Tires are designed to provide stability and control to your car, regardless of the driving surface. They’re also designed to be identical, so the car’s weight can be evenly distributed as it moves forward. By adding new tires at different intervals, you could end up with a mixed set. This can create issues for your vehicle. Here are some best practices to follow when changing or replacing your car’s tires.

A Guide to Vehicle Tires

Why You Shouldn’t Mix Tread, Manufacturer, & Size

Car manufacturers recommend fitting the same tires to all four positions. If this isn’t possible, you can mix different tires so long as you keep the same brand, size, tread patterns, and load index across each axle. Slight differences in size on an axle might work in the short-term, but if left for too long, you could damage your differential, which ensures the tires get the right amount of power from the engine. 

Combining various manufacturers is a bad idea, as tire makers use their own unique tread patterns and material compounds, which will impact a tire’s performance. Treads are designed to combat conditions like hydroplaning, where water separates the tire’s surface from the road. Mixing different treads can create dangerous road situations, depending on which axle has less tread depth.

When adding new tires, be sure to have them installed on the rear axle for improved safety in wet conditions. If front tires hydroplane due to worn tread, the driver will only need to release the throttle to regain the lost traction. If this happens with the rear tires, releasing the throttle will only make the vehicle more unstable, leading to sliding and fishtails. 

Standard Practice for Replacing Vehicle Tires

If the time has come to replace your tires, the best course of action is to look at the original equipment (OE) tires. These are the tires that were chosen for your vehicle by its manufacturer. By matching the OE tires, you’re ensuring that your new tires will have the same tread design, dimensions, compounds, and load index.

When you’re looking for an upgrade, such as tires that perform better in snow, choose equivalent tires with the same size dimensions and speed rating, within the same performance category. 

It’s not recommended to replacing tires with versions that aren’t OE or in the same performance range. If circumstances don’t give you a choice, using other replacement tires should only be done temporarily. Over time, tire mixing can lead to poor vehicle handling, particularly in bad weather.

If you need a responsible tire replacement, visit the professional technicians at Foley Auto & RV Repair. These automotive experts have been providing reliable automobile repair, inspections, tuneups, and tire maintenance to the drivers of Baldwin County, AL, since 2007. View their full list of products and services online, or call (251) 971-3770 for more information.