Different brand tires on car = bad?

[Tgo01]

I had to replace a tire a few weeks ago because the pot holes out here are the size of man made natural penis ponds. I didn't want to get the same kind of tire that is already on my car because no one near me carries that kind of tire and I would have had to go to the dealership to get the tire and spend a couple hundred dollars more for supposedly a special kind of tire. I figured as long as I replaced it with a tire that is the correct size and specs that the manufacturer recommends it would be no problem.

However I've been reading around on the ol' net and some people say mixing brands of tires like this can lead to all sorts of problems ranging from dangerous driving conditions to even damaging the drivetrain. Some people say when you have to replace a tire you should replace all four tires or at the very least two tires so the tires on the same axle are the exact same kind of tire with the exact same amount of tread and everything. This doesn't make sense to me but then again I'm hardly an expert in this sort of thing. Anyone ever hear anything about this? Is there some truth to this? Did it used to be true? Is it just a myth started by tire salesmen in order to get people to buy more tires?

If all four tires were 3000 miles away from needing to be replaced anyways I would have just gone ahead and replaced all four tires and got the exact same kind of tire for all of them. However the tires only had about 6000 miles on them at the time, I can't see replacing one or three practically brand new tires.

[Bobmuhthol]

Is it life-threatening? Most likely not. Can it potentially kill you in certain situations? Yes. It is smart to have identical tires. I definitely wouldn't replace only one, because it really is a bad idea to have substantially different wear on the tires. It can pretty easily manifest in damage to your wheels.

[Tgo01]

I definitely wouldn't replace only one, because it really is a bad idea to have substantially different wear on the tires. It can pretty easily manifest in damage to your wheels.

I can understand if the other tires had a lot of wear on them but 6000 miles is practically brand new, right?

[Bobmuhthol]

Depends on driving conditions. If you haven't lost more than a really tiny amount of tread (easily observable), you should be fine. I'm just hesitant to say 6000 miles automatically isn't an issue.

[Tgo01]

Is your main concern with tread wear on existing tires rather than mixing brands?

[Bobmuhthol]

Yes, because I can guarantee that it is an issue. I don't know about mixing brands, so I can't comment on that.

[TheEschaton]

I did see an episode of CSI once where they identified the murderer's car by the different brand tires he was using...so....there's that to consider.

[Tgo01]

I did see an episode of CSI once where they identified the murderer's car by the different brand tires he was using...so....there's that to consider.

SHIT! Well time to replace all of my tires then.

[Latrinsorm]

Just coat them with Scotchgard, murdernoob.

[AestheticDeath]

What kind of vehicle? What kind of tire? Z rated tires on a sports car? Large tires on a truck? Normal small size tires on a sedan? What are your driving conditions besides pot holes?

[Tgo01]

What kind of vehicle? What kind of tire? Z rated tires on a sports car? Large tires on a truck? Normal small size tires on a sedan? What are your driving conditions besides pot holes?

Hyundai Sonata. I don't think the tires are really anything fancy other than the dealership wants to charge an arm and a leg for them apparently. Driving conditions here are pretty decent most of the year, some snow/ice but I hardly ever have to drive in those kinds of conditions.

[AestheticDeath]

I am not a tire guy - but seeing as it is a sedan, I will assume (haha) that you drive responsibly and don't speed around and drive crazy etc. Town driving under 55mph shouldn't be a big problem no matter what IMO. Once you get to highway speeds, or if you drive like a teenager/crazy etc - I would suggest going into further detail.

How much difference is their in the tread pattern maybe, and definitely the tread wear like was suggested. Miles and age aren't the best gauge on this, since it depends also on your driving style, speeds, road conditions like how many pot holes or rail roads tracks you go over, how fast you corner (my sister drives her little 4 cylinder 4 door with crap tires around your size or smaller like it was my old vette on a track, she tends to wear off the outside edge of the tires really quick, and they go bald fairly fast as well, due to fast stops and starts) - so Just take a penny, make sure the tread isn't too far off, and do it for all four tires.

