Tyres - Matching tread depth??

[Siy]

Wife had a small prang in a 13 plate Merc A180... It has just been repaired, and the nsf tyre had been damaged in the prang, so was replaced (with the same tyre that is on the rest of the car).

However, that now means one front tyre is brand new, and the otehr os well worn... probably a couple of mm left on it.

Question is should I replace the worn tyre, so both fronts are brand new, therefore have same depth of tread etc?

thanks

[Jonno02]

FWD...what are the rear tyres looking like, do they match?

[andburg]

If it were my car and it was winter, I'd replace the other tyre to match.
As the weather is ok now, much less chance of heavy downpours (he says having been hit with snow and hail this morning) I'd consider leaving it.

Below 3mm I'd replace it anyway

[Siy]

Will obviously replace once it gets to 3mm, so just wondering really if its best to do that now?
Same tyres all round - rears are good... fronts were getting low, and with one just replaced, in my eyes, means they dont match.

[rongagin]

Siy said:

However, that now means one front tyre is brand new, and the otehr os well worn... probably a couple of mm left on it.

thanks

If only a couple of mm left then maybe change anyway?
Or put fronts to the back and back to the front? Rears only holding up the back from scraping on the floor, unless driven quick. I know the consensus seems to be to keep best tyres to the back, but in reality......

[Ozzie Osmond]

Usually not an issue so long as grip is comparable between the two tyres on same axle.

Can be a problem in cars with LSD (limited slip differential). That's because the diff can end up "working" all the time and wear/overheat.

[Siy]

great - thanks guys... when i said it only has a couple of mm left - I meant left until not legal.

I will get it changed in next week or so
Thanks

[The Mad Monk]

Siy said:

Will obviously replace once it gets to 3mm,

Why is it obvious? The legal limit is 1.6mm.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Don't confuse "legal limit" with "good wet grip".

[krarkol]

The Mad Monk said:

Why is it obvious? The legal limit is 1.6mm.

Studies show that even though 1.6mm is the legal limit. For best performance, dont go below 3mm.

[Dogwatch]

Siy said:

great - thanks guys... when i said it only has a couple of mm left - I meant left until not legal.

I will get it changed in next week or so
Thanks

Not quite the impression we were given earlier! If the tyre is 2mm above the legal limit (I.e. Just under 4mm) then there doesn't seem much point in replacing it yet.

Might consider a front-to-back swap though.

[Fleckers]

i would replace it

but that's what keeps me happy

matching good quality tyres

[Searider]

If you replace it keep the one you've taken off and tuck away for next time!

[Huff]

(edit: quick search found A180s apparently don't have full-size spares)

Another reason to bemoan the loss of full-size spares - time was, you could cycle tyres like this with useful life left (but a desire to change for some reason set-related) through as a known-good spare. Is that an option for you, OP - space for a 5th rim?


(I recently found & refurb'd a 5th Alpina wheel for my B10 for just such a reason - I'm happy with goo & a compressor in principal, but no desire to test it in a pinch!)