Mixing tires?

DryBones · **Posted:** Sat Sep 28, 2013 9:51 pm

Looking to use up some of my spares in the garage on my wifes DD 05 KJ. She does 2 miles a day so I don't want to buy new tires if I can avoid it. my question is..can I use two of 1 type/brand tires on the rear and 2 others of another brand/type on the front...IF they are the same size? Don't use 4wd but maybe once or twice a year for the same 2 mile commute if it's snowing hard. Looking to use 2 M/S tires on the rear and 2 All season on the front. ideas?

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat Sep 28, 2013 10:09 pm

Personally I wouldn't do it, even tires that are the same size are a little different height depending on tread design/manufacturer etc. Some will say it makes no difference but :roll:

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You could look each tire up and see what the difference is and if not much possibly run them but again do some research

dgeist · **Posted:** Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:41 am

What model is it? If you have full-time 4x4 (i.e. nv-242, only available in CRD for '05, I think), I'd say no-way. If you have only locked center modes (all other models/years), I'd say use caution.

You mentioned that the tires are the same size, but are they a comparable tread pattern? If they're just two "all-weather" (not all-terrain) treads, you're probably a lot safer than if you have one road tread and one all terrain tread. The more different the compound, shape, tread pattern, .... are, the more of a risk it is.

Dan

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:44 am

Plus mixing speed ratings and load ratings will also effect handling.

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

Right now I'm running Nitto Terra Grapplers...3 are the same worn level (bit over 30k on them), one is a lot newer (had a blowout from a nail, has about 14k on it) and it shifts and runs in full time 4WD fine. Part time and 4 LO are fine too, already gone through one WI winter like that were it spent most of the time in 4 full. Not quite your situation since these are all the same tire but kinda close.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun Sep 29, 2013 12:34 pm

Under no circumstances mix radial tires with anything else. Other than that:
1. keep same tires on same axle
2. keep tire pressure consistent on all 4
3. check relative tire load and speed rating and number of belts. Probably not a good idea to have a big difference between what's on the front and what's on the rear.
4. use same size tires all the way around
5. consider an alternative which would be to buy a matching set of 2 (ex. put the All Season ones you have on the rear and buy 2 same size brand All Season for the front).

dgeist · **Posted:** Sun Sep 29, 2013 3:32 pm

papaindigo wrote:

Under no circumstances mix radial tires with anything else.

Let's hope there are no bias ply meats on her daily driver.

DryBones · **Posted:** Mon Sep 30, 2013 1:15 am

2005 KJ Limited.
2 Kumho Solus 21's and 2 wrangler HPs. Thinking wranglers on the rear and Kumhos on front. She literally drives 2 miles a day, total round trip to and from work all in town so never over 40 mph.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:52 pm

A while back I blew a tire at Moab - cut the sidewall.

I had kept my old MTR as a spare - so it got me into town - and I had to buy 2 new tires to get them to match on the same axle....but the 2 new were a different make from the 2 old (about 6000 miles on those)...from that day... until I replaced all 4 I could not shift into 4 wheel part time, 4 wheel full time yes, but not part time and not 4 low.

so don't plan on 4 wheel drive until you have matching tires.

Mixing tires?

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