# What Has Worked For You When Replacing Tires in Pairs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [April 24, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793 "2022-04-24T15:58:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kcac\_1\_157641](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kcac\_1\_157641](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kcac_1_157641)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/1 "2022-04-24T15:58:17Z")
I have a new pair of Continental True Contact Tour tires (11/32") tread depth paired with two of the same make and model tires that have 8/32" tread depth. These are installed on a Dodge Grand Caravan front wheel drive minivan. I usually purchase tires in sets of four, and to get back to that purchasing pattern, I was going to put the new tires on the front of the vehicle and let them “catch up” to the wear of the older tires. Is trying to get the vehicle back on a schedule of replacing all four tires at once worth pursuing? One advantage to replacing tires in pairs is the reduced cost of purchasing two tires at a time vs four. Are there any others that I am missing? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/2 "2022-04-24T16:06:43Z")
> [@kcac\_1\_157641](#): > > I was going to put the new tires on the front of the vehicle and let them “catch up” to the wear of the older tires. Don’t do that . The tire manufactures and safety firms say to always put the 2 only new tires on the rear of the vehicle no matter if is front or rear drive . All wheel drive is the same but best to replace al four at one time. Ther are many videos showing just how dangerous it is having a vehicle hydroplane with the new tires on the front. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/3 "2022-04-24T16:45:55Z")
> [@kcac\_1\_157641](#): > > One advantage to replacing tires in pairs is the reduced cost of purchasing two tires at a time vs four. I disagree. I often see a rebate available when purchasing a set of four tires. You give that up if you buy a pair at a time. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/4 "2022-04-24T17:10:46Z")
Putting the better tires on the back is like having insurance. You’ll never know when you may need the added traction in the rear where a “less better” tire would break lose. But if you ever do, you’ll be glad you did put the new tires on the rear. It’s your choice. If putting the new tires on the front to let them “catch up” is more important to you, then you’ll understand the tradeoffs. ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/5 "2022-04-24T18:46:35Z")
Put the 2 new tires on the rear and move the old rears up front. ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/6 "2022-04-24T18:49:10Z")
I just re-read your post. Don’t buy anything now. Do what I said when the first pair is worn out. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2022, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/7 "2022-04-25T23:39:39Z")
There’s a lot of life left in all 4 tires. Maybe you should put the new tires on front since they will wear faster. This is unorthodox and isn’t as safe as putting the new tires on back, but 8/32” is still pretty good. After all, if you had 4 tires with 8/32” tread left, you would not replace them. Keep an eye on the rear tread if you do this and maybe switch them to the front if the get down to 4/32”. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/8 "2022-04-26T01:04:43Z")
I have a vibration in my 2007 Town and Country that, after front end work and wheel balancing, may be from one tire that is somehow off kilter. It feels like a tire is out of round, or has a loose belt. The vibration is there at highway speeds but is especially noticeable at 25-35 MPH on smooth streets. I plan to take it to a tire dealer and if they find one tire is the problem, replace two of them with the same brand and model. The tires still have half or so of their original tread depth, and this seems like the wisest choice Your thought? ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/9 "2022-04-26T03:14:11Z")
> [@shanonia](#): > > especially noticeable at 25-35 MPH on smooth streets The one time a had a broken belt in a tire, that was the symptoms I had. Took the car in to rebalance the tires thinking maybe a weight had fallen off, wound up buying new tires. ---
**Author:** ![kcac\_1\_157641](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@kcac\_1\_157641](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kcac_1_157641)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2022, 11:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/10 "2022-05-03T23:28:19Z")
> [@shanonia](#): > > I plan to take it to a tire dealer and if they find one tire is the problem, replace two of them with the same brand and model. The tires still have half or so of their original tread depth, and this seems like the wisest choice > > Your thought? That sounds like a reasonable plan to me. I had a similar situation and that is how I ended up with two new tires and two partially worn tires. I have not had any traction or rideability issues with that configuration of tires, including some travel in 2 to 3" of snow. ---
**Author:** ![Vanman1920](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Vanman1920](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Vanman1920)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 12:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-has-worked-for-you-when-replacing-tires-in-pairs/183793/11 "2022-05-04T00:47:11Z")
The power of new tires on the rear becomes very clear in winter weather. If you live in a Northern Climate, this winter take a look at how most of the vehicles end up in the ditch. They will generally be back end first into the snow, this is from the rear of the vehicle loosing traction in a corner or maneuvering event causing an oversteer condition. Once it starts it is hard to get control and you end up spinning into the ditch.