Can wrong size tires damage differential?

Yes, that can do damage to your differential. The thing is, a differential is designed to take up the difference in travel between your tires as you turn. It’s also designed to correct for minor amounts of slip on the road as you drive.

Can a spare tire be a different size?

Yes, you can use your old tire as a spare, as the general rule is that a spare within 2″ of the bad tire on the ground will work, but a used tire the same size as your tires on the ground won’t cost much.

Can you mix and match tire sizes?

Drivers should avoid mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal constructions or sizes (unless front and rear staggered sizes are specified by the vehicle manufacture), and use identical tires on all of their vehicle’s wheel positions in order to maintain the best control and stability.

What happens if one of your tires is the wrong size?

Effects of Wrong Size Tires Choosing too tall of a tire can result in a vehicle prone to rolling over, a dangerous concern for any driver. Tall tires may also rub against the inside of the wheel well. While not immediately problematic, this rubbing can lead to steering issues over time.

What happens if you put different size tires on a car?

Changing to larger tires with an improper sidewall height can cause damage to your vehicle’s suspension system, wheels, and the tires themselves, and can run the risk of incorrect speedometer readings.

Are spare tires one size fits all?

The short answer is NO. There is no “One-Tire-Fits-All” when it comes to spare tires. Every donut tire is specific to the car model it comes with.

Is there a big difference between tire sizes in a differential?

That’s not much difference in diameter, but to be safe you should have a matching set. You need to replace the damaged tire anyway or risk getting stuck by another tire problem. Any size difference will a cause typical “open” differential’s internal gears to spin constantly while in motion.

Is it bad to drive with a rear differential?

Yes, that can do damage to your differential. The thing is, a differential is designed to take up the difference in travel between your tires as you turn. It’s also designed to correct for minor amounts of slip on the road as you drive. What it’s not designed to do is correct for a continuous slip in one direction.

Should I fit the same tires to every wheel position?

For optimal safety and performance, Continental recommends fitting the same tires to every wheel position on your car, so drivers should have the same brand, size, tread pattern, load index, and speed rating on the front and rear tires.

How much do tire sizes change when replacing tires?

Tire size can vary by width and height, and although a specific tire is usually recommended for a vehicle to perform optimally, there is a window of sizes that will work safely — roughly a 3 percent change in size for cars and 15 percent change for SUVs and trucks, according to Tire Rack.