The tread pattern will matter more if its different on the two front tires, rather than the rear. Especially in the wet weather conditions. Some tires have direction tread, or tread that sweeps water to the outside edge etc. Radically different treads on the front two tires might cause odd handing with the steering wheel or something. But if you got the tire a couple weeks ago and don't notice a problem in handling or sound... I dunno.

Different brands can be made with various types of rubber, they might be softer and wear quicker or something.

Main thing with tires though, is make sure they aren't bald, the tread wear is mostly even, and the air pressure is both proper PSI and equal on all tires.

I am still bored, so ask another question and I will pretend I actually know something again!

[Tgo01]

I had an alignment done and there was still some pull afterwards but the tire guy said it's most likely radial pull and should get better/go away after driving for a while. I have noticed an improvement in the pulling so maybe he's right about that. About the only thing I noticed at first was the tire(s) (couldn't really tell which one was doing it) would skid sometimes when turning, but I haven't noticed that lately either.

So as far as handling wise I haven't really noticed anything that has been dangerous, then again the driving conditions have been excellent since I replaced the tire. I'm wondering if there is really any truth to this possibly fucking up the drivetrain at some point. I imagine people only replace one tire all the time, then again maybe those are the same people who have serious problems with their cars down the line too.

[Latrinsorm]

When I got a tire replaced the tire guy strongly recommended getting two (and there was a placard where the American Tire Selling Association of America strongly recommended getting all four). On the one hand no duh, they want to sell more tires, but on the other hand the physics of it are pretty compelling and traffic collisions are really unpleasant to be in.

[AestheticDeath]

I don't guess I believe the tires could do something to the drive train myself.. but who knows. Found this with a quick search though.


The faster you drive the more difference there will be in the speed that the different size tires spin. This can cause problems with if you have limited slip or other traction aids. They often engage if they feel one tire spinning at a different speed than another. This could cause a problem. I would think if you had to do it, you would be better off putting the odd size tire up front.


My mom put a 'slightly' different diameter tire on her car with an LSD and she cooked the differential.

If you're other four tires are halfway gone, it's too late to start putting it into rotation IMHO. They aren't BSing you. They didn't sell you tires, did they? They just don't want to risk liability of damage to your diff.


I work for discount tire, if you run one side of an axle with a tire that has greater than 5/32's difference in tread it can cause issues, does it always? no it does not, but as a company we want to protect ourselves from any possible damage that could result from that difference. 5/32's is our cutoff. if you want a five tire rotation then do it from the beginning.

As for having a spare age and needing to replace it, the tire will typically last 10 years before it should be replaced. Put it in a five tire rotation and it will not last that long.
in response to the above...

Very true but Chryslers,Ford,GM,Honda,Toyota,and Subaru's cutoff is 3/32" tread depth difference for any AWD vehicle(or have a fulltime option).It can and will cook the t-case and any LSD.In a part time 4wd system it can cook a LSD or accelerate wear on parts if you have a auto locker.

Can't say how many mad poeple I seen from this but you either buy 4 tires or sign a waiver.

[Tgo01]

When I got a tire replaced the tire guy strongly recommended getting two (and there was a placard where the American Tire Selling Association of America strongly recommended getting all four). On the one hand no duh, they want to sell more tires, but on the other hand the physics of it are pretty compelling and traffic collisions are really unpleasant to be in.

As far as different sized tires/vastly different tread wear on them I can see where you're coming from. But just the fact that the tires are different brands? I guess the different tread patterns could have something to do with it.

[AestheticDeath]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=18

I assume your car is 2 wheel drive though.

[AestheticDeath]

from yahoo site

When I buy replacement tires for my vehicle, do they all have to be the same size?


Yes and no. If you want to rotate the tires on your vehicle to maximize tread life, then all the tires have to be the same size. Rotating the tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles is a good idea, especially on front-wheel drive cars and minivans where the front tires tend to wear out long before the ones on the back. Wide, low profile tires also tend to develop unusual wear patterns if left in the same wheel position for their entire life.

If you don't plan to rotate your tires, however, then the front fires can be a different size than the ones on the back. But the tires on both front or both rear wheels must be the same size for proper handling and braking. Mismatched tires side-to-side can cause a vehicle to lead to one side and/or to pull when braking.

