As leading tyre fitment centres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Vereeniging and Durban, we here at Minty’s often encounter customers asking whether they can safely drive around with mismatched tyres as a way to save money.
However, using mismatched tyres can lead to several problems and is definitely not recommended. Here’s why:
Compromised Safety and Handling
One of the biggest problems with using mismatched tyres is that it can undermine your car’s grip, stability and overall handling.
Whether your tyres are mismatched in terms of size, tread pattern, or type, it can result in uneven traction, which causes an imbalance that can affect your car’s cornering, braking and acceleration capabilities. This increases the risk of skidding or losing control, especially in wet or emergency situations.
Increased Wear and Tear
When your car’s tyres are not well-matched, they tend to wear unevenly because they don’t share the workload equally. As a result, your tyres will degrade faster, costing you more in the long run. Your suspension components will also suffer from increased wear and tear.
Moreover, when one tyre grips more effectively than the other, it puts extra strain on the differential, the transmission, and even the steering system. This can result in costly repairs over time.
Reduced Effectiveness of Other Safety Systems
Modern cars rely heavily on electronic safety systems like ABS, ESC and traction control. Undermining these systems can result in your vehicle handling less safely. One of the ways to do this is by using mismatched tyres.
These systems are built to assume uniform tyre performance from a matching set of tyres. However, if you use mismatched tyres, it can cause these systems to become confused, resulting in them acting unpredictably and less effectively. This limits your car’s ability to reliably prevent skids, maintain stability, or brake efficiently when needed most.
To ensure optimal safety, performance and peace of mind, you should always request matching tyres at your nearest Minty’s tyre fitment centres.
If you’ve been searching online for “tyre fitment centres near me,” then Minty’s is here to help. Contact us for a free quote today.
