1995 Toyota Previa AWD tire replacement

[Joe]

I can't seem to find any definitive, authoritative statements re
replacing tires on my AWD Previa (95). Is it OK to replace one axle's
tires at a time, or must I do all 4? I've got a good spare, and 2
tires with plenty of life left but nowhere near the tread of the new
tires I'm contemplating. I would prefer to buy one 2 tires now and the
other 2 later in the summer....but I don't want to be buying any
differentials either...

[ron]

maybe tirerack has an answer, Joe. I've always replaced all 4 on mine but I
rotate so tire wear is the same - I replace cause I am in snow area at 3/32"
just before winter.

Ron in Idaho

[ransley]

On Apr 5, 1:25*pm, Joe <in2d...@airpost.net> wrote:
> I can't seem to find any definitive, authoritative statements re
> replacing tires on my AWD Previa (95). *Is it OK to replace one axle's
> tires at a time, or must I do all 4? *I've got a good spare, and 2
> tires with plenty of life left but nowhere near the tread of the new
> tires I'm contemplating. I would prefer to buy one 2 tires now and the
> other 2 later in the summer....but I don't want to be buying any
> differentials either...

It has most to do with traction and saftey. I put on new fronts ,
rears were 4 yrs old maybe 30,000 miles, first snow I went around a
corner and fishtailed since I was already used to the fronts better
grip, next day I got rears and the same corner was fine. I had
Michelin and put on Michelin , same model. As tires age rubber
Oxidises and gets harder and you get less traction. Miles and age
determine a tires worth or saftey. For me 4-5 years even with little
miles means replacement. I had a 91 camry with original Dunlops, at 4
years and 35000 they were so slippery I would spin out starting from a
stop in rain. If you ever drive in a bad snowstorm and see cars in the
ditch you will notice they are usualy old cars, with most likely old
hard tires. If you want it the safest do all 4.

[Joe]

On Apr 5, 8:45*pm, ransley <Mark_Rans...**********m> wrote:
> On Apr 5, 1:25*pm, Joe <in2d...@airpost.net> wrote:
>
> > I can't seem to find any definitive, authoritative statements re
> > replacing tires on my AWD Previa (95). *Is it OK to replace one axle's
> > tires at a time, or must I do all 4? *I've got a good spare, and 2
> > tires with plenty of life left but nowhere near the tread of the new
> > tires I'm contemplating. I would prefer to buy one 2 tires now and the
> > other 2 later in the summer....but I don't want to be buying any
> > differentials either...
>
> It has most to do with traction and saftey. I put on new fronts ,
> rears were 4 yrs old maybe 30,000 miles, first snow I went around a
> corner and fishtailed since I was already used to the fronts better
> grip, next day I got rears and the same corner was fine. I had
> Michelin and put on Michelin , same model. As tires age rubber
> Oxidises and gets harder and you get less traction. Miles and age
> determine a tires worth or saftey. For me 4-5 years even with little
> miles means replacement. I had a 91 camry with original Dunlops, at 4
> years and 35000 they were so slippery I would spin out starting from a
> stop in rain. If you ever drive in a bad snowstorm and see cars in the
> ditch you will notice they are usualy old cars, with most likely old
> hard tires. If you want it the safest do all 4.

the potential issue is possible destruction of parts of the drive
train by unequal rotation of slightly different sized tires. I guess
to "be safe"
I buy all 4. I am not filled with joy at this prospect to since 2 are
still quite usable. Having replaced diffs on previous Previas I've
owned I'm even less anxious to do that.