Using different car tyres on same axle?

mr_eddy

So had a car puncture and its on the edge of the tread so not repairable. Anyway money is a bit tight at the moment with the energy hike, inflation etc so to that end I am tempted to get a new 'budget' tyre from Kwik Fit instead of replacing with another Michelin Primacy.

Really annoyed as the car is a brand new 21 plate so the tyres only have 500 miles on them, such as waste!

The budget tyre is £50 cheaper but crucially still has the same size, load rating and speed rating as the Michelin.

My worry is that I am gonna get pulled over because its the back right tyre so from the back it will be obvious for a panda car that maybe behind me that I have different treaded rear tyres. I have read conflicting advice about using different brands on the same axle, some tyre websites say its illegal and some say its legal just not advised.

I am aware that I cannot use radial and x-ply etc but given basically every 'car' tyre now is radial that rules that out as a issue. I am also aware that having 1 mismatched rear tyre is less than ideal for braking/handling etc but I am not too worried about that as its only used for commuting / local trips so rarely goes over 40mph and the front tyres (and back left) are brand new Michelin's.

My only concern is down to a legal issue, if I put on a new budget tyre on is this legal? Again the remaining 3 tyres are brand new Michelin's so tyre tread depth is a non issue

Advice appreciated, thanks

drhaggis

Don't do it. It's not worth it. £50 is really just a fuel tank. I know it sucks, but the extra uncertainty in handliing, which you won't notice until it's too late, is not worth it.

photonic69

Is your spare tyre the same as the other four? You could get this swapped over if it is. I’m not aware of any legal requirements in the UK to have matching tyres across one axel. If it was then over 50% of cars would be breaking the law. I believe in other countries and the EU you are required to have matching tyres.
But yes, handling may suffer in extreme conditions/situations.

lesfirth

No problem at all. You seem to know what you can not do. No need for speed restrictions. The only down side is that the budget tyre will not last as long as a Michelin.
( I am an ex MOT tester)

DeVlaeminck

I'm pretty certain it's legal - I've never replaced tyres in pairs and I've never made sure they've matched.

mr_eddy

Thanks for the advice. Just wanted to check.

Re the spare - Car came with a can of 'foam' which I tried - Did bu**er all!

surrey_commuter

Don’t go to Kwik Fit and you will save more than £50 and it will be quicker.

I know absolutely nothing about the subject but if you are pottering about in the family saloon then crack on. If you have tweaked your ride to eke out the last few extra horses and drive it on the ragged edge then things would be different

Pross

If you Google there is a difference of opinion, most places say it is fine but others say you should have the same tread pattern on both. That said, the ones saying it should be the same tread pattern are websites for tyre companies who want to sell more tyres! I had a blow out a couple of weeks ago and it was replaced by a different brand. The only thing the tyre fitter said may be a problem was if the tread on the other tyre was significantly worn (he also asked if my car was permanent 4x4 as that would have reduced the tread differential). As the remaining front tyre was only a few weeks old this wasn't an issue for me.

lesfirth

Confirm. Do not go to Kwik Fit. Chances are that they will con you.
Each branch has a sales target for the branch and an individual customer sales target. Too many customers like you only spending £50 and the manager will soon be looking for another job.

MattFalle

I've had different tyres fitted on the same axle loads of times and never given it a secon thought and the dude at the tyre garage (local very respected jobbie) has never raised it as a potetial issue.

bianchi_dave

As an ex traffic cop (and still a civilian crash investigator) I can assure you it's not illegal to have different tyres on the same axle.

However, as already mentioned it is ill advised, as the tyres may have different handling characteristics. Not a problem pootling around town, but at higher speeds, or indeed an emergency situation, I would certainly want my vehicle to behave as expected.

In addition, the tread patterns may dissipate water less effectively, so consistent wet road handling may also be compromised.

