AWD and tire replacement

[Old Young Man]

I replaced one on my 24 Tremor 5 k miles with one of the same type. No troubles All wheel drive is still only driving one wheel at a time. I figure the truck would tell you after the fact if there was enough difference in the size to matter. It certainly does when the spare is on. Mine had a screw just on the edge of the tread and tire shops would not repair. That’s annoying as I have patched plenty from the inside but it’s a liability thing.

Sponsored

 

[commadorebob]

Keep in mind that factory tires have a lower tread than tires you get aftermarket. So, your 7,500 factory miles might be closer to 12,000 on new tires.

 

[TwoTone]

You can get tires shaved to match the old one.

 

[jimbabwe]

Hello Everyone: I need some advice here. I have a 2025 Maverick AWD Hybrid. I had a flat tire today where the tire is destroyed. I have 7500 miles on the tires. The tires are Cooper Discoverer Road + Trail. I was wondering if I could replace the one tire or should I replace all 4? I do not want to damage the AWD system with different tread depths. Is there a rule of thumb with Ford’s AWD Systems with tread depth variation. I had a subaru where this happened around the same mileage and I had to replace all 4. Thank you in advance for your insight.

You can likely find the same tire on Tire Rack and pay the extra to have it worn to match the other three tires before shipping.

 

[bgn]

Check the tread on the others and get the new one shaved down to the same depth if you care. Like others said, Tire Rack will do this. Think it's about $30 these days.

I personally don't think it matters, unless the difference is massive. The other thing to think about is that mismatched PSI would also put the same strain on the system and you don't hear about AWD failures from that.

 

[Ponyprez]

You should be able to have the new tire tread shaved down to match the other tire tread depths and save replacing three tires and a good bit of cash.

Best answer so far, I bet somewhere in the owner's manuals it tells you the maximum size difference allowed but check with different tire stores to find one that has your tire and can cut it down to the exact size of your other 3 tires.

 

[CajunMick]

My truck is AWD. I tried to avoid 4WD or AWD, really wanted 2WD. Interesting on word how AWD affected by different tires. This begs a question…is it ok to rotate tires in timely fashion, and ensure the AWD computer not confused?

Hearing that Ford will offer 2WD again on 2026 models. Told my wife I might consider trading this AWD truck for newer XLT EB in 2WD, for 2 reasons. Dump AWD and get new engine with proper fuel injection setup. Most mfr switching to both intake injection to wash intake valves, and direct injection principle.

My truck will turn 2 yo next month, has 7,8xx miles so far. Not driven much. So prob the time 2026 rolls in, maybe less than 10k miles.

Also waiting for the new Toyota Stout truck to arrive on dealers lots, so can sit in one, check out its cabin vs the Maverick.

Wife pushing back. But I tell her “Me brave, you squaw woman”. LoL And I one driving this truck.

 

[Stevenkcallaway]

Hello Everyone: I need some advice here. I have a 2025 Maverick AWD Hybrid. I had a flat tire today where the tire is destroyed. I have 7500 miles on the tires. The tires are Cooper Discoverer Road + Trail. I was wondering if I could replace the one tire or should I replace all 4? I do not want to damage the AWD system with different tread depths. Is there a rule of thumb with Ford’s AWD Systems with tread depth variation. I had a subaru where this happened around the same mileage and I had to replace all 4. Thank you in advance for your insight.

 

[commadorebob]

I'm not a mechanical engineer and work with computers for a living. But honestly, I don't know how a few millimeters of tread difference will matter on a wheel that is 18 inches wide.

 

[Chops]

At those miles i would replace just one tire. Pretty sad if you have to replace all 4. The awd system is that fragile?

The AWD is very sensitive. Tough (not fragile) but very sensitive to even very small differences in tire mismatching.

I purchased an AWD knowing this unfortunate downside. When you replace one - you replace all.

 

[Chops]

I have yet to ruin a tire on an AWD vehicle - but isn’t shaving down a new tire of same size & brand a relatively inexpensive & widely available service?

I’m going to upgrade my OEM tires before 5,000 miles - but will keep them as a matched back up set. I do plan on shaving though if one tire goes?

 

[jmatchco]

I would only replace the two tires on the same axle. The AWD drives the front wheels mostly, just driving the rears at startup when slippery, so a small front/rear mismatch shouldn't hurt the system.

 

[Bob zimmerman]

The AWD is very sensitive. Tough (not fragile) but very sensitive to even very small differences in tire mismatching.

I purchased an AWD knowing this unfortunate downside. When you replace one - you replace all.

And in post #13
…I do not want to damage the AWD system with different tread depths….

So much anecdotal evidence in this thread. When you make a turn in your truck, the inside tires turn less than the outside tires of that turn. If this fictional ‘AWD is very sensitive’ myth were real, we would all wreck our trucks driving them.

Where do people come up with this stuff? Youtube videos?
Bob

 

[Shawn]

Measure your tread depth, most tires wear about a 32nd for what you have on it, that is not enough to matter for the awd system. But pay for a new set, what do I know, I'm just an engineer. Tire diameter changes more when the sun hits your tire so just replace one side for half the cost, if you drive South to work put the new tires on the passenger side, if you drive North to work put them on the driver side. On cloudy days work from home.

 

[Rick T]

Check tread depth - if 3/32ND or less yes you can replace just on tire

Sponsored