Geewizard
Alaska, USA
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Joined: 08/25/2004
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So, I'm headed to a Dr. appointment and my left rear tire blows. After the appointment, I go to the tire store and they tell me the obvious bad news that something had punctured the sidewall and the tire is shot. I buy a new tire and the tire guy says that he'd better shave it down to match the others in tread height since there's 5/32" difference between the new one and all the others. He says that not doing so will destroy my rear differential AND my transfer case.
Well, I haven't heard of tread height being an issue unless it's quite a lot AND the vehicle is an AWD OR a full-time 4x4 with a limited slip differential. Mine's a 4x4 without a limited slip differential.
I didn't have it shaved. And I find very conflicting information on the web. My feeling is that I can easily have 5/32" difference in tread height if one tire is low on pressure.
Opinions please!
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Outfitter Apex 8
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Arctic Circle, Alaska
Marion Creek, Alaska
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woodyt30
Central NY
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I'd like to hear some other replies, cause that's a new one on me.
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Glenn_Diesel
Southern California - Moreno Valley
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Check the owner's manual.
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Americamper
Anniston AL
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That's a new one on me , never heard of it. My son's truck had a problem once and it caused one rear tire to wear down but it caused no problem.
2000 F250 Superduty 7.3 SB SRW, E rated Michelins, Torklifts, fastguns,2004 Northstar Laredo, 2005 Americamp 5'er, Triumph Tiger 1050, Yamaha YZ450
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Geewizard
Alaska, USA
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Joined: 08/25/2004
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Glenn_Diesel wrote:Check the owner's manual.
My owner's manual says nothing about matching tires like that.
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neilnbe
Massachusetts
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Joined: 03/23/2005
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I've had posi trac rearends and didn't have a problem with that...tires wear differently on any vehicle. Every time you go around a corner or turn the wheel the tires are "fighting" each other...he was looking for a few extra bucks...you'll be fine.
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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I would buy a second new tire and put it on the same axle. Keep the one taken off for a spare. Shaving 5/32 is probably half of the tread. It is also just over a quarter of an inch, that would not seem to be enough difference to cause problems.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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BradW
Flat Rock, Alabama
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Theoretically, if you have 33” diameter tires and one is 3/32” larger than the other; that is about .5% difference.
So, for every mile, one tire will turn about 612 revolutions and the other about 615. If you had a limited split rear diff and drove a lot on the highway, that might be an issue, but I doubt it.
If you are in 2wd, the transfer case doesn’t know or care if the two rear tires are different sizes.
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AnEv942
CA
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Joined: 10/10/2003
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GEEWIllKERS - GeeWizard least you made the right choice bout not shaving the tire-unsure as to your tire person? To give him the benefit -just covering himself, maybe. But thats the silliest thing Ive ever heard-1/4"? -even if you had a spool or welded the spider gears youd have to drive several miles on flypaper for it to be a problem, I dont see it. Driving on the road your going to be turning, hitting potholes etc. Like Brad pointed if your in 2WD tranfer case isnt involved, 4WD you'd either be in snow/dirt or crawling over rocks so binding is a non-issue. Limted slip or open diff like yours its just not a problem.
You dont wanna change tire sizes but like you noted youd get more revolution differance in low air pressure or going around a corner, more than that just in different brands of the same size.
Otherwise the hiways would be litered with vehicles w/ blown rearends.
IMHO you were right in your assumptions.
Mark
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camperbuds3
NE Pennsylvania
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Joined: 08/23/2003
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"if you have 33” diameter tires and one is 3/32” larger than the other; that is about .5% difference."
I don't know for sure, but I would venture to say that unless all 4 tires on a vehicle came out of the same tire mold, there is probably that much difference among them when they were all brand new.
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