In the case of any legal action (criminal or civil), if the car was fitted with tyres which did not meet the OE standards of load and speed rating, it would be picked up on (I know I would!).

lesfirth

bianchi_dave said:

As an ex traffic cop (and still a civilian crash investigator) I can assure you it's not illegal to have different tyres on the same axle.

However, as already mentioned it is ill advised, as the tyres may have different handling characteristics. Not a problem pootling around town, but at higher speeds, or indeed an emergency situation, I would certainly want my vehicle to behave as expected.

In addition, the tread patterns may dissipate water less effectively, so consistent wet road handling may also be compromised.

In the case of any legal action (criminal or civil), if the car was fitted with tyres which did not meet the OE standards of load and speed rating, it would be picked up on (I know I would!).

I do not think the vast majority of drivers would have a clue how their car would behave in an emergency.

" Consistent wet road handling " needs a consistent road surface and our roads do not have that.

Nobody has suggested mixing tyres of different load or speed rating so the last paragraph is irrelevant but if it was the case it would not need Sherlock Homes to spot it!

Munsford0

In 40 years / gazillion miles driving company cars I've never had it suggested that tyres need to match. When you get an unrepairable puncture or you've trashed a tyre by running it flat the leasing company will only ever authorise fitting one replacement. And they'll usually go for whatever is the cheapest equivalent. Even if you do get the same tyre if the other one is part worn you'll then have different tread depths.

Admittedly that never involved budget tyres, but as said above if the load and speed rating are the same then you should be fine...

Plod ain't going to pull you over cos your tyres aren't all matchy matchy.

rick_chasey

lesfirth said:

I do not think the vast majority of drivers would have a clue how their car would behave in an emergency.

Slow and understeery as f*ck would be my car

carbonclem

I always replace in pairs but its not a requirement.

Use a couple of online sites such as Black Circles or My Tyres or Asda, and find the tyre you want and pre-book and pay the fitting. Prevents any nonsense upselling by a tyre fitters supervisor posing as a great mate in a slightly menacing way.

First.Aspect

The advice used to be that tyres be the same age, so you didn't get big differences in grip etc. Seems to have morphed into exact same type.

Personally I would though, particularly if you have a big difference in quality from side to side of the car. Some budget tyres really are censored .

Least worst option is for the new one to be the same as the others, given that the others only have 500 miles on them.

bianchi_dave

lesfirth said:

bianchi_dave said:

As an ex traffic cop (and still a civilian crash investigator) I can assure you it's not illegal to have different tyres on the same axle.

However, as already mentioned it is ill advised, as the tyres may have different handling characteristics. Not a problem pootling around town, but at higher speeds, or indeed an emergency situation, I would certainly want my vehicle to behave as expected.

In addition, the tread patterns may dissipate water less effectively, so consistent wet road handling may also be compromised.

In the case of any legal action (criminal or civil), if the car was fitted with tyres which did not meet the OE standards of load and speed rating, it would be picked up on (I know I would!).

I do not think the vast majority of drivers would have a clue how their car would behave in an emergency.

" Consistent wet road handling " needs a consistent road surface and our roads do not have that.

Nobody has suggested mixing tyres of different load or speed rating so the last paragraph is irrelevant but if it was the case it would not need Sherlock Homes to spot it!

I never said our roads were consistent, they're anything but. This discussion is about tyres, but you knew that.

I promise to think twice before posting something helpful in future, and something not as irrelevant as your entire post.

laurentian

The good lady has had three pot hole induced side wall punctures in the past 6 weeks (roads here are S**t) the tyre place changing the tyres recommended the same make/model of tyres on the front (drive) axle but did say it was not a requirement

MattFalle

Munsford0 said:

In 40 years / gazillion miles driving company cars I've never had it suggested that tyres need to match. When you get an unrepairable puncture or you've trashed a tyre by running it flat the leasing company will only ever authorise fitting one replacement. And they'll usually go for whatever is the cheapest equivalent. Even if you do get the same tyre if the other one is part worn you'll then have different tread depths.

