[MrEeeaddict]

I sadly had a nail kill one of my rear tires, I got 1 side replaced and it's at 8mm vs 5mm for the other side.

I know with my AWD cars this is a no no, but what about the smart?

 

[Shalmaneser64]

I sadly had a nail kill one of my rear tires, I got 1 side replaced and it's at 8mm vs 5mm for the other side.

I know with my AWD cars this is a no no, but what about the smart?

I’d replace the other rear and keep the 5mm as a spare.

 

[lebikerboy]

Don't know where you are in Canada but here in BC it's a legal requirement
to have the same tires on an axle...

 

[e350coupe]

where r u located

 

[lebikerboy]

North Vancouver

 

[Shoehorn]

What tires are you running? I’m just trying to understand, because mine cost $38 ea, and it is not a place I’d be trying to save a buck.
Short answer: Yes. It is actually very bad to have different size tires on any driven axle. Even with an open differential. On the front, this would just cause handling issues. On the rear, it causes both handling and mechanical issues.

 

[mojidog]

I dont think he means that the tires are different sizes, just that one tire has more tread wear than the other and is more worn out so they dont exactly match.

 

[mojidog]

8 mm is not a tire size, it an amount of tread weAR

 

[Shoehorn]

I realize this. Do the math though. That is about a quarter inch difference in diameter.

I know that this isn’t the actual tire size, but for instance, a new 23” (72.22” circumference) tire vs a used 22.75” (71.435” circumference) tire is a difference in circumference of .785. Which is actually pretty significant. Also, the used tire should have been measured at the highest wear point, because that is the real effective diameter. The difference is likely much more.

 

[Shalmaneser64]

I realize this. Do the math though. That is about a quarter inch difference in diameter.

I know that this isn’t the actual tire size, but for instance, a new 23” (72.22” circumference) tire vs a used 22.75” (71.435” circumference) tire is a difference in circumference of .785. Which is actually pretty significant. Also, the used tire should have been measured at the highest wear point, because that is the real effective diameter. The difference is likely much more.

Agree with you. Almost half the tread is gone. I'd replace both sides at that point. Tires seem to be under appreciated. I see all these SUV ads showing drivers blissfully blasting through snow and ice on all season tires, realizing that in real life, that would be pretty stupid. Same goes for running on old, dry rotted or petrified tires. Tires have a finite life, regardless of how many miles they have. A flat at speed is no fun. Consider the death of Paul Walker:

Paul Walker's Porsche had outdated tires at time of fatal crash

Paul Walker's Porsche had outdated tires at time of fatal crash

www.latimes.com

 

[e350coupe]

He actually says 8mm and 5mm which is 11/32 and 7/32

 

[Shoehorn]

8mm - 5mm = 3mm radius (6mm diameter)

6mm is .236”, and this is all measured at the center of the tire, not the inside edge that is most likely nearly bald.

(Your math still works out the same
11/32 - 7/32 = 4/32 = 1/8R = 1/4D)