Cheap tyre - safe?

[JohnBRG]

Wanted to get some views on this. I have an X5 40d. Got a flat tyre on holiday, nail in the shoulder of the offside rear. Got a local mobile tyre fitter involved, who could only get a budget tyre at short notice (it's a Riken).

Upshot - my car is wearing three part-worn Avons and this brand new Riken. Questions:-

1. Is this safe? I'm a bit dubious about mixing tyres, especially on the same axle.
2. Could the difference in tread damage the 4x4 system?

I think I probably need to bite the bullet when I get home and buy a couple of new rears, ideally the same Avons as are on the front....am I right?

Thanks in advance.....

John

[Mr Tidy]

Well Riken tyres don't seem to be too badly rated based on this:- www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Riken/Road-Performance....

So depending on what you want from your tyres it might be worth just getting another Riken so you have a matching pair on 1 axle.

But your only other option is probably a pair of new tyres.

I wouldn't want 2 different brands on the same axle, but have never had a problem with the 2 fronts being a different brand to the 2 rears.

[d_a_n1979]

JohnBRG said:

Wanted to get some views on this. I have an X5 40d. Got a flat tyre on holiday, nail in the shoulder of the offside rear. Got a local mobile tyre fitter involved, who could only get a budget tyre at short notice (it's a Riken).

Upshot - my car is wearing three part-worn Avons and this brand new Riken. Questions:-

1. Is this safe? I'm a bit dubious about mixing tyres, especially on the same axle.
2. Could the difference in tread damage the 4x4 system?

I think I probably need to bite the bullet when I get home and buy a couple of new rears, ideally the same Avons as are on the front....am I right?

Thanks in advance.....

John

I will happily run different brand tyres, in pairs, front or rear axle...

I will not run different brand tyres on the same axle; it's a big no-no really

IMO stick the same cheap ones on the same axle and then replace with the ones you want when you get home

[xjay1337]

I would just drive with the mismatched budget tyre until you are home then depending on tread remaining on the good tyre, replace either the budget or the pair with new quality tyres.

[DailyHack]

JohnBRG said:

(it's a Riken).

Nowt wrong with Riken, owned and produced by Michelin, make great winter tyres, used them alot on my 3 series.

I don't like mismatched tyres full stop on the same car, let alone the same axle (i know sometimes cant be helped) but my OCD goes into overdrive.

[thatdude]

DailyHack said:

my OCD

If you have OCD, there is lots of help, support and treatment available. As you know, OCD is quite debilitating, and people with it often suffer wider anxiety issues and symptoms of depression.

As for the whole tyres thing, there is a sort of specification by the manufacturer for how different the rolling circumference of a tyre can be from the other tyre on the axle before it starts to introduce serious risk t the reliability of the system. Generally, you don want tyres of different wear, but do check this with a dealer / with a tyre specialist.

[Aluminati]

X5’s dislike mismatched tread depths muchly..

[SAS Tom]

You won’t die from having a mismatched tyre but obviously having all 4 matching is ideal.

[journeymanpro]

SAS Tom said:

You won’t die from having a mismatched tyre but obviously having all 4 matching is ideal.

The 4wd system may well die though.

[xjay1337]

journeymanpro said:

The 4wd system may well die though.

Not from the same size tyres.

There are small variances in sizes.

Eg one manufacturers 255 may actually be 258mm and anothers may be 252mm but in reality it doesn't matter.

[JohnBRG]

Thanks everyone. Looks like a unanimous decision....