Do You Have To Buy Tires In Pairs (2025)

: Mismatched tires can lead to "darting" or unstable steering because one side of the car has significantly more traction than the other.

of an inch) can cause the tires to spin at different speeds, which puts immense stress on the drivetrain and can lead to expensive differential failure. 3. When It’s Safe to Replace Just One do you have to buy tires in pairs

: Most AWD manufacturers, like Subaru and Audi, require replacing all four tires at once. Even a small difference in tread depth (often as little as : Mismatched tires can lead to "darting" or

There are rare scenarios where a single-tire replacement is acceptable: When It’s Safe to Replace Just One :

Replacing tires in pairs—specifically on the same axle—ensures that the car remains balanced during braking and cornering.

: You can typically replace tires in axle pairs. If you only buy two, experts at Bridgestone and Michelin advise putting the new tires on the rear axle , regardless of whether the car is FWD or RWD. This provides better stability and prevents dangerous oversteer in wet conditions.