Myth: You Should Always Replace All Four Tires at Once
Tire salesmen often insist that you must buy a full set of four, even if only two are worn out. For front-wheel or rear-wheel drive cars, this is simply not true. It is perfectly fine to replace just the front pair or the rear pair as long as the two new tires match each other. Just remember that common safety advice says the new tires should always go on the rear of the car to prevent fishtailing.
The only major exception is for certain All-Wheel Drive (AWD) systems. Some AWD vehicles require that all four tires have nearly identical tread depths to prevent strain on the center differential. If one tire is significantly newer and larger than the others, it can confuse the computer and cause mechanical damage. Check your manual before buying just two!
