Are Mismatched Tires or Wheels Safe on the Road?

Is it bad to have mismatched tires? Yes; drive smoother, safer, and get more out of your tires with a fully-matching set!

We’re all looking for a better, more efficient way to drive. For greater control and stability on the road, you must have matching tires on your vehicle. This means all your tires need to be the same size, tread type, and design. The only exception is the rare vehicle with ‘staggered fitment’, where the front and rear axles need different sized tires. 

Here are a few examples of how your car tires could be mismatched:

·        Uneven wear or tread patterns

·        Different manufacturers 

·        Seasonal winter/summer 

·        Different characteristics or sizes 

·        Run-flats and non-run-flats

Uniform tires provide better control and grip on the road while ensuring regular intervals of rotation. Matching tires wear evenly; therefore, a standard set will help you get the most out of your money as the lifespan. A range of circumstances, however, can affect the rate of wear on your tires. Poor wheel alignment or vehicle maintenance, road conditions, and personal driving habits contribute to a higher rate of wear. Be aware of these factors as you regularly monitor each tire. 

If one of your tires is destroyed by a puncture or other damage then you are faced with an important decision. Do you replace one, or all of your tires? Replacing one tire may initially be the cheaper option but investing in a completely new set will extend the life of your remaining, non-damaged tires. That’s right; To ensure your tires are all replaced at once, you should replace all of them together. A uniform set of tires will place you at an advantage, with optimum handling and traction.

But new set of tires are expensive, what should I do?

Understandably, your budget may be a concern as a new set of tires is costly. If you find yourself in this situation then your single replacement needs to match the others in size, manufacturer, design, and style. When buying tires, it makes sense to select tires that fall into the same performance category. Specifically, they will need to be able to withstand loads, maintain traction, and provide optimum handling. This ensures your tires have the same capabilities as your original tires.

You should only use a tire that doesn’t match the characteristics of your existing tires as a final resort, such as in an emergency. If you use a mismatched tire then make it temporary and get it changed at the earliest opportunity. To be safe and protect the lifespan of your tires, replacing all four at the same time is always your best option. Have you checked the tread depth and wear on your tires recently?

Needing roadside service can be stressful. Thankfully, auXcar has you covered with battery jumpstarts, engine code checks, spare tire changes, towing trucks, and emergency fuel. One-touch on this handy app puts you in touch with a network of specialists ready to get you back on the road.