Is It OK To Have 2 Different Size Tires?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Long story short:

Yes

, it is a problem to have two tires of different sizes on the front (or back) of your car. Having two different-sized tires on the same axle is generally not a good thing. … Sometimes, people choose to put larger tires on the rear axle of their vehicle for handling reasons, cosmetic reasons, etc.

Can you use different size tires than recommended?

It’s

possible to change the size of your tires without actually changing the diameter

. … Generally, you don’t want to go with tires that have a diameter that is more than 3% different from the factory tires. It’s also a good idea to consult with a trusted mechanic before switching to larger or smaller tires.

Is it OK to have mismatched tires?

A car with

mismatched front and back tires should still be usable

, especially if it is a two wheel drive vehicle. … If the tires are different sizes then they may also wear at different rates, and you’ll be shopping for new tires sooner than you think. Functionally, mismatched tires will wear out at different rates.

Is it OK to have different size tires front and back?

What happens if wheels are different sizes. In a front- or rear-wheel-drive vehicle,

as long as both rear wheels are the same and both front wheels are the same

and the suspension geometry is set up to accommodate this, the vehicle will operate fine.

What happens if you have different size tires?


Mismatched wheels

will fit each tire differently causing uneven wear and tear. In addition, different sized wheels can lead to different sized tires which can be detrimental to your vehicle. The best case scenario is to buy the same original equipment wheels that came on your vehicle.

Can wrong size tires damage transmission?


Wrong size tires do not damage the transmission

. Although ill-fitting tires do not directly impact the transmission, it does impact the overall performance of the vehicle. Wrong size tires can cause a safety hazard as well as cause structural damage to the vehicle.

Do all 4 tires have to be the same size?

It should go without saying, but all wheel drive and

four wheel drives vehicles should have the same tire size on all four wheels

. … Since tires vary from brand to brand, and even from model to model, damage can even occur with tires of the same size if they have a large enough difference in circumference.

Can mismatched tires cause vibration?


Uneven tire wear can cause your wheels to become unbalanced

and unbalanced wheels shake your car! This can be difficult to diagnose but a skilled auto mechanic can find the problem in a flash. Proper maintenance can prevent most shaking and vibration.

Should I put my best tires on the front or rear?

According to Tire Review,

new tires should always go in the back

. Rear tires provide the vehicle stability, and if they have little tread, then stability is lost.

Can I just replace 1 tire?

CARS.COM —

You can safely replace only one tire if the others still have most of their tread

. … The reason is simple: A car with four tires that behave the same — whether accelerating, braking or cornering — is balanced and predictable.

Can different size tires fit on the same rim?

Wheels and tires are not interchangeable words. … For instance, your vehicle has a set size of rims, but you can buy different sizes of tires to fit those rims,

as long as the middle of the tires is the correct size

. That being said, a vehicle with bigger rims will often be able to fit larger tires than other vehicles.

How much difference in tire size is acceptable?

Generally, it is recommended to

not exceed a 3% difference

when changing from the OEM size on a non-modified vehicle. A green row means that the alternate tire diameter matches the calculated tire diameter.

Are 18 wheels better than 17?

While larger-diameter wheels and tires should improve handling and high-speed performance, lower-profile tires also tend to have a firmer ride and may be noisier than the smaller, standard rubber. … An 18-inch tire, for example, will probably

weigh at least a couple of pounds more than

a 16- or 17-inch tire.

Can I use 235 tires instead of 225?

Are 225 and 235 Tires Interchangeable?

Yes

, they are. However, this is only possible if your car’s rims can accept the larger millimeter.

Can I use 225 tires instead of 215?


Yes, you can

. But only if the rims on your car can accommodate tires that are 10-20 millimeters wider. Bear in mind that wider wheels require more fuel due to their increased rolling resistance. Again, wider tires are more costly than narrower ones because they need more rubber during construction.

How do you rotate tires with different sizes?

Different-size directional tires with different-size wheels:

Tires must be dismounted and remounted on the appropriate wheel/direction of rotation

. Non-directional wheels and tires with different sizes front and rear: The left front goes to the right front. The right front goes to the left front.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.