CAUTION: Never mismatch types of tires either on the front or rear wheels. A bias ply tire should never be paired with a radial tire, and vice versa. Likewise, tread design, belt type and overall tread wear should be the same (or similar) side-to-side for proper handling, steering and braking. Intermixing different brands and styles of tires may cause similar problems in some instances.

As for the size of replacement tires, some people will try to use anything that fits. This may not be a good idea because a vehicle's handling, steering and braking characteristics can all be adversely affected by using tires that are too large or too small for the application.

Some people may want oversized tires on their rear drive wheels to improve fuel economy. Switching to a larger diameter tire reduces the number of revolutions per mile. But it also affects the accuracy of your speedometer and odometer readings. Others may want wider or larger tires on the rear drive wheels to improve traction or to achieve a special kind of "look." Wide tires, however, typically provide reduced traction on wet roads.

Clearance problems can arise, too, if the tires are too wide or too large. They may rub against the body when turning or when the vehicle hits a bump. This can not only damage the vehicle but also the tires, possibly causing a blowout.

On cars and trucks that have antilock brakes (ABS) equipped cars and trucks, most vehicle manufacturers say replacement tires should be the same size as the originals. This is necessary because the diameter of the tire affects how the wheel speed sensors read, which in turn affect the operation of the ABS (and traction control) system. Changing to a larger or smaller diameter tire, or installing different sized tires front and rear can upset the operation of the ABS system. This may create braking problems and/or cause the ABS warning light to come on (which means the system is deactivated).

Vehicles with all-wheel drive or full-time four-wheel drive must also run the same sized tires front and rear to maintain the proper drive relationship between axles. If one set of tires is larger or smaller than the others, it will create slippage between the front and rear axles that will accelerate tire wear and adversely affect handling.

[Suppressed Poet]

Yes mixing tread types on the same axel is generally a bad idea. At the least, you are going to experience a rougher ride and uneven tread ware. At the other end, it can cause havoc during breaking and it's especially bad if they have different speed ratings.

Tires are probably the most important functional item on your car. They are the only part that actualy makes contact with the road, and for several reasons (due to laws of physics) have the single biggest impact to your cars performance.

Don't go cheap on tires. Also - regular maitenence is essential with tires. Rotate tires exactly the way your manual describes and every 10k miles. I check my air pressure once a week - but I'm anal about such things...at least every month.

Oh...and what drives me crazy...don't buy higher octane gas than your car needs. If you do, the only thing you are doing is throwing a way good money. If your manufacturer says regular gasoline, use it. Mid-grade and premium is not "cleaner", won't give you better gas mileage, and does absolutely nothing for you. The only exception is on older cars if you hear a ping, and it's not a permanent solution. Don't be an idiot and buy into a marketing scheme. Also, belt grease/conditioner will not solve a belt squeak.

[Tgo01]

Now I'm kind of worried about this. I gotta take my car in to the dealership to get the oil changed in a couple of days anyway, I'll ask what they think. Some reason I think they are going to recommend to replace all four tires.

[Warriorbird]

Now I'm kind of worried about this. I gotta take my car in to the dealership to get the oil changed in a couple of days anyway, I'll ask what they think. Some reason I think they are going to recommend to replace all four tires.

I would suggest that you use all the same tires. My one experience with temporarily not resulted in some really questionable rain traction that nearly put my car into a body of water.

[Tgo01]

For anyone interested in the ongoing saga of my tires I took my car to the dealership and I asked the lady about matching brand of tires and she looked at me like I was crazy, she said she never heard of such a thing. She asked someone else and he asked what kind of car I had then said as long as all of the tires are the same size the brand shouldn't matter, so maybe they recommend such a thing depending on the make and year of car.

As far as replacing just one tire at a time they recommended against that and said 2 at a time is best but they checked my tires and said they all looked good and they didn't think any needed to be changed.

I feel better now.

[Latrinsorm]

For anyone interested in the ongoing saga of my tires I took my car to the dealership and I asked the ladySigh...

[AnticorRifling]

If you don't get the same brand they won't match, if they don't match your shit will look busted. If it looks busted then it is busted. Facts.

