One tyre is below minimum limit to the rest?

spira9

I have used this car for over a week now and everything seemed fine. Then suddenly when accelerating I get a lot of torque steer and turning to the right is iffy as that's where the tyre with the low tread is. I just took it out for a test drive and when I was turning right up hill I heard a scrap against something. I don't know what it was as the car hasn't been lowered.

I checked the rest of the tyres and they have 4mm+ of tread in them. They also seem to be all different brands. I don't really know how just last week everything was fine and now it suddenly changes a lot.

I know I need to change that tyre and that's where I have my questions. Would replacing one tyre effect the rest of the car? The other tyres have a lot of life left.. The tyres all seem to be cheap ones too. I'm not sure whether to replace one tyre, replace two or them all.

londonTiger

mismash of tyres suggest cheap previous owner who could scrimp on other stuff like servicing, drive with known issues like bad catlytic convertor, taking a chance with overdue timing belt etc.

Limey

Get the suspension and alignment checked for starters (may explain one tyre being worn), then a fresh set of tyres put on.

I have had a similar experience of the car pulling on acceleration and braking, nothing wrong with the suspension, brakes etc. It was only when the CV joint went bang that the problem became apparent (was a new joint so I discounted it as the problem).

spira9

Do you mean set of four tyres? Because I don't want to spend £500 on them.

bigjl

So last week the tyres were all fine and now one isn't?

Manxman_in_exile

What tyres are you going for at £500?

spira9

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

What tyres are you going for at £500?

Well each tyre would be £60-80 and then fitting and wheel balancing/tracking. Maybe not that much but still high.

s_b

a mismatch of tyres might simply be down to the fact tyres get punctures and local tyre fitter insisted they couldnt be repaired so he could sell a new tyre and sell the punctured one to his local taxi fleet once customer gone and he could repair it
to OP you don't say what car, but why not fit a pair of new tyres to the axle with the low tyre and as funds permit do the other axle in time,cars always drive better with new tyres of the same make even if budget

neilmcl

spira9 wrote: »

Well each tyre would be £60-80 and then fitting and wheel balancing/tracking. Maybe not that much but still high.

What size of tyre. Your £60-80 will include fitting and balancing. I wouldn't bother with tracking unless you've got uneven wear across a single tyre.

Paradigm

s_b wrote: »

but why not fit a pair of new tyres to the axle with the low tyre and as funds permit do the other axle in time,cars always drive better with new tyres of the same make even if budget

Do they though? Can the average driver really notice a difference between different tyre brands? I'd argue not....


If I were the OP I'd replace the worn tyre with a new one, job done.

spira9

The tyre size is 195/45 r16 84v.

Here's the tyre in question. You can just about see it's worn and it does look a little flat as well?