Tyre change: Is it ok to replace only 2 with new ones rather than all 4

The 2 in front definitely need replacement but the rear ones appear to be usable at least for the next 10k km if not more.

BHPian rajesh1868 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My Zest tyres have worn out unevenly. The 2 in front definitely need replacement but the rear ones appear to be usable at least for the next 10k km if not more. Till now I had replaced all 4 together. Is it OK to replace just the front tyres and keep the rear ones as it is?

Here's what BHPian Jeroen had to say on the matter:

Yes, you can replace two tires at the same time, providing they are on the same axle, which happens to be the case for you.

I often replace my car tires in pairs, depending on your driving style, front/rear wheel drive and so on, front and rear pairs can and often wear differently.

You should move the rear tires to the front though and put the new ones at the rear.

New tires should always go in the back. Rear tires provide the vehicle stability, and if they have little tread, then stability is lost. Although new front tires will spread water and maintain traction, worn tires in the back will hydroplane and may cause the vehicle to spin out.

Doesn’t matter whether the car is front or rear wheel driven, 2WD or 4WD.

Here's what BHPian condor had to say on the matter:

Quite a few folks do that. I currently have two new tyres at the rear, and the older ones up front.

You can get just two tyres now. Put them in the back.

After that 10k you mentioned, get the other two - but of the same type as the new tyres you are getting now. Put them in the rear then too.

Here's what BHPian Tvk1991 had to say on the matter:

Yes it's fine, my family is being driving RWD cars for the last 10+ years.

Normally only 2 tyres in front or back are completely worn.

So we change only the 2 tyres and when we see the other 2 completely worn we change it. Mostly within < 7k kms of the first change,

But for the last 3 years I am buying 4 tyres from the same brand and same batch and changing only 2 and keeping the other 2 for future replacement.

Sometimes I am not able to source the same brand within 1 year. So being on the safer side and storing them.

We run 20k kms per year. Life we get from each set is 40-45k kms.

Here's what BHPian Raghu M had to say on the matter:

I think it should be perfectly fine. I have done it a few times and there is no difference in performance and easy on the pocket too. It should be the same axle basically, and you should be fine