what a PITA

 

also another question... sorry when u guys say it will break or damage my diff ... diff is different from the TC? right? the Diff is what controls the rear tires

 

Well on an AWD car we have a front diff, a center diff/coupling unit, and a rear diff. When running tires of different overall outer diameters on the same axle you will wear the diff in that axle (front or rear). If you were to run different outer diameters front to back you would wear the center diff/VCU.
2/32nds of an inch, yes. You don't even want to run that much difference, get them as close as possible.

 

do you guys think it would be ok if just changed the tire that was on the same size.

since it was the rear tire that blew out could i just replace the other rear tire and just have a new set in the rear and the old set in the front

???

 

Yes of an inch.

 

I thought of that as well when it happened to me. In any normal FWD or RWD drive car yes if they are the same on which ever axel you are fine. The problem is the AWD. In other words the transfer case connects the front and back so they all spin at the same speed. So if your back tires have more tread depth then the fronts it will put a small bind on the transfer case. IMO I didn't want to risk damaging the transfer case as they are very expensive.

 

Ok so what's the proper way to measure the depth?

 

Most tire shops have this little gauge that they stick in the middle of tread and goes down in the tread to measure it. It reminds me of tire gauge but the part that pops out is the measuring piece in this case.

 

and no 2/32nds of tread is not enough to mess your diff up. thats why you rotate tires. there is always going to be a diff from front to rear tires.

 

I have been a new evo owner and lost a new tire to due not realizing the tire was low.
I just recently (1week) had a tire put on same exact size (different tread). My plan was, until I just read this, to save some money for wheels and tires. Have I hurt anything driving for a week on one mismatching tire??