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Can you use different-width tires on the front and rear axles?

Can you use different-width tires on the front and rear axles?

Automatically reviewed answer

Hello, yes—different-width tires can be used on the front and rear axles when that combination is specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Some cars are designed with different front and rear tire sizes. Keep matching tires on each axle and follow the manufacturer’s requirements for size, load index and speed rating. Width alone is not enough to choose a suitable combination: a different tire size may require a different wheel width or diameter. On some all-wheel-drive vehicles, rolling-circumference differences need particular care; excessive differences can damage the center differential. Follow the vehicle’s specific requirements rather than assuming all four tires must have identical widths. I would check the owner’s manual or ask the vehicle manufacturer to confirm the proposed front/rear combination before changing sizes. For a specific check, please provide the car’s make, model, year and proposed tire sizes.

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