Replacing just one tyre. Bad idea?

eidolon

eidolon

eidolon

Soldato
Joined
31 Oct 2002
Posts
13,892
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
One of my front tyres has worn a fair bit on the outside edge (well, actually it's pretty much bald) but the other side has about 6mm of tread on it.

I begrudge buying a pair of tyres when one of them has loads of tread left so do you reckon I'll get away with just buying the one tyre or am I being silly?
 
Let me guess - the bald one is on the nearside of the car :D

If so - swap the wheels around and toast the other one then replace both.

Remember it can be bald so long as there's legal tread on at least 2/3 of the width of the tyre.
 
Can you swap the fronts with the rears so that the new one will be on the rear? Im not sure if that works for RWD cars, but thats what I did when I had a FWD car and I replaced 1 tyre on the front, and I guess it would only work if all the tyres were the same size.
 
panthro said:
Can you swap the fronts with the rears so that the new one will be on the rear? Im not sure if that works for RWD cars, but thats what I did when I had a FWD car and I replaced 1 tyre on the front, and I guess it would only work if all the tyres were the same size.
Click to expand...
Front and rears are different sizes on the Elise.
 
panthro said:
Can you swap the fronts with the rears so that the new one will be on the rear? Im not sure if that works for RWD cars, but thats what I did when I had a FWD car and I replaced 1 tyre on the front, and I guess it would only work if all the tyres were the same size.
Click to expand...
Would imagine the fronts and rear would be a different size?

Just beaten to it.
 
merlin said:
Let me guess - the bald one is on the nearside of the car :D

If so - swap the wheels around and toast the other one then replace both.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing the tyres would be directional on an Elise...
;)
 
merlin said:
Let me guess - the bald one is on the nearside of the car :D

If so - swap the wheels around and toast the other one then replace both.

Remember it can be bald so long as there's legal tread on at least 2/3 of the width of the tyre.
Click to expand...
Even if its on the inside edge? Might get my straights fitted tomorrow, shouldnt rub too much i dont think as its not lowered, but ones on the limiter on the inside, but the rest of the tyre is fine. Is there a guide about with it in, dont want to get 3 points for something trivial like that i can easily avoid.... (not that ive been pulled/given a producer before, but sods law says i would!)
 
Personally I'd never replace a single tyre on a car. I'm guessing your car doesn't have a spare, or only has a spacesaver?

Keep the tyre in the garage, build up a set of them, then get them fitted to thrash on a trackday :D
 
-westy- said:
Personally I'd never replace a single tyre on a car. I'm guessing your car doesn't have a spare, or only has a spacesaver?
Click to expand...
Haha, we get a can of repair foam. Mine still has the original, seven year old, stuff. Bet that's nice and useful :)
 
To be honest, no, I don't think I would.

I would however, get the tyres swapped between alloys so you can put it on the other front and get a bit more life out of it.

It does suggest your geometry may be out...
 
Muncher said:
To be honest, no, I don't think I would.

I would however, get the tyres swapped between alloys so you can put it on the other front and get a bit more life out of it.

It does suggest your geometry may be out...
Click to expand...

If you do a lot of town driving (especially with roundabouts) surely you'd get uneven tyre wear?
 
As some who lives in roundabout town (AKA milton keynes) i can safely say

YES you do

Get your car serviced outside MK and they think youve been 2 wheeling round town
 
the geometry on mine now means that ill get more wear on the inner edges due to the camber that has been added :P

will have to add speed on roundabouts to compensate and even out the wear :D
 
merlin said:
Let me guess - the bald one is on the nearside of the car :D
Click to expand...

:D :D :D

merlin said:
Remember it can be bald so long as there's legal tread on at least 2/3 of the width of the tyre.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know but I just don't like having a baldy tyre on my car.

Muncher said:
It does suggest your geometry may be out...
Click to expand...

You're probably right. It's going up to Horizon when I get back from hols for a full geo and new brake fluid.
 
I would replace one but I tend to get a part worn if only one needs doing. I'm lucky to have a local place that keeps loads of partworn tyres cheap, even the ones that fit my Anglia. Then they all wear out at the same time and I can replace all four and get the discounts that are normally put on when you buy four tyres at once.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom