Is it safe to replace just one tyre?
At Tyres R Us, we often get asked whether it’s possible to replace just one damaged tyre. The short answer is yes it is possible, but we don’t recommend it for a few reasons.
Generally we recommend replacing tyres in pairs, unless the tyres are so new that any existing wear on the other tyres is negligible. We’ll go into ‘why’ in just a moment.
There are a few cases where you might want to replace a single tyre, with the main reasons being:
Puncture, tear or impact related damage
Regardless of how careful a driver you are, how well you look after your car, or how many kilometres a week you drive, punctures and impacts with road debris are a constant threat.
There’s no way to predict when or where you’ll get a puncture. Punctures in the centre of the tyre tread are typically repairable, while punctures in high stress parts of the tyre such as the sidewall and tyre shoulder are too risky to safely repair.
If you’ve driven on a flat tyre for any length of time, the tyre sidewall will likely be too damaged to use safely and should be replaced.
Uneven tyre wear
If one tyre is wearing much faster than the other three, chances are your wheel alignment is significantly out. This can be due to damage from an impact, or worn suspension components.
A wheel alignment can compensate for minor wear and tear, but if this is the case, replacing the tyre without rectifying the cause will simply cause a second premature tyre replacement.
Why is replacing one tyre a bad idea?
As tyres wear down, their rolling diameter changes, for example, a well-worn tyre will have a significantly different circumference than a brand new tyre of the same make, model and size. This is the main reason why it’s recommended to replace tyres in pairs, at a bare minimum.
If you’re looking to replace tyres, it’s important to measure the tread on the pair of tyres at the other end of your vehicle. If your old tyres are noticeably worn, it’s best to replace all four at the same time to avoid having vastly different levels of grip at each end of the vehicle.
Come along with your local tyre experts at Tyres R Us to learn about why you might consider replacing more than just your one damaged tyre.
Compromised Handling
The handling of your vehicle can potentially be affected if you choose to just replace one tyre. If having mismatched tyres is absolutely necessary, it’s recommended that the mismatched tyres be placed on the rear of the vehicle.
If uneven tyres are used on the front, your vehicle may become unstable under heavy braking, such as in an emergency. Up to 70% of your braking is done by the front wheels, and if one tyre has significantly more grip than the other, your vehicle may veer to one side when braking.
The same can be said for aquaplaning. While it’s true most situations where your vehicle is aquaplaning will only see one side of your car, why risk that side being the side with your only good tyre?
For performance applications too, unequal levels of grip side-to-side can cause unpredictable handling characteristics. The worst case scenario is your vehicle wanting to understeer turning one way, while it oversteers turning the other way.
Safety concerns
Many safety systems rely on wheel speed sensors to correctly measure what your vehicle is doing.
Systems such as Electronic Stability Control measure small differences in between wheel speeds across the vehicle in order to figure out what wheels need more or less power in order to recover from dangerous situations while driving.
Anti-lock Brake Systems, or ABS, often rely on these same sensors to gauge how much a wheel is slipping compared to the others.
As you can see, any significant difference in diameter beyond what the manufacturer has calibrated and accounted for could have unintended consequences.
Potential for Damage
AWD systems from manufacturers such as AUDI, VW, with their Haldex AWD systems rely on detecting a mismatch on wheel speed to engage and disengage the rear driveline. Having a mismatch in wheel diameters can result in excessive wear to AWD components.
Other manufacturers with All Wheel Drive systems can also suffer damage from a tyre diameter mismatch.
If you’re unsure about your vehicle, your vehicle manufacturer will be able to provide you with documentation outlining the correct tyre change procedure recommendations.
Your Trusted Experts
Tyres R US can advise you of your best options, and whether you can get away with one or two tyres replaced, or if you will need all four tyres replaced.
We are Sunshines’ experts in the tyre and wheel industries and our qualified and experienced staff will go the extra mile to ensure your vehicle is ready for many more miles of confident and safe driving.
Contact us today on 03 9362 1611 or visit our workshop at 122 Munro Ave, Sunshine today.