Replacing All 4 Tires

[Lauriemb87]

I own a Sub WRX. I recently got a flat tire and Les Schwab explained that to replace one tire, you must change all the tires on a Suby due to the AWD. Is this correct?? Or do they think I'm a chick?

[ryland]

Originally posted by Lauriemb87
I own a Sub WRX. I recently got a flat tire and Les Schwab explained that to replace one tire, you must change all the tires on a Suby due to the AWD. Is this correct?? Or do they think I'm a chick?

That would be recommended, but only necessary if there is a noticible amount of tread missing from the remaining 3 tires. If they are close to new, then you could PROBABLY get away with just one. I would replace them all with something better than RE-92's, because they SUCK. Run a search on "tires" and see if you can find some recommendations for stock tire replacements.

Good luck

[CAP-E-TAN]

replace ethier the the front 2 or the rear 2
replace all 4 is bs

[GV27]

No, it's not. If the tires are really warn you're gonne ruin the center diff just replacing the fronts or rears.

[NJwrbT-WRX]

Originally posted by GV27
No, it's not. If the tires are really warn you're gonne ruin the center diff just replacing the fronts or rears.

Exactly, it is even in the manual!! Like anybody actually reads the manual

-joe

[PPMotorsports]

Originally posted by Lauriemb87
I own a Sub WRX. I recently got a flat tire and Les Schwab explained that to replace one tire, you must change all the tires on a Suby due to the AWD. Is this correct?? Or do they think I'm a chick?

You can replace all four or get the new one shaved to the same tread depth as the others.

-Jim

[Shard]

Originally posted by PPMotorsports
You can replace all four or get the new one shaved to the same tread depth as the others.

-Jim

Seems like such a waste doesn't it?

[GunsNF'nRoses]

I would Definitely do all 4.

I thought the same thing. I had a flat on the front pass. side. Firestone replaced the front 2. A week later, on a light coat of rain, my car spun out on me going about 30 mph on a 90deg. bend. It first oversteered, then I overcorrected, then it 180'd back the other way. Boom into some guardrail, $4500 in damage.

That backs weren't bad (they were the stockers), but the dealer told me the difference in the wheel diameters is what caused the problem.

I know it seems wasteful, but so is paying more for insurance and having to pay the $500 deductible.

[fsmwrx]

I actually work and at Les Schwab in Portland and that is true. The tires must be within 3/32nds of tread depth of each other or it can cause damage to the drivetrain. They must also all be the same brand and tread design because of variance in casing sizes. It's not just subies, but all awd vehicles.

[dcraw6782]

so how big a problem is this?? i replaced one tire not too long ago, but if i am going to screw the car up, i can go get it fixed - will any tire shop just shave the tread for you? I would rather do that then get a whole new set right now.......
- DC

[GV27]

Originally posted by GunsNF'nRoses
I would Definitely do all 4.

I thought the same thing. I had a flat on the front pass. side. Firestone replaced the front 2. A week later, on a light coat of rain, my car spun out on me going about 30 mph on a 90deg. bend. It first oversteered, then I overcorrected, then it 180'd back the other way. Boom into some guardrail, $4500 in damage.

That backs weren't bad (they were the stockers), but the dealer told me the difference in the wheel diameters is what caused the problem.

I can see that. With different diameters the center diff will be slipping all the time and thus locking up all the time. That could definitely make things squirly on slick roads.

C

[dnice]

i just replaced one front tire as well after a pot hole incident. what happens to the drive train? how long does it take for something to be damaged?

[Retro]

Replacing one blown tire and shaving it seems like such a waste, but it's probably the most cost effective solution. The funny thing about the tire sizes is the question about just how much the fronts have to match the rears. The thing is that I believe the manual says to measure the sizes of the tires without weight on them, but what happens if the sidewall strength and the pressure in them are off, plus add some temperature differences and is it possible to be out of the required range? What happens if the back end is weighed down with junk and you fill up with gas and it gets warm enough for the fronts to get some bolstering but the rears are kept down by weight.. what happens then?

I sure hope the system is strong enough to deal with a good bit of difference, if not a it would kind of suck.

[merlot]

Originally posted by GunsNF'nRoses
I would Definitely do all 4.

I thought the same thing. I had a flat on the front pass. side. Firestone replaced the front 2. A week later, on a light coat of rain, my car spun out on me going about 30 mph on a 90deg. bend. It first oversteered, then I overcorrected, then it 180'd back the other way. Boom into some guardrail, $4500 in damage.

That backs weren't bad (they were the stockers), but the dealer told me the difference in the wheel diameters is what caused the problem.

I know it seems wasteful, but so is paying more for insurance and having to pay the $500 deductible.

Whenever you have to replace 2 tires, the new tires should ALWAYS go to the rear (even on front drive vehicles). Having less grib in the rear means it will most likely oversteer, which is tougher to correct then understeer. You'd think the tire shop would know this

[josnroh]

Originally posted by NJwrbT-WRX
Exactly, it is even in the manual!! Like anybody actually reads the manual

-joe

I'm going to have to read that manual someday.