Someone randomly slashed one of my tires. Can I just replace the one?
September 1, 2013 2:51 PM Subscribe
I have already had installed and paid for one replacement tire, and just learned that replacing two is a fairly standard practice. Is that necessary and/or advisable?
So as a welcome to the new neighborhood (I've lived here just a couple of weeks), my car's front passenger tire was slashed while parked innocuously in my downtown this past Friday evening. Some locals helped me change it to the donut, and then Saturday morning I took it to WalMart for a diagnosis (which was when I learned definitively that yes, it was stabbed) and repair/replacement. The locals had said to go to this WalMart as it was cheap but just as good as the Firestone in town. I also called the police while at WalMart to file a report*, and then the tire was disposed of and a new one put on the car. They couldn't patch and reuse the old tire as the cut was on the side and all including the policeman agreed that made it unpatchable. I've already paid for these services.
No one at WalMart suggested I should replace more than the one tire. I've just learned that it is often recommended to replace two tires at once. Do I need to go back to WalMart to buy a second one? Does it matter that all four tires were purchased fairly recently (approximately two years ago)? Should I take it to my brand new no-idea-how-good-yet mechanic and ask his opinion?
*The policeman suspects nonsensical drunken assholery.
So as a welcome to the new neighborhood (I've lived here just a couple of weeks), my car's front passenger tire was slashed while parked innocuously in my downtown this past Friday evening. Some locals helped me change it to the donut, and then Saturday morning I took it to WalMart for a diagnosis (which was when I learned definitively that yes, it was stabbed) and repair/replacement. The locals had said to go to this WalMart as it was cheap but just as good as the Firestone in town. I also called the police while at WalMart to file a report*, and then the tire was disposed of and a new one put on the car. They couldn't patch and reuse the old tire as the cut was on the side and all including the policeman agreed that made it unpatchable. I've already paid for these services.
No one at WalMart suggested I should replace more than the one tire. I've just learned that it is often recommended to replace two tires at once. Do I need to go back to WalMart to buy a second one? Does it matter that all four tires were purchased fairly recently (approximately two years ago)? Should I take it to my brand new no-idea-how-good-yet mechanic and ask his opinion?
*The policeman suspects nonsensical drunken assholery.
Ugh. What a welcome. Sorry you had to deal with this.
While I'm far from a mechanic, my understanding is that yes, it is standard procedure to replace only two or all four tires at once, rather than one by one. This is because of wear, etc, and needing your tires to have the same amount of tread in order to maintain even stability as you drive. But again - as I'm sure my explanation suggests - I'm far from any sort of expert on cars or anything even slightly related. I'm just passing along what my experiences from a flat, a blow-out, and normal wear and tear have taught me over many years, two cars, and a number of mechanics.
posted by AthenaPolias at 3:20 PM on September 1, 2013
While I'm far from a mechanic, my understanding is that yes, it is standard procedure to replace only two or all four tires at once, rather than one by one. This is because of wear, etc, and needing your tires to have the same amount of tread in order to maintain even stability as you drive. But again - as I'm sure my explanation suggests - I'm far from any sort of expert on cars or anything even slightly related. I'm just passing along what my experiences from a flat, a blow-out, and normal wear and tear have taught me over many years, two cars, and a number of mechanics.
posted by AthenaPolias at 3:20 PM on September 1, 2013
I think HuronBob has it--make sure they are exactly the same size and if the tread is substantially comparable I would not be overly concerned. If you do regular long distance commuting or frequent long distance driving you may want to reevaluate. If Walmart sold you a slightly different size I would go back and discuss this with them. It should match your other tires.
posted by rmhsinc at 3:35 PM on September 1, 2013
posted by rmhsinc at 3:35 PM on September 1, 2013
Your owners manual may have a specification for allowable diameter difference. You can buy a cheap tread depth gauge from a local auto parts store and find this difference for yourself. The tires have to all be the same size for this method to work.
Tire Rack has plenty more information on this topic.
posted by Talk To Me Goose at 3:37 PM on September 1, 2013
Tire Rack has plenty more information on this topic.
posted by Talk To Me Goose at 3:37 PM on September 1, 2013
My husband owns a tire shop and says:
1) If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, you can't just replace one tire, you have to replace all four or you can do a lot of damage to your drive train.
2) Otherwise, given that the tires are two years old (not new), you should replace both tires or you'll always have one tire that's worn lower than the other, which will pull your car to one side, affecting your driving, braking, etc.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:52 PM on September 1, 2013 [7 favorites]
1) If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, you can't just replace one tire, you have to replace all four or you can do a lot of damage to your drive train.
