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Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:01 am
by Danteandsoob
I have a 93' legacy L AT. Hit a curb the other night, sidewall bulged. Got the REAR 2 tires replaced (5/32") and kept the front two (2-3/32"). Is this x/32 of an inch OK to run? I have NO center differential, and NO limited slip differential.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 3:36 pm
by Danteandsoob
Sorry if this has been posted for the 100th time on this forum, I just haven't found and info on subaru's having differnt tread on the front AND back.
And as far as I know, I the LSD's only come on the GT's and SS'..?
Mines just an L, so I wouldn't think it has anything so special.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:15 pm
by 86BRATMAN
If your car is awd you need to follow the rules of tires or you risk damaging the clutch packs that transfer power to the rear. You may not have a center diff or an lsd, but that doesn't mean you won't do damage. Subaru says no more than 1/4 inch circumference from the smallest to the largest.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:46 pm
by Danteandsoob
So tried spinning the rear wheels and only one turned
What does this mean?
And I was planning on changing the front wheels within this summer season, would that be okay on the clutch pack?
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:23 pm
by James614
That just means you don't have an LSD, like 99.9999% of all cars ever made. Perfectly normal.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:18 pm
by Danteandsoob
Alright, cool. So if I changed the front tires this season, I should be okay?
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:04 pm
by mike-tracy
No, a difference larger than 1/4" between front and rear tires will wear out your transmission in a hurry.
If you absolutely must swap only 2, put a fuse (5A or larger) in the fuse holder (marked FWD) in the engine bay, passenger side all the way by the firewall. This will convert your car to front wheel drive.
Another option is a used tire place, see if they can find you some with the same tread thickness.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:17 am
by Legacy777
You need to measure the circumference of all the tires. Take a string, drive over it, and wrap the rest around the tire. Mark where the string overlaps, remove the string from under the tire, and measure the distance marked. Do this for all four tires and see what your circumferences are to see if they are within the 1/4" tolerance.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 3:00 am
by Danteandsoob
I just did, and I'm right at 0.25" or 1/4". Is that OK for now? Was planning on replacing the smaller ones ASAP.
Re: Small tire difference, wondering if it's okay to do.
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:59 am
by James614
You will be fine, just replace the low ones as soon as you can.