Tire help

[BossChief]

I have a 2011 Nissan Frontier and I need to replace 2 of the tires on it and a friend of mine sold me 2 barely used ones for dirt cheap (100 for the pair) and let me know they aren't exactly the same size.

The stock tires are 265-70-r16

The ones he sold me are 265-75-r16

I brought them to Farm n fleet to have them put on and they called me back saying I really shouldn't put them on my truck because it can screw up my drivetrain being they aren't the same size as the other 2.

I had them hold off on putting them on and figured I'd ask you guys if that's a legit concern (the truck is 4wd).

I guess I've always had matching tires, but the deal was too good to pass on and if I need to, I can resell them.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Side note/question:

Anyone else tried to buy just two tires for a FWD vehicle recently?

I had a car I was driving into the ground recently, that had a flat on one of the rear tires. I tried to purchase just a new front set of tires, as I rarely take this thing on the highway, and almost never drive more than 10 miles at a time (I work from home). I had two tire shops refuse to sell me just a pair of tires and put them on the front axle, because of new recommendations from tire manufacturers to always put the best tread on the rear axle, even in FWD vehicles, to prevent hydro planing.

Anyone else run into this (I had it happen at NTB and a local shop)? Internet research backs up their story, but the whole things seems pretty ludicrous to me, for a few reasons:

1) having the best tread on the front axle of a FWD car is going to help you in many more situations than just worrying about hydro planing.

2) even if you're buying a set of tires, in a FWD vehicle, the front tires are always going to wear faster, right? So how do you ever rotate a set and get the most life out of it?

...3) it's my freaking car

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Side note/question:

Anyone else tried to buy just two tires for a FWD vehicle recently?

I had a car I was driving into the ground recently, that had a flat on one of the rear tires. I tried to purchase just a new front set of tires, as I rarely take this thing on the highway, and almost never drive more than 10 miles at a time (I work from home). I had two tire shops refuse to sell me just a pair of tires and put them on the front axle, because of new recommendations from tire manufacturers to always put the best tread on the rear axle, even in FWD vehicles, to prevent hydro planing.

Anyone else run into this (I had it happen at NTB and a local shop)? Internet research backs up their story, but the whole things seems pretty ludicrous to me, for a few reasons:

1) having the best tread on the front axle of a FWD car is going to help you in many more situations than just worrying about hydro planing.

2) even if you're buying a set of tires, in a FWD vehicle, the front tires are always going to wear faster, right? So how do you ever rotate a set and get the most life out of it?

Yah, this is bs IMHO. Tire shops want you to buy 4 new tires, period. I've had many FWD cars over the years (growing up in Colorado) and if my two best tires are on the front, everything is fine. That being said, you don't want trash tires on the back (for breaking reasons, the rear tires tend to lock up first in slick conditions, causing the rear end to slide around) and you really need to know how do drive properly in snow and ice conditions.

But yah, one of the reasons FWD cars are SO DARN AFFORDABLE compared to other cars or 4WD vehicles I've owned is because you almost never need to buy 4 new tires at a time (if you don't have the $). You rotate the two best tires on the car to the back axel and you put two new tires on the front.

Super easy, very cheap fix to tires wearing out on FWD car.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Side note/question:

Anyone else tried to buy just two tires for a FWD vehicle recently?

I had a car I was driving into the ground recently, that had a flat on one of the rear tires. I tried to purchase just a new front set of tires, as I rarely take this thing on the highway, and almost never drive more than 10 miles at a time (I work from home). I had two tire shops refuse to sell me just a pair of tires and put them on the front axle, because of new recommendations from tire manufacturers to always put the best tread on the rear axle, even in FWD vehicles, to prevent hydro planing.

Anyone else run into this (I had it happen at NTB and a local shop)? Internet research backs up their story, but the whole things seems pretty ludicrous to me, for a few reasons:

1) having the best tread on the front axle of a FWD car is going to help you in many more situations than just worrying about hydro planing.

2) even if you're buying a set of tires, in a FWD vehicle, the front tires are always going to wear faster, right? So how do you ever rotate a set and get the most life out of it?

So have them put them on the back, and then bring the vehicle home and rotate them in your driveway.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Side note/question:

Anyone else tried to buy just two tires for a FWD vehicle recently?

