3 half-worn tires, 1 new tire of the exact same model... is this okay?

[slugg]

Situation: 3 tires are half worn, one tire is brand new but is the exact same as the other 3. Is this okay?

My problem is that I can't find another Kumho ECSTA HP4 in P185/60R14 to replace it in a pair. I had one tire get effed by a screw and it was irreparable.

Is there any way to artificially wear the new tire or something?

 

[ballmode]

I don't see an issue but it might pull towards the new tire

 

[slugg]

I don't see an issue but it might pull towards the new tire

If it pull a tad, I'm okay with that. As long as there isn't a safety concern, I'm okay. I just don't have the money for a set of 4 tires at the moment. If I happen to find a second tire, I'll replace it on the same axel.

 

[fralexandr]

it should be ok as long as you're not taking turns retardedly fast
for some reason the tires on my brothers minivan are ALL of a different manufacturer (they must've all had different wear at some point?), and the brakes were replaced with cheap brakes (they squeal so much...) and he hasn't crashed yet with mixed city & highway driving (note: not recommended for aggressive driving )

 

[slugg]

What if I regularly drive at 90 mph and ignore traffic lights?

 

[alfa147x]

inflate to max psi for best performance.

 

[LTC8K6]

Shave it down so they all match within .001"

 

[slugg]

inflate to max psi for best performance.

I heard you should *always* inflate to sidewall...

Shave it down so they all match within .001"

Okay - this I'm interested in. How's that done? Is it even a significant difference? Keep in mind this tire is an EXACT match, it's just new.

edit: BTW, it's already on the car... front driver's side. I'll drive around later and see how it affects my steering.

 

[alfa147x]

Have you tried one of those shady used tire places?

 

[JTsyo]

Be sure to put the new on in the back. Maybe leave it there after the first rotation too.

 

[LTC8K6]

I heard you should *always* inflate to sidewall...



Okay - this I'm interested in. How's that done? Is it even a significant difference? Keep in mind this tire is an EXACT match, it's just new.

edit: BTW, it's already on the car... front driver's side. I'll drive around later and see how it affects my steering.

Well, they do shave down tires to match, but I was joking with the .001"

Matching Tires By Shaving Them to Maintain Equivalent Tire Tread Depths

What does a driver do if one tire has to be removed from service when it and the other three tires have already worn to two-thirds to one-half of their original tread depth? Simply installing one new tire runs the risk of drivability problems or expensive driveline damage. Replacing the other three partially worn tires along with the damaged tire significantly increases the cost.

Tire Rack can provide a solution by matching the tread depth of the replacement tire to the tread depth of the partially worn tires that will remain on the vehicle by removing tread rubber from a new tire on a specialized machine that operates as a tire lathe. While this may seem counterintuitive, the value of the mileage sacrificed by the one replacement tire is considerably less than the cost of rebuilding worn driveline components.

Tire Rack has offered a tire shaving service that has been primarily used for preparing competition tires for racetrack use. This same service can also be used to remove tread rubber from new pairs or individual street tires used on four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles to allow them to match the remaining tread depth of the other partially worn tires that will remain on the vehicle. In addition to providing equivalent tread depth to eliminate driveline stress, shaved tires will also better match the traction and handling qualities of the remaining worn tires.

While the cost of our street tire shaving service will range from $25 to $35 for each tire, it is significantly less than the cost of unnecessarily replacing the remaining two or three good tires with lots of mileage still available from them.

Here are recommendations from some of the manufactures that Tire Rack currently serves for matching the tires used on their four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles. Additional recommendations from other Original Equipment Vehicle Manufacturers is pending.
Audi As published in their vehicle owner's manual, "rolling radius of all 4 tires must remain the same" or within 4/32-inch of each other in remaining tread depth.
Porsche Cayenne within 30% of the other tire on the same axle's remaining treadwear.
Subaru Within 1/4-inch of tire circumference or about 2/32-inch of each other in remaining tread depth.

 

[waffleironhead]

Can you afford another? While 3+1 isnt too bad. 2+2 would be better.