2) Otherwise, given that the tires are two years old (not new), you should replace both tires or you'll always have one tire that's worn lower than the other, which will pull your car to one side, affecting your driving, braking, etc.
posted by Jacqueline at 3:52 PM on September 1, 2013 [7 favorites]
Best answer: If your car is two wheel drive, the new tire should not be installed on a drive wheel. It will cause premature wear of the CV joints. So if your car is front wheel drive and the new tire went on a rear wheel or vice versa, you're hunky dory unless your old tires were nearly shot, which is dependent on mileage more than age. I once had some four year old tires that were like new, having had less than 5,000 miles put on them. If this describes you, a single tire replacement will be fine if it isn't on a drive wheel.
If there is a substantial difference in treadwear, it can present traction problems in an emergency and tracking problems when trying to drive in a straight line, especially if the replacement was on the front. Assuming you have a modern car, the ABS and traction/stability control systems should keep it from killing you, but it's still not great.
As far as all wheel drive/4 wheel drive cars, you should replace both fronts or both rears at the same time on any vehicle so equipped, never just one tire. In a part-time 4 wheel drive systems like the Toyota and Honda SUVs have, for example, the front and rear wheels are usually not driven at the same time and are not connected by a fixed linkage, so a difference between the front and rear tires won't make a difference. In a vehicle with a full time 4 wheel/all wheel drive like a Subaru or many trucks, you do need to replace all four tires at once, because the mechanical components will wear prematurely if you don't. That's a lot more expensive than a set of tires. (for most cars, anyway)
posted by wierdo at 5:00 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
If there is a substantial difference in treadwear, it can present traction problems in an emergency and tracking problems when trying to drive in a straight line, especially if the replacement was on the front. Assuming you have a modern car, the ABS and traction/stability control systems should keep it from killing you, but it's still not great.
As far as all wheel drive/4 wheel drive cars, you should replace both fronts or both rears at the same time on any vehicle so equipped, never just one tire. In a part-time 4 wheel drive systems like the Toyota and Honda SUVs have, for example, the front and rear wheels are usually not driven at the same time and are not connected by a fixed linkage, so a difference between the front and rear tires won't make a difference. In a vehicle with a full time 4 wheel/all wheel drive like a Subaru or many trucks, you do need to replace all four tires at once, because the mechanical components will wear prematurely if you don't. That's a lot more expensive than a set of tires. (for most cars, anyway)
posted by wierdo at 5:00 PM on September 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's better to replace tires in pairs (both front or both back at the same time) or all at once, for the reasons given above. However, if money is tight then you can wait on it a bit -- or if the tire on the other side is pretty fresh and the tire sizes are the same then you can just Not Worry About It. It's not going to make your car undrivable or cause it to break down in the mext couple of weeks. After all, the doughnut is much smaller than the other tires, but people drive for weeks on those all the time without problems. And for what it's worth, people in developing countries don't even consider whether their tires match, and they put many more miles on their cars before scrapping than Americans do.
posted by Scientist at 5:15 PM on September 1, 2013
posted by Scientist at 5:15 PM on September 1, 2013
I was faced with a similar situation, not vandalism-related. I decided to replace the opposite tire, but to keep it as a spare. Sure enough, when faced with another damaged tire a few months later, I had an almost-new backup, ready to go.
If you have room to store the other tire, replace it also, and retain it should further assholery ensue.
posted by dinger at 5:49 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
If you have room to store the other tire, replace it also, and retain it should further assholery ensue.
posted by dinger at 5:49 PM on September 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
As others have mentioned, check your owners manual for the allowable difference in diameter on your tires. Failure to adhere to this spec will burn out your differential.
That said, Tire Rack will shave tires to a specified diameter (note, you have to place your order over the phone to get this). Have a shop measure the tread depth on your other tires, then order the same tire and get it shaved to the appropriate depth. Cheaper than even buying a pair of tires.
posted by bfranklin at 7:17 PM on September 1, 2013
That said, Tire Rack will shave tires to a specified diameter (note, you have to place your order over the phone to get this). Have a shop measure the tread depth on your other tires, then order the same tire and get it shaved to the appropriate depth. Cheaper than even buying a pair of tires.
posted by bfranklin at 7:17 PM on September 1, 2013
Your tires are two years old. Don't know how many miles are on them.
If the spare is unused, I would buy one new tire, and put the new tire and the spare on the same end of your car. I assume your spare has the same tread pattern as the others. Put the worn tire in the spare's compartment for emergencies.
If I was rolling in dough I'd buy four tires all the way around, pay the disposal fee for the used tires, and get a warrantee that covered vandalism.
posted by mule98J at 7:22 PM on September 1, 2013
If the spare is unused, I would buy one new tire, and put the new tire and the spare on the same end of your car. I assume your spare has the same tread pattern as the others. Put the worn tire in the spare's compartment for emergencies.
If I was rolling in dough I'd buy four tires all the way around, pay the disposal fee for the used tires, and get a warrantee that covered vandalism.
posted by mule98J at 7:22 PM on September 1, 2013
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If there is significant difference in wear, you might want to consider getting another tire.
I am NOT a tire expert, but this is pretty much what I've been told for a lot of years!
posted by HuronBob at 3:18 PM on September 1, 2013