[Tgo01]

Sigh...

I walked right into that one didn't I?


If you don't get the same brand they won't match, if they don't match your shit will look busted. If it looks busted then it is busted. Facts.

I think the PC is determined to get me to buy four new tires :(

I should start a poll.

[Warriorbird]

I walked right into that one didn't I?



I think the PC is determined to get me to buy four new tires :(

I should start a poll.

Shockingly most of us don't want you to have a car accident.

[Latrinsorm]

Speak for yourself. I'm still irate over him giving us obviously doctored bard song data.

[Warriorbird]

Speak for yourself. I'm still irate over him giving us obviously doctored bard song data.

I said most of us!

[Tgo01]

Shockingly most of us don't want you to have a car accident.

Can you blame me for being skeptical based on the death wishes I've gotten in reps? :(


Speak for yourself. I'm still irate over him giving us obviously doctored bard song data.

Hey I was just thinking about this the other day and was wondering if you've made any progress, you slacker!

[Latrinsorm]

I'm almost 1/8th of the way through compiling the Synergy data for every NBA player, if that's what you mean!

[Sile]

I'm frugal with cars. I've only ever bought one set of brand new tires ever. Here in Canada we pay a 'premium' for tires because hey it's Canada.

My friend recently got a nice set of tires for his car, in Canada they would of been about $2500 for the set, he lives in Vancouver. Ended up driving to Seattle for a weekend and found the exact same tires for $1300. The kicker was, they were made in Canada lol.

But with that said. You should always buy tires in sets of 2 or 4, 4 being ideal.

I'm cheap though. I know a few local junk yards that get insurance write offs quite often. Most of the time the tires are fine. I got a set of Blizacks on steel rims for my car last fall for $260. 40 bucks a rim, 25 a tire. They still had 90% thread remaining. Added another $80 to get them rebalanced just because and still under $350 for a set which would of cost me over $1400 new with rims at a tire dealer.

You have to be careful buying from yards though, know how to read thread depth. The penny test is easy enough though.

[Tgo01]

I'm almost 1/8th of the way through compiling the Synergy data for every NBA player, if that's what you mean!

No, no that's not what I mean :(

[Warriorbird]

[QUOTE=Tgo01;1538670]Can you blame me for being skeptical based on the death wishes I've gotten in reps? :(/QUOTE]

I don't rep much. About the worst you've gotten from me are suggestions that you don't believe your own lines. It freaked me out nearly going into the water. I wouldn't wish that on anybody (except maybe some Boston terrorists.) You're a Republican, the party of rich people all over. Buy some matching tires!

[Tgo01]

I don't rep much. About the worst you've gotten from me are suggestions that you don't believe your own lines. It freaked me out nearly going into the water.

What exactly happened? Not saying I don't believe you but how do you know it was the fault of the tires not matching?


I wouldn't wish that on anybody (except maybe some Boston terrorists.) You're a Republican, the party of rich people all over. Buy some matching tires!

I haven't gotten my paycheck yet for being a Republican shill! :(

[Jack]

Having two different branded tires can cause a pull, since the sidewalls are going to be a different level of stiffness. Also, if you have three good tires, say Michelin, and one cheap tire, say an Arazonian or other house brand tire, you have tires with drastically different amounts of traction. In dry conditions your car will just look silly with mismatching tires and people like Anticor will make fun of you, but in wet conditions it can manifest itself in one tire losing traction, and the other tires still grabbing. Obviously this is a bad thing, and will cause directional stability issues. A side issue will also occur. If a car comes back into the shop, and it has mismatching tires most techs aren't going to bother checking the car out. If you have mismatching tires it's assumed you aren't going to spend any money on repairs or maintenance. Finally, all the techs in the shop will laugh at you for being cheap and having mismatched tires....

[Tgo01]

Finally, all the techs in the shop will laugh at you for being cheap and having mismatched tires....

:(

[Atlanteax]

May be too late to chime in, but I would say that ideally your front tires = same ... rear tires = same.

So if you had to replace the left rear, you should replace the right rear as well. Then when the appropriate time comes, rotate them to the front wheels, and buy new tires for the rear set.