Your tires play a crucial role in stabilizing your vehicle, determining everything from the comfort of your ride to your gas mileage. When one of your tires is damaged or goes flat, you might be tempted to save money by just replacing one, but this might actually be dangerous. To maximize the safety and performance of your vehicle, you should never mix different tires on the same vehicle.

Why You Shouldn’t Mix Tires

Preventing Blowouts

Most vehicles are designed to work with four identical tires, so having different tread patterns or sizes on one axle will decrease your car’s torque delivery, handling and control. At the very least, this can cause your tires to wear unevenly, increasing the chances of having a blowout, which can be extremely dangerous at high speeds.

Getting the Most Out of Your Tires

The uneven wear caused by mixing tires will cause some to fail prematurely, forcing you to change all four to keep your vehicle as safe as possible. In the long run, mixing winter and all-season tires or different tread patterns can cost a lot more than purchasing identical tires in the first place.

Maximizing Performance

Mismatched tires won’t grip the road as effectively, leaving your vehicle unable to respond to obstacles in the road or changes in traffic conditions. Even one tire from a different brand than the others can leave you vulnerable to accidents you might have been able to avoid otherwise.

Since 1963, Privitt Auto Service Center has been Columbia, MO’s premier auto shop, offering everything from tire replacements to full engine rebuilds. No matter what vehicle you drive, you can rely on their highly trained technicians for reliable results and honest service. To learn more about their services and request an appointment, visit their website or call (573) 449-7941 today.