Are Mismatched Wheels and Tires Safe on the Road? (2024)

FAQs

Are Mismatched Wheels and Tires Safe on the Road? ›

Having different sizes on some four wheel and all wheel drive vehicles can actually do damage to the vehicle. Since tires vary from brand to brand, and even from model to model, damage can even occur with tires of the same size if they have a large enough difference in circumference.

While it is not recommended, it is possible to drive with mismatched wheels and tires on a car for a short period under certain circ*mstances. However, it is important to understand the potential risks and limitations associated with doing so.

The tires on your vehicle are designed with traction and handling properties. Mixing tires with varying sizes, designs, and tread patterns will cause vehicle handling and braking issues. Poor handling makes for unstable driving conditions and increases your risk for accidents on the road.

Matching Wheels & Tires on Each Axle

If you decide to use mismatched tires or wheels, you need to ensure that each axle of your vehicle contains the same tires. On a 2-axle vehicle, the two front tires should match and the two rear tires should match. Rear tires do not necessarily have to match the pair of front tires.

As a general rule, you want replacement tires that are within 3 percent of the diameter (height) measurement of your existing tires' diameter — assuming your current tires are what your owner's manual recommends.

If you can't find a tire that's an exact match, make sure to use it temporarily, as you would with your spare tire. A tire with a different size, load carrying capacity, speed rating or tread pattern can lead to poor handling and be unsafe in severe weather or emergency driving conditions.

When the tires fitted on your car differ in size or other characteristics, the vehicle experiences several issues. You may need wheel alignments and suspension repairs more frequently or experience inflation issues. A uniform set helps you mitigate these challenges upfront.

Your car's driveshaft and suspension system rely on the tires working in tandem for good performance. If one tire is different than the others, it puts your car under stress that can cause damage. That's why, even when you replace all the tires at once, you should rotate them so that the tires wear evenly.

Unless your vehicle is a staggered one that requires differently sized tires on the front and rear axles, do not mix tire sizes. Mount the same size on all four tires, even if they are not the same tire brand. If a vehicle's tires are too small or too large, they will hinder its performance.

Additional factors that you must consider when you change wheels are the wheel's offset, centerbore, bolt pattern, lug hardware, potential suspension interference, and load capacity. If any one of these things is wrong the wheels either won't fit or, if they do fit, they won't perform well and could actually be unsafe.

Can you drive with one different tire? ›

Let's Recap: If your tires' tread depth will be within 4/32” of each other, you can get away with replacing just one or two tires. If you drive an AWD vehicle, the tires must be within 2/32” of each other. But you should always check the vehicle owner's manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.

It should go without saying, but all wheel drive and four wheel drives vehicles should have the same tire size on all four wheels. Having different sizes on some four wheel and all wheel drive vehicles can actually do damage to the vehicle.

Generally speaking, you shouldn't use a mixed or mismatched set of tires on your vehicle, unless the tire and/or vehicle manufacturer specifies that this is acceptable. (Some vehicles have what is known as a “staggered fitment" -- different-sized tires on the front and rear axles.)

Different tire sizes, tire brands, and tire styles should never be mixed on the same axle. Tires of different sizes can be mounted on the front and rear axles if approved by the vehicle manufacturer. It is common on high performance sports cars and luxury sedans for the rear tires to be wider than the front tires.

If you are running an automotive transmission this can cause some serious strain depending on the current gear ratio if you choose not to regear your system.” Increased wear can also occur with the transmission, brakes, axles, CV joints, differential components, and more.

You can but you should not the handling and braking will be poor. The abs will not work with a wheel mismatch and if front wheel drive the differential will wear rapidly. The larger front wheel side suspension will be supporting more weight making the car prone to rolling and the suspension collapsing .

Continuing to drive a vehicle with bad alignment will: Wear out your tires faster and even permanently damage them. Increase friction on your tires, making them less fuel efficient. Make steering difficult to control and may put you at risk of an accident.

A matching set of tires ensures that your vehicle's weight is distributed evenly, preventing overloading on certain tires. Speed capability. Speed ratings indicate the maximum speed a tire can safely handle. Mixing tires with different speed ratings can compromise your vehicle's performance and safety at high speeds.

Yes, you can. You need to have the same size rims on each axle or at least, make sure the tire circumference is the same. Mismatched tires and wheels will cause a handling problem.