2 DIFFERENT TIRE SIZES ON THE FRONT AND BACK

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H N

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I read on the boards that it was bad to mix tire sizes on 4x4's. Is this really true because I'm in need of 1 tire because 1 of my stock ones split in 3 different places. So I found 2 tires new on clearance dirt cheap but were 265/70's and my stock fronts are 255/70's when I held them both up there was about 3/4" height difference. Can I run these 2 different sizes same across the axle but not front to back without hurting the truck?
 
You can do it, but if you use your 4wd you will break something,,,,



Cant you use your spare tire, and just replace the spair...

Todd Z
 
That's what I think I'm going to have to do. I just didn't want to pass up the sale. If anyone needs 265/70/16's wrangler at/d's there's 2 left for $64 ea. :(

Orland Park, IL Sam's club
 
That's not enough difference to cause a problem on the street in 2wd. If you use 4wd, just use it long enough to get up a snowy hill or whatever you gotta do. You'll be needing 2 other tires in a while anyway, so get more 265/70's then. Or if you still have the original tires, check a few junkyards for one 255/70 with about the same amount of tread as your other tires. It's a common size.
 
It can be done, but HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED. If only ONE wheel is different, the transfer case (when in 4X4) will spin the front and rear drive shafts at the same speed since it is a non differential type transfer case. With only one tire different, the front and rear shafts can rotate at the same rpm. This is true if only one tire is different. The front or back with the odd tire will turn the left and right wheels at different velocities. The difference in tire rpm is accomodated by the spider gears. This can cause a lot of wear on the gears, but it is doable. If they are the same size tires but different from the others, the spider gears can't "walk" and will cause a lockup condition since the wheels can not turn at the same rpm as the others. I believe this is correct. Any corrections are welcomed. Again, HIGHLY NOT recommended as should be used in an emergency only.
 
This does NOT work in 4x4, I have done this by accident on an old farm truck Ford. Larger size on the back, smaller on the front, in 4x4 that thing was like it had skates on, it would just slide all over the place. 4x4 was worse then just driving in slick conditions in 2wd. I think it is because of the difference in speed of rotation between the two, everything just keeps slipping and you don't get any traction.
 
Olaf W, I was referencing only using ONE tire that was different out of the FOUR. Actually Olaf W, your experience was caused by one set of tires (front or rear with the largest diameter) was moving the truck while the other set was being dragged or pushed around.
 
MikeC, yup agree with what you wrote in both posts, (I wasn't disagreeing with yours, I was referencing the original question)
 

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