Is it true that all four tires have to be identical on an AWD vehicle? I went to Merchants about my previous post (had nothing to do with my tires) and they told me I could damage my transmission by having tires that have different tread patterns. All four tires have full tread, but apparently the owner before me bought them used because the front two only match each other and the back two are completely different from the other three. This idea of different tread patterns sounds like bogus, but it's my first AWD vehicle so I could be wrong.... thanks for your help!!

Hello bardwelllauren,

They are correct, Never drive with tires that have different tread patterns in any AWD vehicle. The problem is that if the front and rear tires are different , then the front and rear axles are always turning at different speeds. Even when the car is going straight ahead. That means the center differential is always working -- and that wears it out. And Remember the center differential costs big money.Take the service manager's advice and replace all four tires at once.

The best use of tires is to buy 4 new ones, and rotate them on a regular interval, so they wear evenly, and you get the most mileage out of them. Most of us forget to do this, and 2 of the tires wear out before the other 2 do.

Regards
R.B.N.J

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