Tyre Question

[Irishman]

I could do with a new set of rubbers, but I can't afford to buy four at once. If I buy two and put them on the rear for instance, what happens when I engage H4. Will the different circumferences cause undue wear?
Ron.

[ThysdJ]

Ron, how long will you be using a mismatched set? Is it not possible to buy 2 tyres now, but not fit them yet and only fit them when you buy the 2nd pair? Or is your current set of tyres on the edge? There will be some axle wind-up and scrubbing, but on loose surfaces it should not have such a huge effect. :? :?

[Irishman]

Thanks Thys, the fronts are about 50 percent and the rears about 30 percent so I must have extra wear already.I'll switch back to front in the mean time. So this means it is a good idea for 4X4 owners to switch tyres about every 5000k's or so. We can start a good discussion here. Which one will wear out fastest
Ron.

[ThysdJ]

I swop my tyres around every 5000km's anyway, that way the wear is even on all 4 tyres and the knobblies don't get worn in one direction only. That way I have managed to put approx 50000km's on them with more than half the thread still left. On any vehicle the drive wheels do wear quicker than the "non drive" wheels.

[BenHur]

On any vehicle the drive wheels do wear quicker than the "non drive" wheels.

Not always. On my Beemers (driving mostly on Gautng Highways) the front tyres used to wear down quicker - they told me at the tyre place it was not uncommon. it has something to do with ABS and braking hard yada yada....

[ToyX4]

Bennie, I think cornering speed also has something to do with this.

But I think mostly the drive wheels will wear faster.

Thanks for reminding me to rotate the tyres, think it's about 5000 km's overdue

[ThysdJ]

yes Bennie. On my BMW I have also found that the front tyres worn out at the same rate as the rears, because of cornering and braking. :roll:

[CasKru]

When rotating tyres, remember the following:

Radial tyres you can only fit back to front (the must remain on the same side of the vehicle)
Crossply tyres can be rotated in any direction

[Riceburner]

Put them all on at the same time.

[Irishman]

When rotating tyres, remember the following:

Radial tyres you can only fit back to front (the must remain on the same side of the vehicle)
Crossply tyres can be rotated in any direction

Thanks Cassie, I learn something every day on this forum
Ron.

[dalkill]

what is the min tread that you would feel safe driving you lux on?
what the legal limit?

[Scorpion]

The legal limit is 1mm of thread IIRC. I judge safety by the way the car behaves on the road. If it starts feeling "unstable" then I replace, normally it is with about 2 - 3 mm of thread left.

[CasKru]

what is the min tread that you would feel safe driving you lux on?
what the legal limit?

All tyres have a indication on the tyre itself where it is time to replace it. If you look in between the tyre treads you will notice little humps that run from side to side. If you reach this level.... legally you have to replace your tyre.