Why Mixing Tires Is A Bad Idea

If we lived in a perfect world, all of our four tires would wear out at the same time, and everyone could afford to replace the set all at once. Unfortunately, things don’t work out that way in reality. Sometimes you find yourself having to replace tires one at a time as your budget permits. Miracle Body and Paint in San Antonio wants to inform you that there are important things to remember if you have to replace your times this way.

If you can only afford to replace one or two tires at a time, make sure that you purchase identical (or as close as possible) tires. This means that they have the same internal construction, size, tread pattern, and design. Avoid mixing winter tires with all-season tires and don’t mix run-flat tires with standard ones.

Why? The reason behind it is that tires are designed with different properties. They are built to work together as a set, so mixing sizes, tread patterns, and designs can lead to unpredictability. You may also encounter jittery handling and braking that can endanger you and your passengers.

It is best to stick to the same brand and model when purchasing new tires. Make sure to also place the new tires on the rear if you can only replace a pair. Some may see this as counterintuitive, but having your new tires on the front while driving on wet pavement can easily disperse the water and cause the rear tires to hydroplane.

As stated by law, the minimum tread depth of tires should be 2/32”. You should easily see this in the base of the tread grooves. Here is an effective trick to find out the tread depth of your tires. Insert a penny into the tread grooves with Lincoln’s head facing down. If the tread reaches the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is 2/32” deep. You can also use a quarter. If the tread reaches the top of Washington’s head, your tread is 4/32″ deep. If the tread reaches the Lincoln Memorial, it means that your tread is 6/32” deep.

Visit Miracle Body and Paint’s blog to learn more auto repair tricks and tips.