I have a 2004 Ford Escape AWD and I just got a flat tire that cannot be repaired...?

Question

The guys at the tire shop said that I can't just replace the flat or even Both of the rear tires but that I have to have all 4 of them replaced because it is all wheel drive and that just replacing one or two would be damaging to my vehicle. Is this true. And if so could someone explain it to me? Please.

Answer 1

As long as the new tires are the same size as the tires that are on the vehicle you can change 2 tires. A bigger tire will roll differently then a smaller tire causing conflict with the vehicle's all wheel drive system.  

Answer 2

yeah your car is AWD which sent a single to a wheel that has no traction.  so in my cause they don't need to replace the whole tire. only the one with the flat tires. here a thing. some AWD work different. so your AWD is actually work as a front wheel first than when the front will loses traction than the power is send to the rear wheel. so i will recommend if you to check the side with flate tires two of them. either two front tires with new one or the back two rear tires. so before you do that. ask them to rotate the other three tires and see how much life and tread it go, or how long it will last you, so if they aren't that both you don't have to change them all. only the one with flate tires and it other side. that all or just go to another tire shop. they people are trying to get more money from you. be careful. good luck.

Answer 3

Yes it is true and a call to your Ford dealer will confirm it.

Mismatched tires on an all-wheel drive vehicle can result in serious and expensive damage to the transfer case and/or differential.  With AWD vehicles all 4 tires should be not just the same size, make and model but also have nearly equal treadwear to ensure they are all the same overall diameter.   Any more than 2/32" tread depth difference can cause problems even with matching tires.  It is the difference in overall diameter that causes problems.  

At my store it is our policy to replace all 4 tires on AWD vehicles unless certain very strict conditions can be met (usually they can't).  We will lose the sale before doing something that could potentially damage the vehicle.  For an example of why:  One of my sister stores was sued last year because the salesman caved to the customers insistance on putting just 1 tire on a Jeep.  Later that day the customer called to tell that store his transfer case was fried, it would cost $3,000 to fix and he was calling his lawyer.

Answer 4

They all have to be the same diameter on a Subaru, I know that for a fact.

You can install a fuse in a Subie though, when you have to put the spare on to disable the AWD.

They would have to be pretty worn to not be able to put the same tire on it though. Are they ready for replacement anyway?

Answer 5

it's not good for your other tires but i'm pretty sure this guy trying to make a big sale go somewhere else

Answer 6

You only need to replace two on the same axle.

Because of balancing to the differential.

Good luck. h