Admittedly that never involved budget tyres, but as said above if the load and speed rating are the same then you should be fine...

Plod ain't going to pull you over cos your tyres aren't all matchy matchy.

a gazillion miles?

blimey.

you need to find a shorter route to Asda.

#takealefthere.itsashortcut

johngti

Used to be about radial vs cross ply . Shouldn’t mix two different types on the same axle. So long as they’re the same build it’s fine. I don’t think it was ever illegal, just inadvisable - they have different handling characteristics so could be problematic. I seem to remember tv ads about it

johngti

Yep. https://youtu.be/OTue5HcdSW4

Munsford0

MattFalle said:

Munsford0 said:

In 40 years / gazillion miles driving company cars I've never had it suggested that tyres need to match. When you get an unrepairable puncture or you've trashed a tyre by running it flat the leasing company will only ever authorise fitting one replacement. And they'll usually go for whatever is the cheapest equivalent. Even if you do get the same tyre if the other one is part worn you'll then have different tread depths.

Admittedly that never involved budget tyres, but as said above if the load and speed rating are the same then you should be fine...

Plod ain't going to pull you over cos your tyres aren't all matchy matchy.

a gazillion miles?

blimey.

you need to find a shorter route to Asda.

#takealefthere.itsashortcut

Gazillion was a guess. Seems like a lifetime ago.
Life in the slow lane now; redundancy payout, low stress technician job in school, 8 mile rural commute, 12 weeks paid holiday, access to laser cutter and 3D printer. And Asda is a 3 minute walk

mully79

Michelin primacy seem to get a lot of punctures. I’ve worn out 2 but had 6 replacements. VW replaced the rear left with a Falken as that’s all they had and it’s done 20000 so far mixed rear axle with a Primacy.

Pross

Has anyone ever even seen a crossply tyre? I was surprised to see they still get a mention on motoring sites as I don't think in 30 odd years of driving a tyre shop has asked me if I want crossply or radial even when having to replace all 4 at the same time.

johngti

Aren’t cross ply the older sort, basically inferior to radial? Or is it the other way around. Don’t think you get an option these days

First.Aspect

It is the sort of thing that people called Norman, who are in the Wolsey owners club, worry about. You know, so that in the Summer they can park in a field and talk to Derek about how original the car is.

Oh, yes it has original duck egg paint not two pack, and those are cross ply tyres so steering is just as awful as when it was new.

Is that an original 1965 AA badge there Derek? Oh yes Norman.

Etc.

DeVlaeminck

Pross said:

Has anyone ever even seen a crossply tyre? I was surprised to see they still get a mention on motoring sites as I don't think in 30 odd years of driving a tyre shop has asked me if I want crossply or radial even when having to replace all 4 at the same time.

I'm old enough to remember the warnings not to mix them but I don't remember being asked by a garage which i wanted so I'm assuming by the mid-late 1980s one or other was no longer readily available.

carbonclem

I ‘into’ old Volkswagens and people do fit cross plies to achieve authentic restorations or to complete an original car. Special order only and not cheap.

MattFalle

First.Aspect said:

It is the sort of thing that people called Norman, who are in the Wolsey owners club, worry about. You know, so that in the Summer they can park in a field and talk to Derek about how original the car is.

Oh, yes it has original duck egg paint not two pack, and those are cross ply tyres so steering is just as awful as when it was new.

Is that an original 1965 AA badge there Derek? Oh yes Norman.

Etc.

tbh, people will do the weirdestshit - oooh, I'd like some Avon Roadrunners for my motorbike please. And some nice Hi Tec Silver Shads to go for a run.

i can almost hear the squeaky voices in the AA badge convo. Deffo a pair or two of those glasses with variable tint lenses going on there methinks.

DeVlaeminck

I can understand the tyre thing - I know a few people into classic scooters and modern tyres stick out like a sore thumb.

MattFalle

that as maybe, but i'd rather keep traction than be in traction.

#comedygold