Is replacing two tires a necessity, or an attempt to bilk customers?

[FlightlessDuck]

In general, when I go to some tire specialist store to replace tires on my car, they say that they recommend that all tires, or at least the two matching (front or back) are replaced. This is for a 4-door automatic sedan. No AWD.

Why? I have one bad tire. I want to replace the tire. My other tires haven't blown out, just the one. I don't want to pay for 2 or 4 tires when the other ones I have are still good. Is there a valid reason to replace more than just the flat tire? Or is it just an attempt to make more money?

Also, is it better to go to a tire shop, or a general repair shop? My old "guy" retired recently and I haven't found a reliable mechanic yet to replace him...

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I'm no expert but it sounds reasonable to me that you would want both front or back tires to be equal in remaining tread. Especially if you have 1/2 or less tread remaining on the other tire.

 

[MushyMushy]

I would think that having two tires with different tread might affect the alignment, even if the differences are small.

 

[FireDancer]

Unless you have to replace the tire within weeks of putting on a new set you always want to replace both tires on the same axle at the same time with the exact same tire. You can mismatch the front and rear tires but never the tires on the same axle.

Having two different diameter tires is bad for the alignment and can be a safety concern, especially on the front axle since that is where the majority of braking comes from. Two different diameter wheels will be spinning at different speeds and have different mass which would cause issues with braking in a straight line.

 

[Geoff_M]

If the tires in question are on a "driven" axle, then having a new and old tire of the "same" size on that axle could cause extra strain on the differential. Given wear on the older tire, the circumferences of both tires will be unequal and will therefore turn at slightly different rates at any given speed.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Yeah, I think I need to bite the bullet and buy two new tires. Better safe than sorry.

Any advice on whether to go to a regular mechanic or specifically a tire shop (Jack Williams, etc.)?

 

[FireDancer]

Yeah, I think I need to bite the bullet and buy two new tires. Better safe than sorry.

Any advice on whether to go to a regular mechanic or specifically a tire shop (Jack Williams, etc.)?

I have always found it cheapest to get the tires online and then pay a shop to mount and balance them. Discount Tire and TireRack are the two I have used and like.

 

[CarmenPeteron]

If you only buy one tire and not a pair the car will be out of balance and the car will pull to the left or right.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Thanks, everybody

 

[MushyMushy]

Do you have any small locally owned repair or tire shops where you live? I've always gotten the best prices at those places. We have one guy who will price match anybody else's prices and he doesn't charge as much for labor either.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

It's better to replace 2 in order to keep the respective axel balanced.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not for pricing necessarily, but I've gotten the best advice from a tire place - Town Tire. Of course, the OP has gotten the same advice here

 

[stevenpensacola]

I have always found it cheapest to get the tires online and then pay a shop to mount and balance them. Discount Tire and TireRack are the two I have used and like.

The only time I would buy online is if the tires you want are not available from a local shop.

The initial price for the tires is cheaper when you purchase them on-line, but when you add in the cost of shipping, mounting-balancing,disposal, plus the cost of buying a lifetime rotate/balance/flat repair from a local tire store, the cost is the same as buying from your local tire store.

The last time I shopped for tires, in the end...there was a $2 difference in buying local versus buying on-line.

 

[goofyernmost]

Personally I think it is a crock. It works on the idea that mechanically most people are not well versed on what does or doesn't work.

The difference in the size of a new tire as opposed to a used one isn't negligable when it comes to handling, balance or anything else. Todays tires are made to last so much longer than they used to be that it isn't profitable to sell just one.

Sadly, when a company that sells tires decides that policy dictate the purchase of more than one, you are not left with much choice.

It is, IMHO, just another sales pitch designed, via fear, to sell you on an idea that is fabricated and difficult to prove wrong. Maybe Mythbusters should be called upon to do this test.

 

[Squirlz]

While some of the reasons you've been given are dubious (the ONLY time tires are rotating at the same speed is when you are going perfectly straight) it is a good idea to replace both if there is appreciable wear on the other tire. If you just get one it should be the same size and preferably the same brand and style.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Other front tire was really worn. Back tires are fine. Got a good price, so replacing both front

Thanks everybody.

 

[PaulaSue]

Sorry Goofy but I disagree. As a wife of a tire guy I have learned enough being in the shop to trust them....The Tire Guy, more so than the mechanics.

Glad you found someone, or if you wanted to drive you could have come down here. I always suggest to go to a local tire guy over online since my Dh can suggest what is good for your car, how old, how long you plan on keeping them, not just the brand on the sites. He can order get most brands in 1-2 days.

Right now there are a lot of rebates on 4 sets of tires.

 

[tvguy]

To me, the key word in OP's post is "blown out".

If I ruin a tire by hitting a road hazard, or having an unrepairable puncture, I would consider replacing just that tire.

If I have a blow out, I replace all 4 tires with another brand! Modern tires should not blow out.
I went on the war path about this at work about our company cars. Now, I don't normally drive much at work, but I sure was noticing a pattern. Our Live Trucks would blow a tire, we'd pay $150 to have a tow truck come out and change the tire, (since they are too heavy to safely use the factory jack to change a tire ) and then within 2 months, the other tire on that axle would blow out.
They were buying the cheapest tires they could, Cooper. They were saving $50 a tire, $200 a truck, but a couple of tow truck calls at $150 wiped out any savings. Since we switched to Michelins, we no longer have blow outs.

 

[Ppufi]

My Physics teacher was talking about this when we were learning about friction. He said something like it causes your car to veer to one side are messes up different parts of your car when you have to fight to straighten out.

 

[bumbershoot]

It is, IMHO, just another sales pitch designed, via fear, to sell you on an idea that is fabricated and difficult to prove wrong. Maybe Mythbusters should be called upon to do this test.

Or you could.