Foreign Car Specialists

One of the questions we occasionally get from customers with AWD vehicles is:
"I only have one bad tire. Why are we discussing replacing more than one?"
It's a reasonable question.

What many drivers don't realize is that on most modern AWD vehicles, the tires are effectively part of the drivetrain system. As tires wear, their overall circumference changes. Even a relatively small difference between a new tire and a worn tire can affect wheel speed readings and force the AWD system to compensate continuously.
Manufacturers such as Subaru, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Land Rover, and Volvo all publish guidelines regarding tire matching and allowable tread depth differences for this reason.
The concern isn't the tire itself. It's the transfer case, differentials, clutch packs, and other AWD components that are designed to manage temporary wheel-speed differences—not permanent ones created by mismatched tires.
Does every AWD vehicle automatically need four tires when one is damaged?
No.
Sometimes one tire can be replaced. Sometimes two. Sometimes the best answer is four. It depends on the vehicle, the remaining tread depth, and the manufacturer's specifications.
That's why we measure before we recommend.
Our goal isn't to sell tires that aren't needed. It's to determine whether the existing tires can safely coexist with a replacement tire and to help our customers avoid unnecessary drivetrain repairs down the road.
Sometimes the least expensive decision isn't the cheapest tire purchase—it's the one that helps prevent a transfer case replacement later.
At Foreign Car Specialists, we don't guess. We measure, research, and make recommendations based on the vehicle in front of us.

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