Flat tire

NorthskyblueT1 · March 6

I got a huge screw in the tread of my left front tire. Truck has 4900 miles and the tires are the stock Wrangler Fortitude highway jobbies.

The screw is pretty close to the sidewall. I don't think the tire shop will give me grief, but if they do, I'll probably just find a shop who will fix it, and then run it as a rear tire only.

But I actually don't know what would happen if -- supposed I actually needed to replace one tire. Would I need to do it in pairs because of the wear difference (should be minimal) or could I just throw a new tire on there with only 4900 (easy) miles on the other 3? I don't know the tolerances for the rear diff or 4x4 system. What would you do?

KARNUT · March 6

17 minutes ago, NorthskyblueT1 said:

I got a huge screw in the tread of my left front tire. Truck has 4900 miles and the tires are the stock Wrangler Fortitude highway jobbies.

The screw is pretty close to the sidewall. I don't think the tire shop will give me grief, but if they do, I'll probably just find a shop who will fix it, and then run it as a rear tire only.

But I actually don't know what would happen if -- supposed I actually needed to replace one tire. Would I need to do it in pairs because of the wear difference (should be minimal) or could I just throw a new tire on there with only 4900 (easy) miles on the other 3? I don't know the tolerances for the rear diff or 4x4 system. What would you do?

Take it to a tire shop see if it’s a safe repair. If not a new one would be no problem.

CamGTP · March 6

Yup, what he said. See if someone will fix it and if not just buy one tire. No issues with replacing one tire with that low of mileage on the rest.

Edited March 6 by CamGTP

NorthskyblueT1 · March 7

The tire shop fixed it, no questions, so that's good!

Does anyone know the answer, though, just how much circumference difference is allowable between tires?

This is making me wish I had a heavier duty tire on there, so I may end up replacing all 4 before these are done anyhow. I've had LT tires on a Jeep of mine with a good all-terrain tread, and I haven't had a flat on that vehicle in 10 years. Less than 5k miles on my truck, and a short little screw made it go hisssssssss. Just like owning a car again!

dsr611 · March 18

Very minimal difference in a brand new tire and a tire with just 4900 miles on it. My wife picked up a screw in the sidewall of one of the tires on her 20 4Runner when it had right at 5500 miles on it. Bought a new tire and had it mounted/balanaced and never had any issues with it in the 40000+ miles she put on it before wrecking and it being totaled