There may come a time when you replace two new tires instead of four. If you decide to go that route, be sure that your new tires are the same size and tire type as your current tires, and that your dealer always installs the new tires on the rear axle of your vehicle (as shown in the pdf below).
For continued optimized vehicle performance, it is recommended that all tires be replaced at the same time with identical MSPN.
Deeper tread tires on the rear axle provide better handling, wet grip, and evacuate water thereby helping to avoid oversteer and loss of vehicle stability on wet surfaces. Deeper tread tires on the front axle can improve wet straight line braking and stopping distance. If only two tires are being replaces, Michelin generally recommends they be installed on the rear axle in the absence of a tire service professional's recommendation or consumer's preference to the contrary.
Replacing a single tire on a vehicle can have an adverse effect on suspension systems, gear ratios, transmissions, and tire tread ware. If a single tire replacement is unavoidable, it is recommended that the single new tire be paired with the deepest tread tire from the vehicle (including the full size spare) and both be placed as a pair according to the recommendations in the paragraph immediately above.
WHY PUT NEW TIRES ON THE REAR AXLE?
- New tires will provide better wet grip than your half-worn tires.
- When new tires are installed on the rear, it helps reduce the potential for your vehicle to fishtail or hydroplane in wet conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
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FAQ
It is not recommended. Different brands and models have different compounds, tread patterns, and construction, which means different grip levels and different responses to braking and cornering. If budget requires it, at minimum keep matched pairs on each axle so left and right behave identically, and put the newer pair on the rear.
Only if your vehicle came with a staggered fitment from the factory. Otherwise no. On four-wheel drive vehicles specifically, if your owner's manual gives no mixing instructions, do not mix sizes at all. Differences in rolling circumference between axles can damage drivetrain components on AWD and 4WD systems.
Because rear traction loss is far harder to recover from than front. If the rear tires lose grip in a corner or under braking in the wet, the vehicle can spin. If the front loses grip first, the vehicle pushes wide, which is more manageable. Deeper tread on the rear preserves that safety margin regardless of which wheels drive the car.
No. Radial and bias construction behave fundamentally differently under cornering loads, and mixing them creates unpredictable handling that can be dangerous. All four tires must share the same construction type. This applies to trailers and classic vehicles as much as to modern passenger cars.
Only if the replacement closely matches the other three in brand, model, size, and remaining tread depth. A single new tire alongside three worn ones creates a rolling circumference difference that affects handling and, on AWD vehicles, can damage the drivetrain. If the other three are significantly worn, replacing in pairs or as a set is better.
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