can you mix tire brands on a rear-wheel drive vehicle?

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rnmcd

Platinum Member
May 2, 2000
2,507
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I went in to get two new front tires to match the newer ones I had on the back. I was told they didn't make the solid white lettering anymore for that brand.

I've read that a person shouldn't mix tire brands on 4x4 vehicles (something about drive train stress) but is it okay to do it on a rear-wheel drive car?

 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Should be fine... However, you should try to stick with the stock size all around.

*waits for required Ornery comment*
 
waggy

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
nope. the car can sense that it has diffrent tires and will blow up.
 
F

flot

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
3,197
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Originally posted by: rnmcd
I went in to get two new front tires to match the newer ones I had on the back. I was told they didn't make the solid white lettering anymore for that brand.

I've read that a person shouldn't mix tire brands on 4x4 vehicles (something about drive train stress) but is it okay to do it on a rear-wheel drive car?
Click to expand...

It's not really a problem, but it depends on a number of things.

The *real* danger that someone you're probably thinking of is that in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, you don't want the front tires to be different from the rear tires - because in 4 wheel drive (not all wheel drive) typically the front drivetrain and rear drivetrain are mechanically "locked" together by the transfer case. Which is to say, if the rear wheels turn 1 revolution, the front wheels must also turn 1 revolution. If you had newer or slightly different size tires on the front than the back, then with every 1 revolution in the back, you might get 1.05 revolutions in the front.. note that that QUICKLY adds up and the tires would need to slip to release the stress. (this is why you only engage 4 wheel drive on loose surfaces) Same with all wheel drive - although the system is designed to allow for internal slippage, over time having to CONSTANTLY slip will add up to increased wear on the system. And of course the moral of the story is that a 215/50/16 tire from Manufacturer A could be a decidely different size than a 215/50/16 tire from manufacturer B. (think 17" monitors back in the day, some were 15.5 inches, some were 16.1 inches)

Mixing tire *brands* as a general rule can cause some oddities, because the front of your car will behave differently than the rear of the car in terms of handling, ride quality, etc - but I think the size thing is what you are thinking of when it comes to 4x4 vehicles.

As long as you are replacing pairs of tires, (ie both rears or both fronts) I wouldn't sweat it.

 
T

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
Originally posted by: flot
Originally posted by: rnmcd
I went in to get two new front tires to match the newer ones I had on the back. I was told they didn't make the solid white lettering anymore for that brand.

I've read that a person shouldn't mix tire brands on 4x4 vehicles (something about drive train stress) but is it okay to do it on a rear-wheel drive car?
Click to expand...

It's not really a problem, but it depends on a number of things.

The *real* danger that someone you're probably thinking of is that in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, you don't want the front tires to be different from the rear tires - because in 4 wheel drive (not all wheel drive) typically the front drivetrain and rear drivetrain are mechanically "locked" together by the transfer case. Which is to say, if the rear wheels turn 1 revolution, the front wheels must also turn 1 revolution. If you had newer or slightly different size tires on the front than the back, then with every 1 revolution in the back, you might get 1.05 revolutions in the front.. note that that QUICKLY adds up and the tires would need to slip to release the stress. (this is why you only engage 4 wheel drive on loose surfaces) Same with all wheel drive - although the system is designed to allow for internal slippage, over time having to CONSTANTLY slip will add up to increased wear on the system. And of course the moral of the story is that a 215/50/16 tire from Manufacturer A could be a decidely different size than a 215/50/16 tire from manufacturer B. (think 17" monitors back in the day, some were 15.5 inches, some were 16.1 inches)

Mixing tire *brands* as a general rule can cause some oddities, because the front of your car will behave differently than the rear of the car in terms of handling, ride quality, etc - but I think the size thing is what you are thinking of when it comes to 4x4 vehicles.

