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Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:41 pm
by wixy
The rear two tyres on my 2005 Liberty 3.0r-b require replacing.

I've read conflicting information about whether all four tyres must be replaced at once for an AWD car.

Is it ok to replace just two tyres on a Subary Liberty?

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:48 pm
by jdm rsk
not sure but i allways change all four

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:53 pm
by teK--
The manual says all 4 but I reckon in a pinch you can do just front or rear but it's not ideal.

I rotate my tyres regularly and replace all 4 at once.

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:55 pm
by Kekotic
How often do you rotate them Jim?

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:00 pm
by teK--
Average every 3-4,000Kms or so. Depends what type of driving I have been doing.

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:08 pm
by Kekotic
Okay thanks.
For me I only drive maybe 150km a week if that, pretty much only use the car on the weekend.
When you said regularly I thought you meant maybe every month or something lol.

Actually when you do rotate them, which tyres do you swap over, is it the same every time or do you change it so they get a go on all 4 spots?

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:17 pm
by jdm rsk
front to back do not cross them over if you have directional tyres

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:18 pm
by teK--
Front >< rear only, no crossover or rotation.

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:33 pm
by Kekotic
Okay thanks.

Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:35 pm
by Mr Cali
Pretty new to Subarus but have had experiences with other awd cars. From my experience it is vital to keep the rolling diameter of all 4 wheels as close as possible. Uneven tyre depth can change the rolling diameter, and in prolong exposure could result in the failure of the transfer box which can be very expensive to fix.
In general you should be rotating your wheels every oil change (5000km)

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:38 pm
by Kekotic
How many kms would a set of RE50A's last for just general driving?

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 11:45 pm
by mihai
chaotic2050 wrote:How many kms would a set of RE50A's last for just general driving?


My last set lasted me 54000kms. Mind you i dont know how the previous owner drove the car, but ive owned it for the past 25000kms and it has been through some spirited driving. They started getting a bit noisy at the end and also i could feel them not holding on as well as they used to.

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:05 pm
by wixy
Thanks for the advice guys, although I'm still not totally certain of whether to change all 4 tyres. It's just that I have RE050A's on the front with decent tread left and don't want to change them if I have to.

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:32 pm
by moggy
Get in on the tyre/wheel deal that's going on, potenzas for $220 each are a steal! :wink:

8) Bob.

Re: Should all 4 tyres be replaced at once on AWD car?

PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 3:40 pm
by Kekotic
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9444

He's right, don't miss out on this deal.
You would be kicking yourself not buying all 4 when you have to fork out $450 each for the fronts when they need replacing.

Also someone posted a thread this week about some diff part or some such that is having to be replaced, and the mechanics believe it's because he changed only two tyres and not all 4.
Can't for the life of me find the thread, maybe someone else can.