Replace, 2 or all 4 tires? Nail in sidewall

[joeylc200]

So I've read the various opinions on the forums already and I seem to get a vaariation of 'it's a LC it can handle anything' to 'the diff is complex and you can cause damage with mismatched tires' so I don't know what to do!

I currently run Michelin Defenders Stock 285/60/16 and I have about 7/32 tread depth. I got a nail in the sidewall on one of them, so I figure at minimum I should be safe replacing two of them to match the axle. But with the difference in tread from front and rear of 12/32 and 7/32, will

1.I notice any difference in ride quality (don't drive off-road but do lots of long road trips at high speeds)
2. Put additional stress on the components

I figure I would put the new ones in the front where they wear quicker, and maybe they will match the lower treads from the engine weight if I don't rotate for a while.

So I guess to summarize, is it a big deal to run different tread depths on the different axle, or am I overthinking it?

 

[skrypj]

Tirerack can shave down a tire when you buy it to match the rest of the tires. I had them do this to a Continental Extreme contact I had when I had a blow out on my Legacy GT.

 

[LX4x4]

I think I would replace all 4, but that's just me..

I would also check the treads more carefully on the outside and inside ribs, for example on my OEM tire, I had 6/32" but that is the most tread, on the inner edge some outer edges, they were starting to get bald. This is more common to the OEM type soft tires, though.

 

[gaijin]

So I've read the various opinions on the forums already and I seem to get a vaariation of 'it's a LC it can handle anything' to 'the diff is complex and you can cause damage with mismatched tires' so I don't know what to do!

I currently run Michelin Defenders Stock 285/60/16 and I have about 7/32 tread depth. I got a nail in the sidewall on one of them, so I figure at minimum I should be safe replacing two of them to match the axle. But with the difference in tread from front and rear of 12/32 and 7/32, will

1.I notice any difference in ride quality (don't drive off-road but do lots of long road trips at high speeds)
2. Put additional stress on the components

I figure I would put the new ones in the front where they wear quicker, and maybe they will match the lower treads from the engine weight if I don't rotate for a while.

So I guess to summarize, is it a big deal to run different tread depths on the different axle, or am I overthinking it?

If you had been doing a 5-tire rotation, all you would have to do is replace the damaged tire with the spare and get a new tire for your spare. Then do a 4-tire rotation until the 4 you are using need replacing and then buy 4 new tires and continue with a 5-tire rotation.

If you have not been doing a 5-tire rotation, and it were me, I'd buy 5 new tires and start rotating all 5.

HTH

 

[ryanCA]

man our LCs are pampered compared to the rest of the world ….

 

[KLF]

I have used Tire Rack's tire shaving option to deal with this exact situation on my KO2's and it worked out really well. No way would I buy 4 or 5 new tires unless they were all almost worn out.

 

[studawg]

....or am I overthinking it?

Yes. I think your initial instinct is right, just get 2 new ones, put them on the front, and roll out. Maybe keep the good one you pulled off in case you need it in the future. The truck has a center diff to account for differences in wheel spin between the axles. They are the same "size" tires, so just differences of a few 32nds in tread depth won't cause problems.