One New Tire. Bad Idea?

[cheapo]

Our right front tire has been leaking for months. We've been pumping it up.
In the last few weeks it started leaking faster, to the point where it would go from 40 lbs to > 10 lbs in a day...so, spurred to action, I decided to get the tire plugged.

The tire shop couldn't repair it. (It was leaking around a previous plug due to the installer of that plug having ground the plug down too far, exposing the steel braiding in the adjacent tire rubber.)

A new tire was required. Same size, same make, same model.

I read a post somewhere by a guy who wouldn't put a new tire on an XC70 without having it ground down to the same tread depth as the other tires on the car. His reasoning being that the slightly different diameters of the tires will result in different rates of rotation, which the car will interpret as the quicker wheel slipping. This will engage the AWD system, causing excessive wear.

"Lunacy," I thought. "Has money to burn!" I grumbled.

Or is he correct? Will one, brand new tire, on the front of the car, destroy the AWD system?

[JRL]

You did not mention the tread depth of the other tires
Haldex cars can get by with a larger varience in tread than the earlier AWD cars but I would NEVER put one one ANY CAR on unless it's within 1-2 mm other other side (like 2-3000 miles of wear tops).

Buy another tire for the other side

[Kitheme]

When I purchased my XC, I had casually checked the tread of the front and rear tires on the driver's side and was surprised to find the rear one so deep; practically brand new. However, on delivery and close inspection I realized only the single tire had been replaced. Ugh.

Bought the car anyway because it was too good of a deal, but the tire bothered me. I went to pick up the service records from the Volvo specialist who had previously worked on the car, and mentioned to him in passing how my next stop was to replace the tires and why. He told me that if it was his car, he would immediately replace the tires as a 3mm difference in tread depth on one side would damage the angle gear.

(He also mentioned that the previous owner had to have known they were getting rid of the car when they replaced the single tire, as he had told them about replacing the tires before, and why. Yeesh.)

[JRL]

It's 3/32" not mm and that's for 2002s and earlier.
There is a much larger varience with Haldex equipped cars, 7-8/32", but I still would have them even side to side.

[Kitheme]

Funny; I remember thinking it was odd when the guy said mm instead of in. Still, I agree with you that on any car I'd want them even side to side. Even w/o the issue of damaging the AWD system, the driving dynamics of the car will be negatively altered.

[bbbuzzy]

One millimeter is pretty close to 1/32 of an inch.

[Astro14]

Our right front tire has been leaking for months. We've been pumping it up.
In the last few weeks it started leaking faster, to the point where it would go from 40 lbs to > 10 lbs in a day...so, spurred to action, I decided to get the tire plugged.

Ah...Cheapo...months? You put this off for months? They only leak like that when there is a puncture...and the object that punctured it can cause damage if allowed to stay in there...once pulled a nail from a tire on the minivan and plugged the hole (this ain't rocket surgery...you can do it easily...just get the good plugs that vulcanize to the rubber). Looked small from the outside, but it was over 3" long. When I replaced the tires later in the van's life - I found that the sidewall had been chewed up by that nail - damage to the butyl liner, and some damage to the sidewall cord. There are only 2 layers of cord in passenger car tire sidewalls. I never even knew that the tire had the equivalent of an aneurysm...

Lesson: get a leaking tire fixed ASAP, before it becomes unrepairable. If the object causing damage is longer than half an inch, dismount the tire to check for damage, don't just plug it...

And everyone is right on about the diameter/tread depth difference. It matters.

[cheapo]

I will measure the difference in tread depth across the front tires and report back.

[cheapo]

The difference in tread depth between the two front tires is 5/32".

[JRL]

Not good

[TheDarkKnightt]

Please explain something to me...
I understand the concern about the difference in tire sizes on our vehicles, but I don't understand the lack of attention that many people have to the tire pressure. I figure a significantly low tire on one side driven for too long can have the same disasterous effect as as tires being significantly "out of size"- perhaps even more so...

I check my tires everytime I fuel up- that way I can catch a problem before it starts- I've found screws and such in the tire this way.

The challenging thing about chaging a flat tire when out on the road isn't changing it itself or even safely getting off the road- the worst danger is from other drivers hitting you or the car while you're changing it- no matter where you pull off- even in a parking lot. [cussing]

[sjonnie]

I check my tires everytime I fuel up- that way I can catch a problem before it starts- I've found screws and such in the tire this way.
That's great but most times when I'm fueling tire pressure readings won't mean too much. Tire pressure must be checked when the tire hasn't been driven more than a mile or two or hasn't been sitting in the sun. A really good time to take a tire pressure reading is right after a car wash, when the tire has cooled somewhat. First thing in the morning is also great - if you remember!

My current Toyo Open Country H/Ts are set to 32psi cold (morning temp), but after driving they'll be 40psi or more depending on the ambient temperature. So I guess you could check that they are all at a similar pressure and if not suspect that one had a problem.

[JRL]

News flash, pressures will not do down in a car wash, not enough for a proper reading
Either within the first 2 miles of morning driving or a cool down of at least 4 hours in the summer, one-two hours in the winter

[budrichard]

Most Tire shops will not plug a puncture anymore either due to actual safety concerns or liability concerns.
I had a bolt in one of my 2003 P-ST's, went to the Tire Shop and of course, they won't plug it which is probably the correct decision. Ordered one new P-ST and didn't give it a second thought. Went through two set's of P-ST's, noisy but capable off road! Discontinued!
Riding on Nokian WR GR SUV's for now until I replace with something else due to wear.-Dick

[Astro14]

Dick - please let us all know how many miles you get out of the WR G2s. I am estimating 35K on mine based on wear to date. I love the Nokians, they are rotated and wearing smoothly, but this car seems to wear tires quickly, the Yokohamas on it previously wore out in 30K too...

thanks,
Astro

[budrichard]

I had to replace two Nokian's on the 2003 already at about 12K miles for uneven wear.
The Nokian WR G2's on the 1999 are gone also for uneven wear problems. The 1999 now wears Michelin MxV4's. No more Nokian's for me.-Dick

[BLUEH20]

28,000 on my Nokians. They are wearing poorly and will be replaced prior to this winter season. Sorely disappointed. Dealer is prorateing them--looking into a set of Michellins.

[wgriswold]

I keep reading about poor mileage reported for tires on the XC. I have a set of Toyo Eclipse tires that will be replaced this fall at 55K to 60K miles. I wonder if the increased mileage is due to their H rating as compared to the V rating of the OEM type tires?

Maybe V rated tires have softer rubber, or maybe people who want the higher rated tires drive more aggressively? My original Scorpions lasted only 30K miles so the driver may not matter so much.

I don't mean to restart the discussion about whether lower rated tires are safe but rather am interested in why there is such a range of mileage among the reports on this site.

[JRL]

Try a set of General Altimax
Nice tire
Inexpensive
96 load rating
A Best buy and very highly rated on TireRack
and...they're VERY QUIET!