Does having one new and one old rear tire have any impact?
3 Answers
Having one new and one old rear tire can have a certain impact on the stability of the vehicle. Below is more information about car tires: 1. Numerical meanings: The tire data indicates the tire section width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter in inches. For example, for a tire with the specification 275/45/R18, 275 represents the tire section width, 45 is the aspect ratio, R stands for radial construction, and 18 is the wheel diameter in inches. 2. Function: The vehicle's tires can reduce and absorb the vibrations and impact forces during driving, preventing the car's components from being damaged by severe vibrations.
Last time when I replaced the two rear tires, the mechanic reminded me that they must be changed in pairs. If one is new and the other old, the grip will be noticeably different, making the car prone to skidding on wet roads, and may even cause the tail to swing out during emergency braking. My neighbor learned this the hard way—when taking a turn, he felt the rear of the car drifting outward. Upon inspection, he found that the new tire was thicker than the old one, causing instability due to the difference in rotation speed between the two sides. It's not just a safety hazard; wear and tear also accelerates—the old tire has a shorter lifespan, and the new tire gets unevenly worn, often needing replacement within six months. To avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure safety, it's best to replace tires in pairs. By the way, regularly checking the tread depth and keeping it above 3 millimeters can save you a lot of trouble.
From a handling perspective, having one new and one old rear tire is really uncomfortable. I once drove my friend's older car where the right tire was newly replaced while the left was still half-worn. On the highway, I constantly felt the steering wheel pulling me to the left. The mechanic explained it's not just a perception issue—the difference between new and old tires can affect wheel alignment, increasing suspension load and potentially accelerating shock absorber wear. More critically, inconsistent tread depth leads to uneven water drainage, risking loss of traction during rainy cornering when the outer tire can't grip properly. Get them replaced as a pair immediately—don't wait until you nearly hit guardrails like I did. Make it a habit to inspect tires for cracks every 5,000 kilometers during routine maintenance.
