Hi, it's my first post, hope this hasn't been asked and answered.

2014 KL Trailhawk, 74.6k miles. I put on four new Firestone Destination AT/2 tires, stock size, 245/65/17, 3.3 years ago. The three that remain have about 8 to 9/32nds tread depth (~40-50%), the new tire is at 12/32.

Why do I have one new tire? I was recently T-boned in my front passenger wheel and A-pillar. Geico and collision center basically replaced that whole quadrant of the suspension, door skins, bumper cover, reconditioned the wheel, and a lot more. They replaced the passenger front tire with balance and alignment, of course.

​​​I know it's important to have all tires the same size on 4x4. Is it okay that one front tire is new and has greater tread depth and hence "size"? It seems to pull a little to the right since I got it back. It begs the question of how accurate an alignment is with different tire "size" due to one new vs. three used.

Option 1: do nothing, ride it out

Option 2: buy 1 new tire so fronts match

I could do one more new tire on the front so they match for 2wd, braking, etc. I could rotate the current used front tire onto the full-size spare wheel, I think spare is currently an old OG AT, I don't remember, but couldn't hurt to replace due to it's age. But I would have to eventually replace rears when they wear down...so would always have mismatches. It also complicates tire rotation schedule.

Option 3: buy 3 new tires so all match, $700.

This situation kinda puts my plan to increase tire size and do pinch weld mod on hold, or kicks it down the line a few more years until I need new tires again.

Option 4: buy 4 bigger tires and do pinch mod already, now that it's out of extended warranty. Sell 3 used tires, put 1 new tire on spare. But then spare is undersized, so really need 5x at around $1200.

Any thoughts or advice? What would YOU do for your Trailhawk?

Thanks in advance

 

As long as the new tires are the same physical size, it doesn't really matter. However, you SHOULD get a matching tire of the same brand and type for the opposite side (for example, 2 rears OR 2 fronts), as the tread will wear more evenly. You should ALSO rotate the rears to the fronts and fronts to the rears as well.

-Vince