cost solutions to their customers (like under-sizing winter wheels) and generally present factual information without the passive-aggressive voice of a salesperson. This is very much in line with the 'read and make up your own mind' approach, which is one that I support provided that it's taken with a good slice of humble pie. (I say that last bit because someone on here once posted that they drove on 3 lug nuts because "3 makes and triangle and triangles are strong" which is horrifying, one must be realistic about ones own knowledge and technical expertise/education when it comes to making safety-critical decisions that can impact others.)

The solid axle thing is a semantic argument, but in a technical forum like this I believe strongly that the proper terminology should be used. It would be more accurate to describe what you're talking about as a 'locked differential' or 'welded differential.' Solid axle refers to suspension kinematics, not driveline behavior.

 

[Elganja]

generally speaking, you want your the tires on the same axle to be fairly similar in tread depth ... and if it's an awd car you want all your tires to be fairly similar in tread depth. fyi, most manufactures state around 2/32 to 4/32 is acceptable variance (suburu is on the low end, audi is on the high end, nissan says 5% variance)

tirerack offers a tire shaving service that works like a champ and is affordable (i've used it more then once, and most recently to replace a tire on my R8)

plugs... they are terrible and just not safe IMHO that is why a majority of tire places will refuse to plug a tire. patches alone, are just as bad.... the best thing to do is a plug patch, if the puncture is in a fixable area (on the main tread block, not on the shoulder)

with all that said... 8k miles? you're more then likely fine just replacing the tire and not worrying about it... it's more then likely within the allowable variance

 

[leper84]

Glad you didn't plug it OP, not with that big gash in the tread.

One new tire isn't going to hurt a damn thing unless you have AWD that specifically prohibits it. You can have three tires at 5/32nds and one brand new one and 99% of people wont tell a difference driving. Bonus is when you change the other three, buy four, take the odd one out and use it as the spare if you have a fullsize.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I still don't understand the matched tire crap. I do match tires when shit happens but if one tire has lost 1/8" of tread on wheels that are 5' apart, we are talking about the axle (and tires) being 0.119 degrees out of level.

Or think of a tire that is 8" wide. We are talking about the left/right edge of the tire being off by 0.0166".

Perfect? no. Signficant? I don't think so.