New Spare Wheels

Submitted: Monday, May 16, 2011 at 11:56

ThreadID: 86314 Views:1858 Replies:4 FollowUps:6

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Member - Desert Storm (QLD)

I was wondering if someone could shed some light on transfer case damage if a brand new tyre was put on the front of the vehicle, and the other front tyre was 70-60% worn. I have bought a vehicle with four worn tyres, and the spare is still on the carrier brand new.
would it be a safer option to put the new tyre on the rear, and then change the worn rear tyre onto the front to eliminate any transfer case damage?

thanks,
John

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Reply By: Member - Joe n Mel n kids (FNQ - Monday, May 16, 2011 at 12:08

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 12:08

What kind of vehicle ???
If a "full time" 4wd it will be the same on any hub, if you have 4wd/2wd and the front diff only drives when you engaug the 4wd then you are safer to put it on the front....
That aside, you would need a big tread depth to make any real differance as long as they are the same "size" tyres, you can also have the same "problem" with different pressures in tyres .....
Cheers
Joe

AnswerID: 454443

Follow Up By: Member - Desert Storm (QLD) - Monday, May 16, 2011 at 14:52

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 14:52

Joe,
Thanks for your comments.
its an '06 Nissan Patrol wagon. it is not constant 4wd.

John

FollowupID: 727301

Follow Up By: Off-track - Monday, May 16, 2011 at 18:01

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 18:01

Different pressures in tyres will not change the rolling circumference, as that is the length of one rotation. You can see the extreme example of this in a tracked vehicle.

As for the original question, no it will not cause damage as there is always a difference in tyre speed from one side of the axle to the other, unless driving completely straight. So if one tyre is smaller than the other the drivetrain it would be the same as driving in a constant turn.

It will increase wear but probably not of a significant or measurable amount.

FollowupID: 727322

Follow Up By: gbc - Monday, May 16, 2011 at 19:31

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 19:31

No matter where you put the tyre it can't harm the transfer on a patrol.
I'd at least try to put another new one one with it on the front axle for steering/braking control.
On the rear you won't notice it - there isn't that much difference in the percentages of wear that you are speaking of. Diffs cope with much worse going around any corner.

FollowupID: 727329

Reply By: disco driver - Monday, May 16, 2011 at 12:11

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 12:11

John,
Most of the modern constant 4wd setups need all the tyres at about the same amount of wear, putting a new tyre on one wheel would put a lot of extra work for the diff rather than the transfer case. Not a good idea except for emergency use.
As a general rule the best pair of tyres should be on the steering wheels (ie, the front) but there should not be much variation front to rear anyway.

If it was me, I'd leave the spare where it is and fit a full set of new tyres to the vehicle regardless of the condition of the spare.

Hope this helps.

Disco
akaTony

AnswerID: 454444

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, May 16, 2011 at 13:27

Monday, May 16, 2011 at 13:27

John,

If you had to put a new tyre on the same axle as a worn tyre I would put it on the rear axle.

If it is not a big difference in tyre diameter the diff will handle this OK.

Putting different size tyres on the front would effect the braking and steering of the vehicle.

If it is a constant 4wd all 4 tyre should be the same or at the very least, same size tyres on the same axle.

Wayne

AnswerID: 454452

Follow Up By: blown4by - Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 22:40

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 22:40

Not a good idea to put a worn and new tyre on the rear because the diff and the LSD clutch plates have to compensate for the differing diameters ALL the time whereas on the front it only has to do this when 4WD is engaged in which case you would be on an usealed surface so the tyres can slip anyway and the front diff is not a LSD.
As the front wheels do all the steering and 60% of the braking (and most of the weight in an unloaded Patrol) I would rather one new tyre and one worn tyre on the front than two worn tyres. Obviously two new tyres would be the preferred option.

FollowupID: 727517