really need 4 tires ?

[3bears]

asking for a lady friend, so she has a 99 sr5 with wild peaks on them, she hit something the other day and shredded a tire. The tires maybe have nearly 5k on them all street. The tire shop told her she has to replace all 4 because its 4wd and all tires have to be the same size as far as wear etc. 245/75/16. I told her to ask another shop that sells same tires.


Now I have heard that about subarus and awd before. And I could see if maybe they were down to nearly bald tires and you put one new one on how it might cause issues with 4wd.

but snow is coming soon and she will need her 4wd

thoughts ?

 

[jgue467]

That's bogus.

If mine and only 5k on tires with Even wear - I'd replace just the One tire.

Unless locked - the 4Runners 4wd will handle a 16th" diff in tires with no issues. Locked in correct conditions will also yield no issues. Luck all.

 

[2TH4IST]

I'd just replace rhe one and be done. Take it somewhere else. Though I have heard that for subies and evos though, especially race cars, but then again it's apples to oranges.

 

[3bears]

thanks guys,, thats what I told her too.

 

[Endlessblockades]

If your friend had originally bought 5 new wildpeaks it would be about time to do a rotation that would put the unused 5th tire into the mix, right? That shop sucks and/or the tire tech wanted 3 nearly-new WPs for free.

 

[phattyduck]

I'd just replace rhe one and be done. Take it somewhere else. Though I have heard that for subies and evos though, especially race cars, but then again it's apples to oranges.

5k miles is 1/4-1/2 of the life of a set of good tires for a performance car... But not for AT tires. Just replace the 1 - or *maybe* a pair.

-Charlie

 

[Hungryhawk]

Tire replacement 4WD versus AWD

I believe the 4WD SR5 has "open" diffs. Even if rear has a locker it would be used on dirt, snow, mud etc. where some tire slippage will happen. Open diffs tolerate tire diameter differences very well. The SR5 traction control uses the brakes to slow a slipping and spinning tire to shift traction to the other on that axle. I selected my SR5 to get away from the AWD tire issues.
The AWD vehicles, however, are very sensitive to tire diameter. I believe the Toyota Limited can be AWD. I owned 2 Honda AWD models, a Pilot & CRV. Keeping tire diameters very close on all 4 wheels was a well known issue. Same with Subaru.

I was prepared to buy a used tire matching the wear & tire diameter on my Hondas if I was ever needing a tire.

 

[3bears]

sandy went to another tire shop and was told she needed ONE and they ordered it.