Replacing Tyres in Pairs: A Guide
Tyres are a key component of our cars as they’re the only part of our vehicle which come into direct contact with the road. So if you’ve noticed your tyres looking a little worse for wear, there’s a number of things you should consider before you purchase replacement tyres!
Why replace tyres in pairs?
You may think it’s cheaper to replace tyres one at a time, but this isn’t necessarily the case! While the initial payment for one tyre might be cheaper, in the long run you could save yourself money and be safer overall.
But why?
1. Be Road Legal
Driving with illegal tyres can become very costly very quickly. Plus, it’s against the law to have two different tyre types on the same axle. Considering a potential fine is £2,500 per illegal tyre, it makes sense to make sure your vehicle is legal - paying for two tyres is significantly cheaper than a large fine.
2. Fuel Efficiency
The rolling resistance (the energy that your vehicle needs to send to your tyres to maintain movement at a consistent speed over a surface), is higher in old tyres of new tyres. It is estimated that you can save up to £130 per year on newer, more efficient tyres.
3. Imbalance
A newer tyre is going to have a thicker tread depth than an older one, meaning these tyres will grip the road with different efficiency. This can cause an imbalance while driving, meaning your car may pull in one direction leading to tracking issues.
Not only that, but if you need to perform an emergency stop, your car could potentially veer to one side. Not good if that’s into a lane of opposing traffic!
4. Brand Matching and Performance
All manufacturers will use different compounds and materials in their tyres, this combined with differing performance quality provided by different manufacturers of tyre models could lead to handling issues when driving. That being said, if you have mismatched tyres on the same axle, your car may start to steer better in one direction than the other.
5. Different Tyres, Different Seasons
Winter tyres aren’t always necessary in the UK, but if you decide to swap your tyres over depending on the season, be sure to change all your tyres as pairing tyres suited for different seasons can cause instability.
Can you replace one tyre with a different brand?
There is nothing stopping you from doing this, but it certainly isn’t recommended. Even tyres from the same manufacturer can behave differently depending on the model you’ve purchased. However, even tyres of the same model and manufacturer can have different levels of wear so you’re best off replacing your tyres in pairs. Looking for new tyres? Take a look at MotorEasy tyres.
Which axle should new tyres be fitted to?
The recommendation is to fit a new pair of tyres to the back axle, with the previous brand being switched to the front. This is due to driving characteristics, from a handling point of view, will feel unchanged for the driver. You will get all of the new tyres benefits such as increased traction, reduced stopping distance and greater efficiency, without noticing a big change to the vehicle.
Is buying a pair of matching tyres expensive?
It doesn’t need to be, and as we’ve already seen, it’s much safer to purchase a pair of tyres in the same condition from the same manufacturer.
MotorEasy Tyres can help you find the perfect pair of tyres for your vehicle. Find out more.
