How much does it cost to replace one tire

What If I Replace Just One Tire?

You've got a flat tire—only one flat. The rest of your tires are in decent shape. You just need one replacement tire, right? Not quite! Although it might seem like a straightforward fix, replacing one tire on your vehicle, instead of two or four, can sometimes lead to unintended (and unfortunate) consequences. Learn what these consequences are and what to consider when replacing tires.

Reasons to Avoid Replacing Only One Tire

To achieve optimum vehicle handling, ride comfort, and road traction, it's generally recommended that you have all four tires replaced at the same time. Replacing one tire at a time can present challenges down the road since the one tire will have a different tread depth and thus different accelerating, braking, and cornering abilities than all of the others.

Think about it this way. Imagine if one of your running shoes got a hole in the bottom. Instead of buying a new pair of shoes, you buy just one shoe. Trying to run with one brand new and one worn shoe would probably feel pretty awkward and unbalanced.

Your car feels the same way when you replace just one tire. Significant wear imbalances between tires can negatively impact overall vehicle performance and stability. Plus, electronic and mechanical vehicle systems (like transfer cases, differentials, anti-lock brakes, and traction control systems) may have difficulty interpreting information from your tires when one is noticeably different from the rest.

Also, some vehicle manufacturers have specific recommendations or restrictions against the replacement of fewer than four tires. Check your owner's manual to see what your manufacturer recommends.

If You

Must Replace Only One or Two Tires

Perhaps you only have the time and money to get one tire replaced. Or, your tire technician has evaluated the existing tread depth on your car's remaining tires, checked the vehicle’s owner’s manual and determined that replacing one tire is okay. Whatever the reason, here's how a replacement of only one or two tires generally works.

Front-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive Vehicles

When replacing one tire: The new tire is paired with whatever tire on your vehicle has the deepest tread depth. Then, both tires are mounted on the rear axle.

When replacing two tires: The two new tires are mounted on the rear axle.

Also, if replacing only one or two tires, it is recommended that the tires are placed on the rear to prevent hydroplaning during wet road conditions.

Four-Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive Vehicles

Things are a bit trickier with four- and all-wheel drive vehicles. Even tiny differences in tire diameters on an axle, or between tires on different axles can lead to a glitch in the drivetrain system. Usually, all four tires are recommended to be replaced at once, but always check your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for specific guidance regarding your vehicle.

Staggered Fitment Vehicles

Vehicles with staggered fitment have different size wheels on the back and the front of the car. Wider and/or taller wheels are usually mounted on the back, which results in more grip on acceleration and a sportier aesthetic appeal. Common vehicles with staggered fitments include the INFINITI G35, Nissan 350X, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Mustang.

When it comes to replacing one or two tires, always follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. If none exists and no tires show excessive wear, it might be acceptable to install one or two tires to either axle as needed.

Recommendations That Don't Fall Flat

Replacing a single tire isn't always a good idea. Thankfully, with Firestone Complete Auto Care's selection of affordable tires with free installation services, you don't need to change just one tire! Help maintain solid control of your vehicle and visit your trusted local tire experts for repairs and replacements that are Fixed Right, Priced Right, Right on Time!

Can I Replace Just One Tire on My Car?

Tires November 2, 2022

Blowing out a tire can be a hassle. You figure that it will be a quick fix—head to the tire shop, pick out the same model (or maybe one that’s a little less expensive?) and boom—you’re done.

But in many cases, you’ll be told that you should really replace all four tires. Wait, what? The cost just quadrupled and you’re getting rid of three tires that are, as far as you can tell, doing just fine.

We get asked a lot if you can replace just one tire on your car. And, really, it depends on the situation. Here are some variables that will help identify if you can replace just one tire or two tires or if you need a set of four.

First, let’s look at why replacing a tire on your vehicle might be necessary in the first place.

When Do You Need to Replace a Tire?

In many cases, the culprit is your tire tread depth. Generally, the tread on new tires ranges from 10/32 of an inch to 11/32 of an inch. The Virginia State Police deem tires unsafe when the tread depth reaches 2/32”, and the vehicle will not pass a Virginia state safety inspection.

However, Virginia Tire & Auto recommends replacing your tires when they get to 4/32” or lower. It’s a question of safety.

Once tread wears down to below 4/32”, traction, especially in wet conditions, becomes a problem. The lower the tread, the higher the risk of hydroplaning.

Plus, with lower tread depth, your car may not be able to stop fast enough to prevent a serious accident. A couple seconds of stopping time can be the difference between stopping short or not in time.

Read: How Tire Tread Depth Affects Stopping Distance

If you can’t remember the last time you had your tires rotated, you may be burning through your front tires—yet another reason why you might need to replace a tire. Front tires tend to wear out faster than back tires because they’re carrying the weight of the engine and they steer the car, which adds additional friction.

