Should I Replace One or a Pair of Tires When One is Damaged?
2 Answers
When one tire of a car is damaged, it is necessary to replace a pair of tires. Below are the specific details about car tire replacement: 1. The duration for replacing car tires depends on the situation. For car owners with good driving habits, the replacement time is generally 3-5 years or after driving 60,000-80,000 kilometers. If driving under harsh road conditions, such as frequently traveling on gravel roads or often encountering traffic jams, sudden braking, and sharp turns, the replacement period will be shortened. 2. The main material of tires is rubber, which undergoes natural aging. This primarily manifests as the tires hardening and the sidewalls becoming covered with small cracks. Generally, natural aging occurs within 4-5 years. Tires should be replaced promptly after 5 years of use to prevent the risk of blowouts. 3. Observe the wear and tear of the tires. If the tires are severely worn, and the tread pattern is level with the wear indicator, the tires need to be replaced. Otherwise, braking on wet or slippery roads will be more difficult, and the vehicle is highly prone to losing control. Additionally, driving on overly rough roads increases the risk of blowouts.
Yesterday my friend had a flat tire and asked me whether to replace one or a pair. Honestly, this is quite particular. If the other three tires on the car are still relatively new with less than 2mm of wear, replacing just one tire with the same brand and tread pattern might suffice. But it depends on the drivetrain: front-wheel drive vehicles are better off replacing both front tires, while rear-wheel drive cars should replace the rear pair. If the tires have over 20,000 kilometers on them, definitely replace them in pairs. The difference in grip between new and old tires can cause skidding during rainy turns due to friction variance—I've seen cases where single-tire replacements led to loss of control on highway off-ramps and crashes into guardrails. Actually, most tire shops now have advanced tread depth gauges; measuring remaining tread depth directly is the most reliable approach.