I had a car I was driving into the ground recently, that had a flat on one of the rear tires. I tried to purchase just a new front set of tires, as I rarely take this thing on the highway, and almost never drive more than 10 miles at a time (I work from home). I had two tire shops refuse to sell me just a pair of tires and put them on the front axle, because of new recommendations from tire manufacturers to always put the best tread on the rear axle, even in FWD vehicles, to prevent hydro planing.

Anyone else run into this (I had it happen at NTB and a local shop)? Internet research backs up their story, but the whole things seems pretty ludicrous to me, for a few reasons:

1) having the best tread on the front axle of a FWD car is going to help you in many more situations than just worrying about hydro planing.

2) even if you're buying a set of tires, in a FWD vehicle, the front tires are always going to wear faster, right? So how do you ever rotate a set and get the most life out of it?

You are 100% right. You always want the best tread in the front even in a RWD situation. That is the most catestrophic if the tire fails and the front wheels do most of the braking so you need the best rubber in the front.

Tell them to do it your way or you will find someone that will.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

Yah, this is bs IMHO. Tire shops want you to buy 4 new tires, period. I've had many FWD cars over the years (growing up in Colorado) and if my two best tires are on the front, everything is fine. That being said, you don't want trash tires on the back (for breaking reasons, the rear tires tend to lock up first in slick conditions, causing the rear end to slide around) and you really need to know how do drive properly in snow and ice conditions.

But yah, one of the reasons FWD cars are SO DARN AFFORDABLE compared to other cars or 4WD vehicles I've owned is because you almost never need to buy 4 new tires at a time (if you don't have the $). You rotate the two best tires on the car to the back axel and you put two new tires on the front.

Super easy, very cheap fix to tires wearing out on FWD car.

When I was in college I had absolute rags on the back and I hydroplaned one time in five years, and I got it back pretty quickly. Pretty good tradeoff IMO.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Side note/question:

Anyone else tried to buy just two tires for a FWD vehicle recently?

I had a car I was driving into the ground recently, that had a flat on one of the rear tires. I tried to purchase just a new front set of tires, as I rarely take this thing on the highway, and almost never drive more than 10 miles at a time (I work from home). I had two tire shops refuse to sell me just a pair of tires and put them on the front axle, because of new recommendations from tire manufacturers to always put the best tread on the rear axle, even in FWD vehicles, to prevent hydro planing.

Anyone else run into this (I had it happen at NTB and a local shop)? Internet research backs up their story, but the whole things seems pretty ludicrous to me, for a few reasons:

1) having the best tread on the front axle of a FWD car is going to help you in many more situations than just worrying about hydro planing.

2) even if you're buying a set of tires, in a FWD vehicle, the front tires are always going to wear faster, right? So how do you ever rotate a set and get the most life out of it?

personally i think its crazy talk. i understand where they are coming from BUT i would want the better tires on the driving/steering end of a front wheel drive car...

[SAUTO]

BUT if you rotate them consistently you should be pretty close to wearing thee whole set out at the same time...

[duncan_idaho]

Yeah, thought it was silly. I brought them home and rotated them myself.

NTB tried to claim legal liability if they didn't install them that way. I was kind of stuck (late on Sunday), so I went ahead and bought them.

But the whole thing does come across as a scam to sell more tires. Glad I'm not crazy (seems to be the consensus).

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Yeah, thought it was silly. I brought them home and rotated them myself.

NTB tried to claim legal liability if they didn't install them that way. I was kind of stuck (late on Sunday), so I went ahead and bought them.

But the whole thing does come across as a scam to sell more tires. Glad I'm not crazy (seems to be the consensus).

Well, at least not on this topic.

[19now11]

my bad. i hate being wrong....guess thats why im an alex supporter. nothing to see here. move along.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by 19now11

my bad. i hate being wrong....guess thats why im an alex supporter. nothing to see here. move along.

You're just somebody that fails at life is all

[19now11]

hey i still have a chance. alex aint in a wheelchair yet. im riding this bitch all the way to the end.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by 19now11

hey i still have a chance. alex aint in a wheelchair yet. im riding this bitch all the way to the end.

[Boise_Chief]

The 265 75 is one inch larger in diameter 31 in as opposed to 30 in. It isn't a great idea.