There’s always the possibility of a tire pressure leak, which would cause the tire to be under-inflated, or a tire blowout. An over-inflated tire can also cause tire damage. Over-inflating a tire decreases the amount of contact the tire has with the road, making it more susceptible to damage when hitting a pothole.

Even if the tire tread hasn’t worn down, it doesn’t mean your tires are safe on the road. As tires age, they deteriorate, and, over time, they can become safety hazards. This is why, according to automakers and tire manufacturers, you should replace tires every five to 10 years.

Read: How Long Should Tires Last? 6 Factors to Consider

What to Consider Before Replacing Only One Tire

So, can you replace just one tire on your car? The answer is: it depends. Here’s what you should keep in mind:

1. Treads on the Other Tires

To replace just one or two tires without adversely affecting performance and safety, the other tires need to have an adequate amount of tread left. If your tires are pretty new, you may be able to get away with just replacing one or two tires.

If your tires have worn down and there will be more than 4/32” difference between the new tires and old tires, you should get all new tires.

2. Type of Tire

The tread pattern and tire type that your tires have should be similar. That is, whether they’re front or rear tires, you want all your tires to be the same model and have the same or similar tread condition.

Why? Because subtle differences in tires affect their behavior—more specifically, your vehicle’s ability to accelerate, brake, corner, and handle water. You want a balanced, predictable driving experience.

If the exact tire model isn’t available, go for the most similar option. (Ex: If you have all-season tires, get another type of all-season tire. If your tires have a directional tread pattern, don’t get a tire with an asymmetric or symmetric tread pattern.)

3. Type of Vehicle

Is your car all-wheel drive (AWD)? You may have heard that you always have to replace all four tires on AWD vehicles. And it’s true. Most vehicle manufacturers and the Tire Industry Association (TIA) recommend that you always replace all four tires at the same time if your car is AWD.

That’s because the reduced diameter of the lower-tread tires causes them to rotate faster than the new one(s). Wheels moving at different speeds on an AWD vehicle will put additional strain on engine components (such as the transmission and transfer case), which could result in major damage and costly repairs.

If there’s a variation of more than 2/32”, you will need to replace two or four tires. Check your vehicle’s owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer recommends; some say to replace all four, but some say it’s okay to just replace two.

It may be hard to believe that such a small difference can make a big impact, but even slightly mismatched tires could damage the drivetrain on an AWD vehicle.

Let’s Recap:

If your tires’ tread depth will be within 4/32” of each other, you can get away with replacing just one or two tires.
If you drive an AWD vehicle, the tires must be within 2/32” of each other. But you should always check the vehicle owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.
If buying one or two tires, buy an exact or similar tire (brand, size, load rating, tread pattern, etc.) to ensure a balanced, safe drive.

Whatever your vehicle’s make and model, the tire experts at Virginia Tire & Auto can guide you to the tires that are right for you.

Read: How to Pick the Right Tires for Your Car

How to Care for Your New Tire(s)

If you decide to replace one or two tires, then you have to choose where to place them! Should you put new tires on the front or the back?

It’s usually best to place the new tires on the rear axle since the rear tires give your vehicle stability. This will help prevent oversteering or spinning out.

No matter how many tires you choose to replace, you can prevent premature wear by practicing proper tire maintenance:

Rotate Your Tires

To get the most from your tires, rotate them according to the schedule recommended in your owner’s manual. In addition, have a trusted tire professional inspect your tires at each rotation.

Check Air Pressure

This should be done monthly and the tire pressure should be adjusted as needed to prevent a dangerous blowout. Be sure to choose a service facility equipped to care for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS).

Repair Flat Tires (safely!)

There’s a right way and a wrong way to repair a flat tire. Even if, based on price, they seem like a good deal, do not accept string- or fabric-based plugs. Driving on plugged tires can result in serious accidents and fatal injuries.

For peace of mind, let a qualified auto-care expert repair your flat tire. They will inspect it inside and out to make sure it can be safely patched, and, normally, patching takes 20-30 minutes.

And remember, for safety reasons, a tire can be repaired two (but not three) times. It is far better to replace a damaged tire than risk potentially serious or fatal injuries.

Read: Proper Tire Maintenance 101: Taking Care of Your Tires

Need Auto Care?

No one likes to replace a tire. But at the end of the day, we want to ensure that you have a safe ride. Replacing all four tires for one flat may seem like a waste of money, but often it is the safest investment to make for the well-being of your vehicle and all the people who share the roads with you.

Whether you need a new tire (or set of tires), a simple oil change, new brakes or complex repairs, the experts at Virginia Tire & Auto can help. For a better, safer driving experience, schedule an appointment or drop into one of our convenient locations today!

Price list of tire services in Krasnodar.

