Tire Mixing

Replacement tires should always be of the same construction.

Mixing tire types can be dangerous. Most moderrn passenger tires are of radial construction. For best performance, the recommendation is to install the same size and type of tire on all four wheel positions. An exception is when the vehicle manufacturer has specified different sizes, front and rear, as original equipment. To check on this, inspect the vehicle information placard.

If different sized tires are used on different axles, always place the lower series’ tires on the rear axle. This is the case whether the vehicle is a Front Wheel Drive or a Rear Wheel Drive vehicle.

If two radials are mounted with two non-radials, the radials should be mounted on the rear. If tires of different types are mixed on a vehicle in any configuration, they should not be used for long periods and speeds should be kept to a minimum.

Mixing or matching of tires on 4-wheel drive vehicles requires special precautions. Always check your vehicle manufacturer’s manual for their recommendations.