Awd tire replacement query
#1
10th Gear
Thread Starter
Awd tire replacement query
Hi all ,
im going to ask a stupid question that will get a few people heated up I’m sure but I just want to see if anyone has input. So I replaced the tires on my old lady’s 07 rx350 awd 0ne year ago . The Toyo celsius’ on it were at 50% but I got bulge in one of the rears so had to replace them all of course. Got the Michelin cross climate 2’s on now and I love theses tires but unfortunately I was having a little fun in the snow yesterday and bumped into the curb at about 10-15 kph . It was fun till it wasn’t and I had that thought “ I hope I didn’t just cost myself money there “ . Well now I’ve got a wobble, shimmy , whatever you want to call it . Gets going at about 70-80kph I know the possibilities of course and naturally I’m hoping a weight came off the wheel and it just needs a rebalance. BUT here’s my question: If I have separated the tread on the tire , is there an acceptable amount of wear loss or lack of therefore where someone could replace just one tire ? Obviously it’s a very bad idea in almost any sense but what if the tires are at 95 % tread? These have 5k on them . Is that still going to mess up the drivetrain? Any thoughts?
im going to ask a stupid question that will get a few people heated up I’m sure but I just want to see if anyone has input. So I replaced the tires on my old lady’s 07 rx350 awd 0ne year ago . The Toyo celsius’ on it were at 50% but I got bulge in one of the rears so had to replace them all of course. Got the Michelin cross climate 2’s on now and I love theses tires but unfortunately I was having a little fun in the snow yesterday and bumped into the curb at about 10-15 kph . It was fun till it wasn’t and I had that thought “ I hope I didn’t just cost myself money there “ . Well now I’ve got a wobble, shimmy , whatever you want to call it . Gets going at about 70-80kph I know the possibilities of course and naturally I’m hoping a weight came off the wheel and it just needs a rebalance. BUT here’s my question: If I have separated the tread on the tire , is there an acceptable amount of wear loss or lack of therefore where someone could replace just one tire ? Obviously it’s a very bad idea in almost any sense but what if the tires are at 95 % tread? These have 5k on them . Is that still going to mess up the drivetrain? Any thoughts?
#2
I wouldn't worry about replacing just one tire especially since they have 95% of their tread left. I got lazy and didn't rotate my tires when switching to my winters twice in a row and with a good 2mm difference between the tires, there was no issues with the car until the set ran low and I replaced all four. Generally, the car has pretty close to equal wearing tires unlike my '14 RX which usually runs in FWD, unlike our cars that use the (superior) 50/50 split full-time AWD. This was on my 2002 Highlander which has the same viscous coupling transfer case, rear differential and AWD system as your 07 RX. Having a flat or different-diameter (eg: 225/65 on one side, 225/60 on other) front tire on one side would probably screw the VC t-case up because it wants to keep both front wheels spinning at the same speed. If you're worried about it, you could put the two 95% ones up front, and one 95% and a 100% new one at one of the rear corners.
The following users liked this post:
Margate330 (12-23-22)
#3
Intermediate
I did the same last winter, got 4 new Cross Climates, then hit a kerb in the snow, which deflated the tyre. On refilling all seemed fine at first, but it became apparent there was a slow puncture. I too had done around 5k on the tyres and just replaced the one, so I wouldn't worry about it. Hopefully though in your case you just knocked a weight off and will only need rebalancing.
If you do need to replace one, and it bothers you, then just make sure you have the best pair on the rears, but at that mileage I wouldn't be too bothered. Also remember that Cross Climates are directional, so if rotating you can only rotate front to rear, and not across the axles.
If you do need to replace one, and it bothers you, then just make sure you have the best pair on the rears, but at that mileage I wouldn't be too bothered. Also remember that Cross Climates are directional, so if rotating you can only rotate front to rear, and not across the axles.
The following users liked this post:
Margate330 (12-23-22)
The following users liked this post:
Margate330 (12-23-22)
#5
Pit Crew
The wheels/tires are likely out of balance after that BUMP you hit while doing donuts in the snow. have them re mounted and re-balanced. If thats not the problem, then you're looking at more money to solve this and a headache. Like a cracked rim..
The following users liked this post:
Margate330 (12-23-22)
#6
Lexus Test Driver
Having a chance of a cracked rim would scare me.
It would be easy for a tire guy to pull the wheel and inspect rim on BOTH sides and then spin it up on the High Speed Wheel Balancing machine and see what's going on.
They can also see if it's "out of round" when it's spinning up on the machine.
So much for guilt free fun in the snow. haha
Cheers!
Last edited by Margate330; 12-23-22 at 12:49 PM.
#7
Pole Position
I did the same last winter, got 4 new Cross Climates, then hit a kerb in the snow, which deflated the tyre. On refilling all seemed fine at first, but it became apparent there was a slow puncture. I too had done around 5k on the tyres and just replaced the one, so I wouldn't worry about it. Hopefully though in your case you just knocked a weight off and will only need rebalancing.
If you do need to replace one, and it bothers you, then just make sure you have the best pair on the rears, but at that mileage I wouldn't be too bothered. Also remember that Cross Climates are directional, so if rotating you can only rotate front to rear, and not across the axles.
If you do need to replace one, and it bothers you, then just make sure you have the best pair on the rears, but at that mileage I wouldn't be too bothered. Also remember that Cross Climates are directional, so if rotating you can only rotate front to rear, and not across the axles.
Trending Topics
#8
Intermediate
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BCP43002
Wheels, Tires & Brakes Forum
21
05-21-18 11:53 AM