Price list for tire services for passenger cars

Cost of standard service packages (for 4 wheels) prices are indicated in rubles
No.	description	13	14"	15”	16”	17”	18”	19”	20”	21”	22”
1.	Price per set (profile 55 and above)	950	1100	1300	1500	1700	1900	2100	2000	2700	2900
2.	Coefficient for low profile tires profile 50 and below/SUV/commercial vehicles	+ 20

Prices for tire fitting services (for 1 wheel) prices are indicated in rubles
No.	Name of work	13	14”	15”	16”	17”	18”	19”	20”	21”	22”
1.	Removing and installing wheel	60	80	90	120	150	160	160	170	190	200
2.	Removing the tire from disc	60	80	90	100	100	140	140	170	180	180
3.	Mounting tire on rim	60	80	90	100	100	140	140	170	180	180
4.	Balancing	100	100	100	120	150	160	160	190	200	240
Total:		280	340	370	440	500	600	600	700	750	800
Additional services:
1.	Installation of weights kit (self-adhesive + stuffed)	50	50	60	60	70	70	80	80	100	100
2.	Valve installation plain/chrome plated	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80	40/80
3.	Installing a customer valve	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
4.	Checking, pumping pressure 1 wheel	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
5.	Packing the wheel in a bag	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30
6.	Replacement of one spool	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
7.	Plastic cap (1 pc.)	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
8.	Camera installation	50	50	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
9.	Camera repair	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	-	-	-
10	Sealing one side of the wheel with bead seal	100	100	100	100	110	110	150	150	170	180
11	Temporary Tubeless Puncture Repair - Anchor / Harness	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/ 50	100/50	100/50
12	Tire repair - patch / fungus	150	150	150	150	150	150	150	200	200	200

Vulcanization:

	Consumables	Price
1.	112 patch	500
2.	114 patch	600
3.	115 patch	700

WARNING! WHEN REPAIRING TIRES, THE COST OF TIRE WORKS IS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY

Mix tires or change the whole set?

Almost every car owner, when replacing tires on his car, faces some difficulties: to change the entire set or just a pair of tires, what type of tires to choose and whether it is possible to mix tires from different manufacturers. Continental experts tried to bring clarity to the resolution of these issues.

Of course, the situation when all tires wear out equally and at the same time confirms that the conditions and type of driving, together with the timely maintenance of the car, perfectly matched its technical characteristics. And the answer to the question posed here is obvious - change all four tires to a new set of tires recommended by the automaker. But such a picture, alas, is rare, especially in Russian realities, due to the influence of numerous factors.

Even in the case when the tires are worn unevenly, and there is a need to replace only part of the tires, the best solution would still be to buy a whole set of new tires. This guarantees the necessary safety on the road. The only downside to this approach for most drivers is the cost. And if, in order to save money, you still decide to replace only half of the wheels, then pay attention to the recommendations below:

When replacing only two tires, new tires must be installed on the rear axle , and not to the front, no matter how strange it may seem to domestic motorists, especially owners of front-wheel drive cars. The fact is that worn tires naturally provide less traction, and when mounted on the rear axle, they reduce the resistance to skid, and this leads to uncontrollability of the car on wet or slippery surfaces. Installed on the front axle, worn tires do not have such a noticeable effect on the stability and controllability of the vehicle.
When choosing a tire model, it is better to buy the same tires that were installed when the car was originally equipped. Thus, the size, design and tread pattern will fully match the replacement tires, guaranteeing better handling and driving safety.
2 new tires from the same category as 2 used tires that you don't plan to change at the moment might be a good option. In this case, the appropriate size and speed index of the new rubber must be mandatory. This is especially suitable for those car owners who want to get those. characteristics different from the factory, for the use of tires in specific climatic conditions. So, for example, for the northern territories of Russia, studded tires will be the most suitable option in winter conditions, and for cities with a milder winter climate, Scandinavian-type friction tires with improved grip on dry and wet roads are suitable.
The choice of tires in the direction of lower performance will be wrong! The only case where this can be justified is an emergency and short-term replacement in an emergency.
The main rule that every driver should remember is that tires should not be mixed on any vehicle, unless permitted by the car or tire manufacturer. It is also not recommended to install tires with different tread patterns, designs or sizes, unless the automaker specifically provides for the use of different wheels on the front and rear axles. In no case should you mix winter tires with all-season tires, and even more so with summer ones, as well as install ordinary tires interspersed with tires made using the RunFlat technology, which provides for the movement of the car with a complete loss of pressure in the tire.

In conclusion, we add that non-compliance with the above recommendations can lead to an imbalance in the car at the most inopportune moment, especially in bad weather. Do not forget that tires perform an important function in ensuring the safety of the driver and passengers. Therefore, it is best to use tires that are identical in every detail, including the model, size, tread depth, and tire brand.