replace one tire or both?

michakaveli · 07-31-08, 07:26

Question for you folks regarding replacing tire(s). This evening I get a call from my significant other that she felt a pulling to the left, she ended up pulling over and the left front tire was flat.

Now... the vehicle is a '03 Corolla, in great mechanical condition. One year prior we had purchased 4 new tires, Yokohoma AVID TRZ, 80,000 tread warranty, etc.... This past Saturday we had the tires balanced and an alignment performed as we hadn't done this previously (and I was noticing slightly irregular tire wire, nothing excessive).

I pulled up to the scene and looked the tire over and there was no nail, object stuck in the tread or sign of puncture. I reach for the valve stem, bent it to the side and notice it is cracked/broken in half and can hear some air escape, so the valve stem appears to be the culprit.

Question is, do I replace the front two tires or just the one. As stated we have traveling just under 20k on these new tires without any rotation. I don't want any issues with the transmission in the future if the sizes are off, etc... and the remaining tires look good. I don't know how to properly determine if replacing that one tire with the same type and kind is wise/safe?

Thoughts folks?

BigJimZ28 · 07-31-08, 07:29

why replace any of the tires if it is just a bad valve stem?

that is a $5 fix don't make it more then it needs to be

michakaveli · 07-31-08, 07:37

She did travel some sort of a distance with the tire essentially flat. So there is wear on the sidewalls. It's safe to say the tire is no longer safely driveable. At least I wouldn't drive on it. Don't want to risk my sweetness's safety either.

Legacy99 · 07-31-08, 08:06

Get the same replacement tire. I would also check the other 3 valve stems and check them every few months. Dealer that sold you those tires probably used the old valve stems.

LouisanaJeeper · 07-31-08, 08:10

get one new tire

just put the set of 1 new/ 1 used on the back

Black240SX · 07-31-08, 08:45

I had a valve stem fail in the same way earlier this year.

Apparently, there may be millions of defective valve stems in use (made in China...)

Mark77 · 07-31-08, 10:30

I once had the same problem. The tire looked good so I thought I could still use it, filled it up and drove away. But when I drove a bit faster the car started to shake violently. The tire was damaged on the inside from being driven on when flat. So definitely replace it, and if it's that new I think you can find the same tire. I don't think a FWD car suffers from having one tire that is a bit more worn. And the better tires should always be on the rear wheels anyway so take one of the rear wheels and put it in the front and the new tire in the back.

BigJimZ28 · 08-01-08, 06:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark77

And the better tires should always be on the rear wheels anyway so take one of the rear wheels and put it in the front and the new tire in the back.

why would you want the better tires on the back of a FWD car?

michakaveli · 08-01-08, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

why would you want the better tires on the back of a FWD car?

In wet weather conditions, if your front tires had more grip than the rear / better contact surface your rear tires could hydroplane before the fronts would, causing instability in the vehicle with the rear end fishtaling, etc.... wouldn't be a pretty sight.

BigJimZ28 · 08-01-08, 07:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by michakaveli

In wet weather conditions, if your front tires had more grip than the rear / better contact surface your rear tires could hydroplane before the fronts would, causing instability in the vehicle with the rear end fishtaling, etc.... wouldn't be a pretty sight.

so it would be better for the front tires to hydroplane?

it not like they do most of the stopping, all of the stearing, and all of the driving

sorry still don't see it

michakaveli · 08-01-08, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimZ28

so it would be better for the front tires to hydroplane?

it not like they do most of the stopping, all of the stearing, and all of the driving

sorry still don't see it

if your front tires on a front wheel drive vehicle are hydroplaning, there is a chance for correction abilities as they are the drive / steering implements. If the rear is hydroplaning, there isn't much that can be done to correct or at least attempt if the rear end has broke loose from traction.

BigJimZ28 · 08-01-08, 07:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by michakaveli

if your front tires on a front wheel drive vehicle are hydroplaning, there is a chance for correction abilities as they are the drive / steering implements. If the rear is hydroplaning, there isn't much that can be done to correct or at least attempt if the rear end has broke loose from traction.

true

and this could very well be true(about the tires on the rear) I just don't understand FWD cars