Replacing just the rear tires 4matic

[matt2778]

The general rule of thumb is 3/32 or less for 4wd/awd vehicles. The 4wd/awd system is designed to rotate the front and rear drive shafts at different speeds when turning. If you have a difference is tread depth front to rear the driveshafts will turn at difference speeds causing increased wear to the transmission/ transfer case. Some vehicles are more sensitive than others. Subaru for example are more sensitive to damage from different tread depths than others.

Front tires on awd vehicles will always wear faster because they turn

[Ezzzzy1]

Thanks for all the info, folks.

Damir, it is the sport with staggered wheels.

[bulldog]

I was told when I bought my AWD that if a tire get ruined I cannot buy just one and will have to buy all four new ones; because of same reason…they claim the tread depth is different and will make my ECU spin the tires wrong as it compensates for that difference. Luckily I have not ruined a tire to test this, but I’ve always feared this myself so would be good to know how “true” this is or if it is a ploy to sell more tires.

Makes more sense, but I was also denied to buy two snow tires on my wife’s Rogue (AWD) as they said they could only install all four because of safety reasons.

The general rule of thumb is 3/32 or less for 4wd/awd vehicles. The 4wd/awd system is designed to rotate the front and rear drive shafts at different speeds when turning. If you have a difference is tread depth front to rear the driveshafts will turn at difference speeds causing increased wear to the transmission/ transfer case. Some vehicles are more sensitive than others. Subaru for example are more sensitive to damage from different tread depths than others.

Yup, basically what Subaru told me....I have a 2014 WRX.

[madvlad]

Thanks for all the info, folks.

Damir, it is the sport with staggered wheels.

So the reason being why is because you can't rotate tires and the rear is kicking down more power and more contact patch with the road so kind of an SOL situation kind of thing on those staggered sets. On AWD you definitely want to keep the thread as close as possible but about 2/32 difference from front to back or viceversa shouldn't cause any issues with the drive train