Axle wind-up
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Elder User
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From: Seattle
Axle wind-up
For years I've heard people warn me to only use the same tires on each axle. That is the same tires on the back and same tires on the front. Axle wind-up is what I've always been told. Alright, what is axle wind-up and why would having 2 different pattern tires on the axle cause it? I don't mean one wheel is a racing slick and the other is a studded tire 2 sizes too big. I mean one brand is Yokohama street tire and the other is Michelin street tire.
Note, my intent is not to go around driving my Ranger with 4 totally different tires that I picked up at the junkyard for 5 bucks a pop. I always buy 4 tires - if only so that I can rotate them every 20 thou.
Note, my intent is not to go around driving my Ranger with 4 totally different tires that I picked up at the junkyard for 5 bucks a pop. I always buy 4 tires - if only so that I can rotate them every 20 thou.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Maine
Just for kicks sometime, find a couple of different-brand tires of the same nominal size, and compare them. I once had a pair that were the same nominal size (185/70R14, IIRC), but one was a Goodyear and the other was a Uniroyal. One was about 3/4"-1" taller than the other...
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Elkhart IN
with 4wd, they all need to be the same size, or really close because if the're not, it will bind, and puts lots of stress on the t case. on a 2wd, it doesnt really matter. if you went with 2 drasticly different sizes, and drove alot, excessive speed ec., they say it will burn up your spiders because of them spining so much. just another reason not to drive on a doughnut..............
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by john112deere
Just for kicks sometime, find a couple of different-brand tires of the same nominal size, and compare them. I once had a pair that were the same nominal size (185/70R14, IIRC), but one was a Goodyear and the other was a Uniroyal. One was about 3/4"-1" taller than the other...
Again, bear with me here - this isn't an exercise in splitting hairs. If the issue is more of a long-term wear and tear on the differential then that sounds reasonable. But I always had the impression that it was some catastrophic failure that would quickly manifest.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
The issue is that the differential spider gears aren't on bearings. They ride directly against the carrier and the cross pin. This is perfectly fine in most cases, since going straight down the road, those gears aren't turning at all. Once there is a difference in tires (more than about 1" in circumference), those gears will rotate and wear. If you have a limited slip, then it will wear the clutches out quickly. Not to mention that handling and braking balance will suffer greatly with the different sizes and tire compunds.
Post Fiend
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From: Elkhart IN
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I would disagree on the term "wind-up".
What you have above with the different size tires might cause wind-up, but the differential constantly working as though you are turning isn't what I'd call wind- up.
Wind-up would occur in a 4 wheel drive set up, where the different size tires cause tension in the entire drive train. The tension "winds up" and occasionally, you get a wheel hop and chirp to relieve the tension. Driving a conventional 4WD on dry asphalt, even with identical tires all around, will wind it up right quick.
$5 tires are hard to pass up, but a new set of tires should last 50000 and rides and drives so much better, at least for the first 30k, imo.
As long as they have the same loaded radius, you should be ok, until you hit the brakes and the different compounds and tread designs start working their own ways.....
What you have above with the different size tires might cause wind-up, but the differential constantly working as though you are turning isn't what I'd call wind- up.
Wind-up would occur in a 4 wheel drive set up, where the different size tires cause tension in the entire drive train. The tension "winds up" and occasionally, you get a wheel hop and chirp to relieve the tension. Driving a conventional 4WD on dry asphalt, even with identical tires all around, will wind it up right quick.
$5 tires are hard to pass up, but a new set of tires should last 50000 and rides and drives so much better, at least for the first 30k, imo.
As long as they have the same loaded radius, you should be ok, until you hit the brakes and the different compounds and tread designs start working their own ways.....
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From: Calgary, Canada
I had a '75 Austin Marina with mismatched pairs of tires on each axle; if I would have put a little more effort into it, I probably could have rolled it going around any corner I wanted. Once I put radials on all 4 corners it rode like it was on rails.
I think the major issue may be mixing radials and non radials but I do not know if dissimilar radials will cause issues or not.
I think the major issue may be mixing radials and non radials but I do not know if dissimilar radials will cause issues or not.
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