Buying 2 New Tires (2025)

The industry standard is to install two new tires on the , regardless of whether your car is front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive.

To maintain safe handling, your two new tires must be as similar as possible to the remaining ones: Should You Always Replace Car Tires in Pairs? buying 2 new tires

: If the rear tires lose traction first (oversteer), the car is likely to spin out, which is extremely difficult for most drivers to correct. The industry standard is to install two new

: Newer tires have deeper tread, which provides better grip on wet or slippery roads. : Newer tires have deeper tread, which provides

: If the front tires lose traction (understeer), the car continues in a relatively straight line, making it easier to regain control by braking or steering into the slide. Critical Buying Guidelines

Replacing only two tires is a common practice to save money, but it requires specific safety precautions to maintain vehicle control. While tire manufacturers and safety experts strongly recommend replacing all four tires at once for optimal balance, buying two is acceptable if the new pair is handled correctly. Core Recommendation: Always Install on the Rear