Tyre replacement on Subaru WRX
Tyre replacement on Subaru WRX
Author
Discussion

socr8s

Original Poster:

156 posts

233 months

Wednesday 24th January 2007
quotequote all
First time to post on this particular forum. Just developed slow leak on my left rear tyre on the WRX 300. The manual suggests when replacing tyres to replace the full set. Does it really make any difference if I replace the rear two tyres only?

Jason_W

905 posts

228 months

Wednesday 24th January 2007
quotequote all
No - as long as they're the same make of tyre. You want the grippiest tyres on the rear anyway.

MrFlibbles

7,774 posts

304 months

Wednesday 24th January 2007
quotequote all
Jason_W said:
No - as long as they're the same make of tyre. You want the grippiest tyres on the rear anyway.


Thats not true. Having tyres with different levels of wear (i.e different rolling radii) can knacker the diff.

I was told a tolerance of 3mm was acceptable.

socr8s

Original Poster:

156 posts

233 months

Thursday 25th January 2007
quotequote all
Thanks guys. Bloke at garage seems to think that tyre has feeling of sidewall coming away from the main tread and so I wanted to get it sorted quickly as I have seen pictures where the tyre wall has separated completely. Looks like inside of front tyres have worn as well and so will need complete new set anyway.

rustybin

1,769 posts

259 months

Thursday 25th January 2007
quotequote all
MrFlibbles said:
Jason_W said:
No - as long as they're the same make of tyre. You want the grippiest tyres on the rear anyway.


Thats not true. Having tyres with different levels of wear (i.e different rolling radii) can knacker the diff.

I was told a tolerance of 3mm was acceptable.


What would be the point in having a centre diff if the front can't turn at a different rate to the rear without knackering the it? My fag packet calcs make a 3mm difference in radius translate to a 1% difference in prop rpm. If the centre diff cannot cope with this I would be surprised. Perhaps on an enormously long motorway run but in the real world I can't see it making so much odds. Happy to be corrected obviously.

MrFlibbles

7,774 posts

304 months

Thursday 25th January 2007
quotequote all
rustybin said:
MrFlibbles said:
Jason_W said:
No - as long as they're the same make of tyre. You want the grippiest tyres on the rear anyway.


Thats not true. Having tyres with different levels of wear (i.e different rolling radii) can knacker the diff.

I was told a tolerance of 3mm was acceptable.


What would be the point in having a centre diff if the front can't turn at a different rate to the rear without knackering the it? My fag packet calcs make a 3mm difference in radius translate to a 1% difference in prop rpm. If the centre diff cannot cope with this I would be surprised. Perhaps on an enormously long motorway run but in the real world I can't see it making so much odds. Happy to be corrected obviously.


I dont know,I'm not an engineer, just what i've heard!

_Batty_

12,268 posts

271 months

Thursday 25th January 2007
quotequote all
i'll echo what Fibbs said.
i've been told by Audi that any more than 3mm tread difference will lead to premature diff wear

MrFlibbles

7,774 posts

304 months

Thursday 25th January 2007
quotequote all
_Batty_ said:
i'll echo what Fibbs said.
i've been told by Audi that any more than 3mm tread difference will lead to premature diff wear


Headline read
MR FLIBBLES IN "BEING RIGHT" SHOCKER!

jimmyjimjim

7,995 posts

259 months

Thursday 25th January 2007
quotequote all
Get the replacement tyre shaved.
A lot of tyre centers here in the US will do it.
Never heard of it in the UK, but never had ocassion to look to be honest.

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

286 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
_Batty_ said:
i'll echo what Fibbs said.
i've been told by Audi that any more than 3mm tread difference will lead to premature diff wear


This would be an Audi WRX then?

_Batty_

12,268 posts

271 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Captain Muppet said:
_Batty_ said:
i'll echo what Fibbs said.
i've been told by Audi that any more than 3mm tread difference will lead to premature diff wear


This would be an Audi WRX then?

rolleyes
yes you heard of one? hehe
i doubt the companies would have different policies IMHO

Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

286 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Different manufactures may have different diffs, and so have different tolerances to tyre wear and different attitudes to what "normal use" is.

I'm not sure that following Audi recomendations for Subaru parts is entirely sensible.

scoobiewrx

4,863 posts

247 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
I don't know how much tread you have left on the good tyres you want to keep but i wouldn't have thought that putting two new tyres on if the other two are ok would make bugger all difference.

I have never heard of someone replacing all four if two are in good condition with plenty of tread. Sounds like a lot of money to waste for no reason. I recently replaced 4 tyres and bought Toyo T1R's, and that's only because they were all knackered.

If the bad tyre is that bad that the tyrewall is breaking away from the tyre then it might be a manufacturers fault or you have been punishing your tyres too often, too hard hehe

P.S. Keep the spare if it's any good...if you carry on like this in time you will have 4 good spares to use as track day tyres. I have a spare set of 17" Scooby rims and that's exactly what i will be doing too!! driving


Edited by scoobiewrx on Friday 26th January 17:25

vixpy1

42,694 posts

285 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
_Batty_ said:
Captain Muppet said:
_Batty_ said:
i'll echo what Fibbs said.
i've been told by Audi that any more than 3mm tread difference will lead to premature diff wear


This would be an Audi WRX then?

rolleyes
yes you heard of one? hehe
i doubt the companies would have different policies IMHO


very different 4wd systems

_Batty_

12,268 posts

271 months

Saturday 27th January 2007
quotequote all
vixpy1 said:
_Batty_ said:
Captain Muppet said:
_Batty_ said:
i'll echo what Fibbs said.
i've been told by Audi that any more than 3mm tread difference will lead to premature diff wear


This would be an Audi WRX then?

rolleyes
yes you heard of one? hehe
i doubt the companies would have different policies IMHO


very different 4wd systems

do you want a fight as well charlie?

hehe