Do you Need Special Tires for an All-Wheel Drive Vehicle?
Because your Subaru comes equipped with a Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system, some AWD drivers can overlook a key component of the vehicle’s performance: the tires. Special considerations exist for all-wheel drive vehicles and the best place to start is the Rafferty Subaru service center or your vehicle owner’s manual.
Let’s break down some key points to consider when selecting your next set of tires. The most significant factor in AWD tire selection is climate. Whether you traverse through the north's snow and ice regularly on your daily commute or the south’s sweltering highways, tire selection is essential. All-wheel drive tires are broken into three categories
- All Season
- Winter
- Summer/Performance
Each type of tire is manufactured to meet a specific performance need. Driver also needs to consider additional factors such as terrain, budget, and tire wear.
Do all four Tires have to Match on AWD?
Tires on all wheel drive vehicles need to match in regards to size, brand, tread style, and tread wear to optimize performance and to prevent damage to their drivetrain. Tread pattern and uniform diameter are essential for your Subaru’s AWD system to operate at peak performance. It is recommended to change all four tires at the same time.In the event of needing to replace just one tire on your AWD, it is possible to do so with the same brand, model, and size. Your Rafferty Subaru service staff can help you make the right choice.
Do you Need to Rotate Tires on AWD?
Rotating your tires is an essential part of maintenance for your all-wheel drive vehicle. Tire rotation is important to keep your AWD Subaru performing at its best, providing you and your passengers a safe and smooth ride. Subaru recommends that tire rotation and inspection should be done every six months or at 6,000 miles, depending on your vehicle’s make and model and driving conditions. Ask a member of your Rafferty Subaru service team, check the Subaru Warranty & Maintenance Guide for more information.
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Which Tires Wear Faster on AWD?
This is a common question asked by many all-wheel drive vehicle drivers. Many owners tend to stay with the factory's original brand and sizes as they are selected with longevity in mind. All-Season tires seem to have proven to edge the competition in terms of longevity. The Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus is an All-Season tire that is very popular on AWD passenger vehicles and SUVs. This all-season tire has proven to wear much longer than other tires. Tires that are poorly matched with your routine driving conditions and that are poorly maintained will wear much faster.
How to Minimize Tire Wear and tear for All-Wheel DriveVehicles?
To extend your tires’ life on all-wheel drive vehicles, there are three important recommendations to minimize the wear and tear on the miles ahead.
- Keep your tires properly inflated: The amount of air pressure in your tires will significantly impact your tire wear, fuel consumption, and safety. A drop in tire pressure can be attributed to an air leak from a damaged tire or it can also decrease from hot to cold weather change. Your Subaru is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that will detect one or more tires with below adequate tire pressure. Driver’s can also manually check their tire pressure themselves.
- Rotate your tires: Subaru recommends rotating your tires every 6,000 miles; however, your driving conditions may require you to rotate them more frequently.
- Replace your tires responsibly: When replacing your AWD vehicle’s tires, they should be replaced with the manufacturer’s recommended tire size. Altering tire sizes will significantly affect the vehicle’s performance and safety.
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Visit the Service Department at Rafferty Subaru for AWD advice!
The experts in the Rafferty Service Department will be happy to assist you and provide you with the best professional advice in selecting and maintaining the tires for your Subaru’s all-wheel drive. Please contact us or stop by our Newtown Square location to speak to one of our friendly service staff.