 

[slugg]

Can you afford another? While 3+1 isnt too bad. 2+2 would be better.

I can... I just can't *find* another

 

[waffleironhead]

I can... I just can't *find* another

ooh, missed that in the op

 

[slugg]

I drove around a bit earlier. Everything seems fine... I'll just start saving up for a full 4 tire replacement. It's as simple as quitting StarBucks

 

[Black2na]

Ok first thing do you have a fwd car? Awd? I ask because you can do this but your drive wheels have to be the same diameter. Or else prolonged driving with two different sized tires can play hell with the differential in the car just put the new tire on a non drive wheel and you'll be good

 

[slugg]

Rear wheel drive (Miata) and the tire is on the driver's front side. I'm still actively looking for another of the same tire

 

[wand3r3r]

Back in the day I have had all different manufacturers. I've even had a completely different size on one tire during a mid-way blowout on a road trip when they didn't have the correct size (and it was Sunday in the middle of nowhere). I used to simply buy used tires for cheap from a junkyard and throw them on when the old ones blew out or wore out. The only thing I would say is if it's unsafe, you will certainly notice it when you drive! The wrong sized tire came off as soon as I got back from the road trip, it had a pretty bad pull!

Either way, if it really makes you feel better I think you could just buy another tire of another manufacturer so at least you have 2 new tires (same height on the tread). I don't think it matters too much. But that's just from my experience, the experts may have another opinion.

 

[Black2na]

Ahh a miata perfect continue along your way then ;p and throw some s-drives on there good streettire for the miata

 

[slugg]

Ahh a miata perfect continue along your way then ;p and throw some s-drives on there good streettire for the miata

It's an ongoing project on a college student budget... I bought it, then I had to repair the rain rail and fix a leak by the windshield. Then I got the unlucky flat tire, lol... Now I've got some kind of fuel and/or fuel vapor leak to deal with. Once all that is finished, THEN I'll worry about niceties, like sweet tires. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to fix my fuel vapor problem, so I may have to shell out some serious cash to a specialist.

 

[JCH13]

It's an ongoing project on a college student budget... I bought it, then I had to repair the rain rail and fix a leak by the windshield. Then I got the unlucky flat tire, lol... Now I've got some kind of fuel and/or fuel vapor leak to deal with. Once all that is finished, THEN I'll worry about niceties, like sweet tires. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to fix my fuel vapor problem, so I may have to shell out some serious cash to a specialist.

Check the hard lines under your car, they like to rust out. They are very nearly shot on mine.

Feel free to PM me with any questions, I've been playing 'fix the broken miata' for a little while now

 

[Mermaidman]

I was in a similar situation and found a very suitable replacement on eBay.

 

[mizzou]

Sure, why not?
Sometimes its cheaper to just replace them all if the other ones are going bad.....but i know where u are coming from

 

[slugg]

Check the hard lines under your car, they like to rust out. They are very nearly shot on mine.

Feel free to PM me with any questions, I've been playing 'fix the broken miata' for a little while now

I'm a complete novice, so bare with me. What are "the hard lines" under the car?

Thanks

Edit: i meant for that to be a PM. Blah.

 

[GregGreen]

You already were right to put the new one on what isn't your drive wheels so thats good.

If the tread patterns are similar, you probably won't notice the different tire most of the time. BUT, in extreme conditions, ie bad weather, emergencies, and track days, you are a lot more likely to notice that it handles differently than if all the tires were the same. So be careful there

PS: If it makes you feel better, I have one odd tire on my Accord. One day I went to go somewhere and the OEM right rear was flat because there was a puncture in the inside sidewall. No where was able to find the same tire and the rest of the tires were not close to replacement time yet, so I went with a similar tread by the same manufacturer. Seems to handle fine and haven't had issues. That said, if I still have this car when the other three need replacement, I will just be buying four new ones to match them up again. Also, the three original tires are V rated tires, this new one is the step one down from V, can't remember what letter that actually is.