Is it okay to put two, three, or even four different tires on your car or truck? Tires are an essential component for your safety and the safety of those with and around you. It’s not really a good idea to put different tires on your vehicle except, of course, vehicles that require mixing fitments. Staggered fitments, for example, require different tire sizes on the front and on the rear.

It’s best that all four of your tires be the same brand and type of tire. For example, if you have winter tires, all four should be made for winter driving. We recommend replacing all four tires at the same time; however, there may be times when you don’t need four new tires. Maybe one of your tires is damaged by a nail in the road. If you're not able to replace all four, we recommend that tires should at least be replaced in pairs. This could potentially help in avoiding problems with your vehicle’s suspension and transmission.

Keep in mind when you replace only two new tires, you’re mixing tread depths. The newer tires will have more tread than the worn ones. It would be best practice to install the new tires on the rear but there is some debate about this. Consult with your trusted local tire shop upon installation. If you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, you must replace all four tires at one time in order to prevent damage to your drive train. There is no choice with AWDs.

If you end up having to buy two tires that are different from what you already have, be sure that the same tread patterns and brands are installed on the same axle. It’s important that higher load index or higher speed rated tires be placed on the rear axle. As soon as you can afford to replace all tires, that is the best choice. Dan the Tire Man (danthetireman.com) can offer solutions such as only $49 out of pocket followed by low payments. This program was set up to keep people safe on the roads by helping folks get the tires they need when they need them.