HOW MANY TIRES DO I NEED?
Once you have determined that your tires are in need of replacement you can now figure out how many tires to replace. Most people replace tires in sets of 2 or 4. But it is possible for you to replace 1 tire (if you have a flat) or 3 tires as well.
When replacing 1 tire
You are going to want to find an exact match for the damaged or worn tire. That means you want to replace it with the exact brand, model, speed rating and load capacity. (Information about these items is in the next section) If you use a different tire than what was previously on there, you put your vehicle at risk for poor handling, pulling and instability.
When replacing 2 tires
You are going to want to replace with the same or better-quality tire. It is suggested that you buy two of the same tires when replacing. That way they should wear evenly and perform in line with one another. It is also suggested that you mount the new tires on the rear of the car (if rear wheel drive) or front of your car (if front wheel drive), and move the older tires to the front/rear of the car. This is because the newer tires have a deeper tread which helps with hydroplaning resistance so they can grip the road better than your older tires. You can then steer to compensate for the lower wet traction worn front tires to safely control your vehicle.
When replacing 3 tires
When replacing 3 tires, you will want to follow the same rules as replacing two tires. You will want to put the two newer tires in the back and move the older tire to the front. It is best to keep the rear tires the same and the front tires the same. So when replacing three, you want to make sure the two in the rear are the same tire, and that the new one up front is the same as the older tire that is currently on the vehicle. However, if there isn’t much tread life left on the one older tire, it would be best just to replace all four at that point.
When replacing 4 tires
At this point you have many different options. This is the best situation to be in because you can change the size and quality of your tires to suit your particular driving needs. To find the right tires for your vehicle click here