As long as you are replacing pairs of tires, (ie both rears or both fronts) I wouldn't sweat it.
Click to expand...

that's why you're not supposed to engage 4WD unless you are on terrain that is slippery enough to allow that kind of slippage in the first place.
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: flot
Originally posted by: rnmcd
I went in to get two new front tires to match the newer ones I had on the back. I was told they didn't make the solid white lettering anymore for that brand.

I've read that a person shouldn't mix tire brands on 4x4 vehicles (something about drive train stress) but is it okay to do it on a rear-wheel drive car?
Click to expand...

It's not really a problem, but it depends on a number of things.

The *real* danger that someone you're probably thinking of is that in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, you don't want the front tires to be different from the rear tires - because in 4 wheel drive (not all wheel drive) typically the front drivetrain and rear drivetrain are mechanically "locked" together by the transfer case. Which is to say, if the rear wheels turn 1 revolution, the front wheels must also turn 1 revolution. If you had newer or slightly different size tires on the front than the back, then with every 1 revolution in the back, you might get 1.05 revolutions in the front.. note that that QUICKLY adds up and the tires would need to slip to release the stress. (this is why you only engage 4 wheel drive on loose surfaces) Same with all wheel drive - although the system is designed to allow for internal slippage, over time having to CONSTANTLY slip will add up to increased wear on the system. And of course the moral of the story is that a 215/50/16 tire from Manufacturer A could be a decidely different size than a 215/50/16 tire from manufacturer B. (think 17" monitors back in the day, some were 15.5 inches, some were 16.1 inches)

Mixing tire *brands* as a general rule can cause some oddities, because the front of your car will behave differently than the rear of the car in terms of handling, ride quality, etc - but I think the size thing is what you are thinking of when it comes to 4x4 vehicles.

As long as you are replacing pairs of tires, (ie both rears or both fronts) I wouldn't sweat it.
Click to expand...

that's why you're not supposed to engage 4WD unless you are on terrain that is slippery enough to allow that kind of slippage in the first place.
Click to expand...
The severity of this problem is lessened with certain types of AWD... Like ones with viscous center differentials.
 
R

rnmcd

Platinum Member
May 2, 2000
2,507
0
0
Originally posted by: flot
Originally posted by: rnmcd
I went in to get two new front tires to match the newer ones I had on the back. I was told they didn't make the solid white lettering anymore for that brand.

I've read that a person shouldn't mix tire brands on 4x4 vehicles (something about drive train stress) but is it okay to do it on a rear-wheel drive car?
Click to expand...

It's not really a problem, but it depends on a number of things.

The *real* danger that someone you're probably thinking of is that in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, you don't want the front tires to be different from the rear tires - because in 4 wheel drive (not all wheel drive) typically the front drivetrain and rear drivetrain are mechanically "locked" together by the transfer case. Which is to say, if the rear wheels turn 1 revolution, the front wheels must also turn 1 revolution. If you had newer or slightly different size tires on the front than the back, then with every 1 revolution in the back, you might get 1.05 revolutions in the front.. note that that QUICKLY adds up and the tires would need to slip to release the stress. (this is why you only engage 4 wheel drive on loose surfaces) Same with all wheel drive - although the system is designed to allow for internal slippage, over time having to CONSTANTLY slip will add up to increased wear on the system. And of course the moral of the story is that a 215/50/16 tire from Manufacturer A could be a decidely different size than a 215/50/16 tire from manufacturer B. (think 17" monitors back in the day, some were 15.5 inches, some were 16.1 inches)

Mixing tire *brands* as a general rule can cause some oddities, because the front of your car will behave differently than the rear of the car in terms of handling, ride quality, etc - but I think the size thing is what you are thinking of when it comes to 4x4 vehicles.

As long as you are replacing pairs of tires, (ie both rears or both fronts) I wouldn't sweat it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the very enlightening post!

 
B

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
Brands, yes. Sizes, not a good idea.

And not that it's much of a factor these days, but you can't shouldn't mix radials and Bias ply tires either.

Does anyone KNOW what a bias ply IS these days?
 
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