If replacing all 4 tyres is not an option, you may replace 2 tyres. In this instance, you should ensure that the 2 new tyres are fitted to the rear axle. This will help to prevent aquaplaning and oversteer during wet road conditions.
Installing two new tires on the front or back can have a significant impact on how your vehicle reacts when traction is compromised. This could also be an issue on roads that have less traction, including dirt and gravel.
You might not notice any difference in the dry but in wet conditions, or if you need to brake hard, different tyres can behave very differently and could impact on your safety. That's why we always recommend replacing all 4 tyres if at all possible, for the optimum comfort, performance and safety.
In an emergency braking situation, it may mean your car doesn't stop in a straight line when you apply the brakes, putting you and your passengers in greater danger - for example, if you need to stay in your lane on the motorway. This is why it is really important to change your front and rear tyres in pairs.
Reasons to Avoid Replacing Only One Tire
To achieve optimum vehicle handling, ride comfort, and road traction, it's generally recommended that you have all four tires replaced at the same time.
Placing the new tires on the rear axle helps maintain safer and more predictable handling. As you approach 70 percent worn or more, you should just replace all four tires. To maintain optimum and balanced handling, remember not to change the type of tire.
Ideally, you'd replace all four tires. But if only two need to be replaced, the new tires should go in the back, says Michelin.
Replacing only one tire can cause that tire to spin at a slower rate. This can send false signals to antilock braking systems and traction control, which can cause dangerous errors. On AWD vehicles, it can cause the system to engage for no reason, wasting fuel at best and damaging the system at worst.
Primarily, you should avoid mixing different tire brands and different tread patterns. There are rare exceptions for approved mixed-tire fittings, but in general, manufacturers do not recommend tire mixing at all.
To meet legal safety standards in the U.S., a tire's tread needs to be at least 2/32” deep. If the tires do not meet the 2/32” standard or are approaching not meeting it, you should replace your tires. When replacing tires, it's important to select the right tire size for your vehicle.
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.
We would always recommend that for optimum safety, drivers should have their newest tyres fitted to the rear of their vehicle. This will ensure that have greater grip on the rear axle and should prevent any potential oversteer or loss of vehicle stability on slippery surfaces.
Newest tyres should be fitted to the rear axle
Having the newer tyres with more tread on the rear axle will provide better handling, wet grip, and water clearance to avoid oversteer and aquaplaning on wet surfaces. This is the case regardless of whether the vehicle is front or rear wheel drive.
The general pricing for inexpensive tires will be $50 to $150 each, $100 to $300 each for moderately priced tires, and $300 to $1000 each for high-end. Based on the median price of tires in the United States, you can expect to spend a little over $600 for a set of 4 new tires, not including the price of installation.
When tires are replaced in pairs, the new tires should always be installed on the rear axle, and the partially worn tires should be moved to the front.
Since most cars today are FWD and the front tires are responsible for acceleration, steering and most braking, they normally wear faster than the rears.
Generally the front pair of tyres will wear out faster, this is due to several reasons: 1) The front wheels perform the steering of the vehicle and therefore move much more than the rear tyres, every time you turn the steering wheel the front tyres will generate more friction as they rotate against the road.
On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.
If you drive a part-time 4WD vehicle it is recommended that you replace your tires in pairs. On AWD and FT-FWD vehicle, you may need to change all four tires (even if only one tire has gone bad). With AWD and FT-4WD vehicles, replacing less than 4 tires can be harmful to your vehicle's drive-train.
How long should your tires last? Some tires are built to reflect a warranty of approximately 100,000 km while entry-level tires have a warranty of approximately 60,000 km. Summer tires should be replaced at 3mm tread depth and winter tires, also known as snow tires should be replaced at 4mm tread depth.
Consider changing your tyres every 30,000 – 40,000km, or every 5-10 years. Advice on how long tyres last ranges from 10,000 to 50,000km, but the NRMA recommends changing them around every 40,000km.
Front tyres tend to wear faster, up to 2.5 times faster on some cars. The left front tyre has it the hardest. It is the most heavily loaded and responsible for transmitting most of the steering during right hand turns.
In some cases, the vehicle manufacturer may specifically advise against replacing less than all four tires. Always check and follow the recommendations in the vehicle owner's manual. For 4WD and AWD vehicles, even small differences in outside diameter may cause drive-train damage or mechanical malfunction.
On average, tires last about six years or between 36,000-75,000 miles. But the actual lifespan of tires varies with factors like climate, maintenance and driving habits. No matter how they look, tires should never be used longer than 10 years.
Some automakers suggest that tires be replaced as soon as they turn six years old. Some tire experts contend that tires can last anywhere from six to ten years if they're stored and cared for properly. We recommend replacing tires aged 6-10 years, no matter how much tread remains.