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Yeah if it's a recent RAV4 the AWD system just won't engage if there is a 3% difference. So you'll be fine, just you won't have AWD anymore until that is resolved.
Is it normal for AWD car to have front wear out faster? Wife did replace all 4 tires (bought from Costco) about two years ago.
When all else fails, read the instructions.
What does the Owners Manual say about replacing tires?
If it says replace all four at the same time, follow the instructions.
It will also tell you how often the tires should be rotated. again, follow the instructions.
There is a lot of good information in that book. read it!
My apologies I thought I did put the model. It's a 2004 Rav4 AWD. That's what the badge says on the back of the car.
You good with 2. You do not have 4x4 car. They simply slapped a 4WD badge on the rear. It's an AWD car that has viscous differential between front and rear axles, which is sort of like automatic transmission. Unless you have mechanical transfer case, your AWD will be OK with somewhat different tire diameters back to front.
As you do not like shaving, here's friendly suggestion - ROTATE TIRES REGULARLY.
You good with 2. You do not have 4x4 car. They simply slapped a 4WD badge on the rear. It's an AWD car that has viscous differential between front and rear axles, which is sort of like automatic transmission. Unless you have mechanical transfer case, your AWD will be OK with somewhat different tire diameters back to front.
As you do not like shaving, here's friendly suggestion - ROTATE TIRES REGULARLY.
You have this backwards!
If he had a 4x4 truck with a transfer case, tire size would not matter. Because he would not ever use 4x4 on pavement. He would use 4x4 offroad where a slight tire size difference wouldn't matter.
Friend,
check your toe in/out and camber(shouldnt be off since camber isnt usually adjustable on newer cars)
and the rest of your front suspension before replacing the tires.
Then,when you do replace the tires,
get an alignment. Wonder how them struts are.
No btw,if the rear ones are good,then all 4 regardless of drive train neednt be replaced.
Do keep in mind though,rubber can become dry rotted over time,especially if they are more than 8 years old.
If they are that old,regardless of thread depth,replace all 4,
then get an alignment.
You can just buy two tires. It's the extremely rare car that has tolerances tight enough to where you can't vary the tire sizes by an amount equal to the available tread depth. Most of them will be sports cars with awd drivetrains where a small front bias in size needs to be on the front tires so the VCU doesn't get overheated.
For your truck, you'll be fine.
I agree that a RAV4 doesn't have the issue but it's not "extremely rare" for AWD systems to have pretty tight tolerances on tire diameter. Subaru has the tightest tolerance and they sell 500,000+ cars per year in the United States these days. 2/32" is the max tread depth difference between tires. If you have a tire fail, you have to shave the replacement tire to match or replace all four tires. You're only supposed to drive 50 miles on the donut spare. Audi is 4/32".
There are lots of AWD cars where you can smoke the center differential if the tire circumference is too far off. Cars you wouldn't suspect beyond Subaru and European premium brands like the Chrysler Pacifica.
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