Bad Tire - replace one or both?

[92saturnsl2]

One of the tires on my Pacifica cannot be repaired and must be replaced. This is a tire on the rear-- should both tires be replaced as a set, or is it okay to simply replace the one? I realize the new one will have have more tread, and may not wear completely before all 4 tires need to be replaced. I don't want to upset the handling balance in any big way. Presently the fronts have about 80% tread remaining, the other (good) rear about 60%. Car is FWD.

I don't mind replacing both, but this will essentially relegate a good tire with a lot of life left to the trash heap- I have no interest in using it as a full size spare, as I don't have or want another 19" wheel. Not sure it would generate much interest selling it used as the P235/55/R19 isn't a very popular size. So hmmm, I'm on the fence. What would you do?

 

[PandaBear]

So you have a tire that's 60% left. Does that 60% include the 2/32 that is considered "bald" (60% being 6/32") ? or 60% over the 2/32 (i.e. 50% being 6/32)? If you can find the exact tire used you can probably just buy one to "match", but I would buy 2 new identical tire and keep the good rear as a cold spare, throw it away if nothing happen when the pair wears out.

 

[JLTD]

One.

 

[Rmay635703]

I would look on Craig's and on the junkyard.

Odd tires are easy to find cheap in good condition because no one else needs them either.

Remember if you won't be rotating you can get a tire that is slightly dimensionally different like a 245/50 or 225/60 without issue.

Throwing away tires is a big environmental drain so it's worth making a small effort to get a similar tread.

If you do go new just get a cheap generic tire
https://www.amazon.com/Travelstar-UN33-Performance-Radial-Tire/dp/B073HQZQ11/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535752159&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=235%2F55r19&dpPl=1&dpID=41xqgvpcTIL&ref=plSrch

Achilles is a good generic

 

[MrOctober44]

Replace both of them!!

 

[vavavroom]

I'd also replace both tires on that axle with new ones. I don't want to have uneven traction on the same axle under adverse conditions. Tires with more tread should be on the rear. I would not take my chances with a used tire that may have suffered some unknown kind of internal damage. You may want to keep the one tire that is still okay as a spare if you even have a full-size spare wheel.

 

[oil_film_movies]

Like vavavroom said, new tires should be on the rear. Try to have even treadwear on left vs. right sides so one side doesn't suddenly hydroplane and cause yaw spin skidding.
Tires are recycled, not sent to the trash heap anyway.

 

[92saturnsl2]

New tire(s) will be the same model as I have currently, Cooper CS5 Ultra. I despise having mismatched tires, looks tacky anyways.

I get the new on rear placement for stability purposes, but that's not always practical since the fronts wear out sooner than the rears- that wouldn't allow for any rotation if you used it as a hard and fast rule. At some point the more worn tires have to be on the rear to maintain even treadwear between the front and rear set. It can be managed to minimize any difference with regular tire rotations. Unfortunately the previous owner didn't rotate, hence the 20% delta between the two sets.

If I get one new tire, I'd pair them with an axle as follows: 100/80 & 80/60 so there is not a 100% tread and 60% tread on same axle. I'm keeping my eyes open for a used tire, but trying to find the exact model tire in this size, with plus or minus 60% tread (if I wanted uneven tread, I'd just buy new after all) is going to be quite the challenge.

 

[CT8]

Put the new tire on front and move the worn front to the rear.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Buy two tires, and keep the good old/used tire as a full-size spare

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Buy two tires, and keep the good old/used tire as a full-size spare

This

 

[qjohn]

I'd buy one used tire if I could find one for less than maybe 50% of a new one.

If used is not cheap, then I'd buy one new tire and would put it on the fastest-wearing corner, probably right-front. That way, the size mismatch will decrease with use.

If I thought the size mismatch would be too great to start with, then I'd have the new one shaved down to the same depth as the other one.

 

[Nick1994]

Yup, two new ones for a matching pair in the front. Once they're all worn to the same tread depth, start rotating and replace at the same time next time.

 

[CapriRacer]

Just to fill in some gaps:

Just after ABS became a mainstream product on new cars, GM did a study that showed that in emergency situations (heavy braking, severe cornering) vehicles tended to pivot around odd tires - and the more odd the tire, the stronger that tendency. I don't think they ever published the study (probably on the advice of their lawyers!), but they did show it to each of their tire suppliers with the hint that they continue to remind their dealers and customers to change tires - at worse - in pairs.

 

[Rmay635703]

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/wto/d/cooper-cs5-ultra-touring-tires/6677660290.html

Unlikely tire to find without a drive (rare tire, rare size)

Car-part.com likely lists them but they make the interface a horrible pain to find tires.

 

[The Critic]

1 is fine. 60% vs 100% on the same axle, on a fwd car, should not be an issue as long as they are matching tires.