Is It Safe to Use Different Tyre Sizes on Your Car?
- Jul 11, 2024
Is It Safe to Use Different Tyre Sizes on Your Car?
Dubai is renowned for two things: its towering skyscrapers and ultra-fast cars. Many drivers in the city enjoy taking their cars on adventurous journeys, exploring the urban landscape. To ensure these trips are hassle-free and pleasurable, it's crucial to have the right tyre sizes.
However, many drivers wonder if they can purchase tires online Dubai in various sizes. You might also be questioning whether it’s safe to drive with mismatched tyre sizes. In this blog, we’ll address all your questions about using different tyre sizes.
What Are The Different Ways In Which Tyre Sizes Can Differ?
Any car tyre doesn’t have just one way of measurement. You might not know this, but there are actually three ways in which you can measure a tyre: width, rim diameter, and sidewall aspect ratio.
When we write a tyre’s measurement, it’s something like this: 225/45R17, where 225 is the width, the sidewall aspect ratio is 45% of 225, and 17 is the rim diameter. Below, we will discuss these in detail:
- Width:
You can measure any tire by its width in millimetres. The front tyres in many vehicles have a lesser width than the ones in the back. For instance, the 1978 Lamborghini Countach had front tyres with a measurement of 205/50R15. On the other hand, the 345/35R15 back tyres had a comparatively larger width size.
- Rim Diameter:
The wheel rim diameter, also known as the internal diameter of the tyre is included in the tyre measurement. The example given earlier of the Lamborghini Countach had the same rim diameters in the front and back tyres. However, they can be different too in some vehicles like tractors, where the rear tyres have a higher rim diameter than the front tyres.
- Sidewall Aspect Ratio
The third key tyre measurement is the sidewall aspect ratio. You can measure a tyre’s sidewall aspect ratio by calculating its sidewall height as a percentage of the entire width of the tyre. Since this aspect ratio affects the diameter of the wheel, it must be consistent from side to side.
Can You Use Different Tyre Sizes On Your Car?
There’s no clear-cut answer whether you can have different-sized tyres in your car or not. It depends on various factors. If your automobile has front—or rear-wheel drive, all you have to do is make sure the tires on both the front and rear of the vehicle are the same size. If the suspension geometry is configured correctly, you won't experience any difficulties operating the car.
Nonetheless, before you Buy Tyres Online in Abu Dhabi that are of different sizes, understand that it could be a poor choice if you have a four-wheel-drive car. Why? Because it can cause trouble with your automobile’s center differential unless it’s custom-designed to handle mismatches in tyres.
In another case, for those who are using a space saver tyre, you must know that these tyres have a smaller diameter than your average tyre. So, while driving, you are required not to let your speed go over 80 km/hr. Also, try to replace the tyre as soon as you can.
If you fail to do these things, your smaller tyre will pull the car towards itself whenever you hit the accelerator. As a result, you will end up damaging your differential.
Moreover, the mismatch in tyre sizes can trigger traction control or electronic stability control much more often than normal. When the tyres will run at different speeds, the sensors will not be able to comprehend what is happening, and they will mistake it for skidding.
Can You Use Different Size Tyres Front And Back?
While it’s okay to have tyres of different sizes in the front and back of a car, you must check whether your vehicle can handle that.
In many sports cars, front and back tyres have different widths or rim diameters. It actually tends to have positive effects on the grip and stability of the car if your suspension geometry is set up for that. If you are unsure about your car’s tyre setup, you can go for a tyre checkup at any of the Tyres Dealers in Abu Dhabi.
Can You Use Different Size Tyres On The Same Axle?
You now understand that the front and rear of a car can have tyres of various diameters. However, what if you were to select various tyre sizes for the same car axle? Is that going to be secure?
Any expert on cars will tell you that using various sized tires on the same axle is not a good idea. This is because it can result in a number of handling problems and even traffic accidents.
You can think that the automobile turns too easily on one side compared to the other if it has different-sized tires on the same axle. You can end up losing control of the vehicle as a result, endangering your safety.
Conclusion
This guide has proved that using different tyre sizes on your car isn’t a straightforward decision. It depends on factors like tyre measurements, where they’re mounted (front or rear), and how they affect your car’s handling.
Mismatched tyres can be dangerous, especially if they are in the same axle. They can be the cause of poor handling, damaging center differential and even accidents.
So, if you want to keep yourself and your loves ones safe, understand how your car works and what tyres will be suitable.
When you are confident about the type of tyres you want, visit TyresCart to find great Car Tyre Offers UAE. Here, you will find the perfect tyres for your car that are of top quality as well as pocket-friendly.
FAQs
- Can I have two different size tyres on my car?
It depends on various factors but generally, many cars support tyres of different sizes on the front and back. However, using different size tires on the same axel can be tricky and can lead to the driver losing control.
- How much difference in tyre size is acceptable?
There is no such rule because cars can have different tyre needs based on their build. On a general rule of thumb, the new tyres you buy should differentiate from the existing tyres of the car under 3 per cent of the diameter.
- Can wrong size tires damage cars?
Yes, many drivers experience damages to their centre differential upon using different size tyres. Even if your car supports mismatched tyres on the front and back, your drivetrain components will wear faster than normal.