Nail in 1 tire --> Told to replace all 4!?!?

[peterk9]

This AWD/4WD/A4WD has been a topic of discussion in both the 5th and 6th gen Forums. How capable is our 4WD system?

Peter

 

[reallyfatbastard]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

Yes.

 

[Kezeebo]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

Yes you need to have no more than 2/32nds difference between the new tire and the old ones. You can buy a tire that measures 10/32nds and get away with that. Or buy a used tire that measures within 2/32nds. It’s not ideal to have one tire with a different tread pattern across the same axel but it’s a lot cheaper. All wheel drive is great but no ones tells you that it’s gonna cost you in this type of situation. Happens all the time at my shop.

 

[JOE WAl]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

If you have a Viscous Coupling like I had in my Mercury Mountaineer it can burn out. Changing 4 tires is less expensive. Make sure they are all the exact same brand and diameter. I burned my VC out by changing one or two tires at a time. Lucky your tire guy knows his stuff.

 

[peterk9]

I know what you mean but an exact diameter may be a problem since tires of the same size can vary slightly in overall diameter.

Peter

 

[Kezeebo]

A nail? Unless it's some crazy big nail, it shou,d able to take a patch. Where in the sidewall? Pic?

Yea definitely not repaiab

Thanks for all your responses and explanations. Sounds like I better start saving my lunch money for 4 new tires.

For those of you asking for a picture ....
View attachment 329318

I have a tire plugging kit for my motorcycle. Should I try it on this tire?

I wouldn’t plug that. Some all wheel drive vehicles say in the manual that you can replace 2. The shop has a blanket policy that AWD vehicles have to replace 4 if the difference is more than 2/32nds. Check the manual.

 

[J_C]

This is not difficult. Buy a tire from someone who does the shaving service. New to match, or lightly used (check the date code!) with similar tread pattern and starting with equal or slightly larger diameter. If it ends up imbalanced or out of round from shaving, they do it again with another tire till they get it right.

 

[Tony@MTVA]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

Unless the
Unless the nail hole is very large a patch on the inside of the tire should work fine. I am not referring to a plug type patch but rather what they use to call a "hot patch" on the inside of the tire. I have done it many times without any problem.

 

[BUXTER]

I say plug it & put on rear of car.

 

[lizardflats]

An update - - -
While talking with the tire service center, they mentioned "AWD". Upon further inspection, my Explorer is "4WD" according to the emblem on the liftgate. Reading through these posts, it sounds like 4WD is a bit more forgiving on all the tires having similar diameter/circumference.

I'm going try to plug it. I have the Stop & Go plug kit for my motorcycle. It has the plugs that are self-vulcanizing.
I figure I don't have much to lose. I have faith that the plug will not fail suddenly, nor catastrophically. If it fails, it will simply start leaking. The current tire has a slow air leak that will get worse the more I drive it. If the plug leaks, then I'll look at replacing.

I promise to keep a close eye on the tire pressure.

I'll let you know how it goes.

It's not good practice to try and plug a sidewall nail hole like you have.
I think you'd be fine replacing just the one tire. Call a couple of other tire shops (and not a big-box discount store) and see what they say.

 

[Pbleiler]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

Unfortunately, yes, as all wheel drive sensors rely on allot of things, such as tire circumference to detect wheel speed, 2 or 3/32 could severely damage your all wheel drive/terrain management, as I am finding out now

 

[DanHerndon]

That can be patched as long as there is no other internal damage.

 

[dejen3303]

I have a tire plugging kit for my motorcycle. Should I try it on this tire?
I certainly would.

 

[1991 sploder]

Shop manager is like yep that's the sidewall

 

[5.0L-UNLimited]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

Sumwatt true 3/32 difference is acceptable more than that starts to induce were and tear in transfer case and axles

 

[BKennedy]

That nail is in the tread, not the sidewall. Plug or patch, it should be fine. I worked at a national chain tire store for a few years in my youth and we did it all the time. I will plug tires on a regular basis with no issues if I am not near a tire store, or don't feel like changing the tire.

 

[KeenKilo]

Shops stop 2” from sidewall because irregular flex patterns (and curbs and such) they cannot guarantee it.

personally I’d plug it myself I don’t think there’s risk of a blowout though it could leak in which case I’d plug it again.

the kits are easy to use, follow directions, fully inflate the tire before you do it, maybe even overinflated a little.

 

[WDEmiston]

A much more sensible route would be to find a used tire that is at 8/32 - do that on your lunch hour.

 

[Blackhawkxx]

It's best practice to have all tires the same. on the other hand as long as you only do one I believe you are ok. the differential spider gears will behave like you are turning. if you had two of each size you would not want them on the same axle, for instance 8/32 and 12/32 on the front and 8/32 and 12/32 on the rear will work. if you were to put the same size on the front then the same but different size on the rear you would have torque binding... front and rear axles trying to spin at different speeds...I think!

This makes sense to me. Where I live there isn't many straight roads so the tires on each side of the vehicle are turning at different speeds most of the time.

 

[TEngen10]

On my 2011 Limited, there is a small nail in the sidewall of 1 tire which is unfixable (I'm told).
The tire center at a local large warehouse store says I need to replace all 4 tires because:
1) it's an AWD vehicle
2) the tread depth on three other tires is about 8/32nds, the new tire will be about 12/32nds. The difference in tire diameter will raise havoc with the AWD.

Is this true?
Do I really need to replace all 4?

I just had a similar situation. My back tires were at 9, fronts at 4. Was told 3/32 difference was the magic number.

Appears that Tire Rack has a service to shave tires as well as long as the others have worn evenly; Shaving at Tire Rack