Should You Replace 2 or 4 Tires at a Time?
3 Answers
Tires can be replaced either 2 at a time or all 4 at once. When replacing 2 tires, it's essential to replace both tires on the same axle. Tires are the only components of a vehicle that make direct contact with the road surface. Some car owners choose to replace only the tires on the drive wheels - for instance, front-wheel drive vehicle owners might replace just the two front tires, while rear-wheel drive owners may replace only the two rear tires. This approach is actually acceptable. Being rubber products, tires undergo aging with prolonged use. It's recommended that car owners replace their tires every four years, even if the vehicle hasn't accumulated much mileage during that period. Tires can age even when not in use, so it's important to check the manufacturing date when purchasing new tires.
I've been driving for nearly thirty years and have seen all kinds of tire issues. Let me tell you, changing tires is not something you should cut corners on. The difference in grip between new and old tires is huge. If you encounter standing water on the highway with new tires in the front and old ones in the rear, your car's rear end can start fishtailing in an instant, and you won't be able to pull the steering wheel back. When tire wear reaches the limit indicator, change them immediately—replace all four at once. There are plenty of places to save money, but safety isn't one of them. Last year, I saw a young guy who only replaced the two front tires, and he ended up hitting the guardrail when taking a curve in the rain. Besides, tires with different levels of wear have varying rolling resistances, which can even cause the steering wheel to shake.
As a budget-conscious housewife, I've carefully calculated the costs. On the surface, replacing two tires seems to save half the money compared to replacing four, but it might not actually be cost-effective. The old tires can only last up to a year before needing replacement again, which means paying for labor costs once more. If there's a promotional event, buying four tires at once might offer a bigger discount. The most crucial factor is the wear condition of the old tires. If the other two tires have been used for three or four years and the remaining tread is less than 3 millimeters, it's better to replace all of them sooner rather than later. Replacing just two tires risks having significant wear differences between the front and rear tires, making the steering wheel feel like it's being dragged while driving and consuming more fuel on highways. Last time my family replaced tires, we bought all four at once, and it's been three years without needing a second replacement.
