I have had my TJ AWD for a few months now, but I've only recently realised that managing tyre wear is going to be a different ball game to all the 2WD cars I've owned in the past (yes, I'm a bit slow!).

The internet has come up with several conflicting theories on correct tyre rotation for AWD vehicles, and absolute silence if you want to include the spare wheel in the scheme. Obviously, the idea is to ensure that all 4 wheels stay the same rolling radius, and some AWD car makers have been quite adamant about this, depending on the type of centre diff used, but the Mitsubishi owner's handbook makes no special pleas for the AWD.

Assuming there are some long-term AWD owners out there, what do you do? :confused:

well it partly depends on whether you have directional tyres or not as to what you can do. but i would simply do a front to back change.

well it partly depends on whether you have directional tyres or not as to what you can do. but i would simply do a front to back change.

No, the tyres are not directional - they're still original factory fitment (only 25000 km). Front-to-back is certainly the simplest option, and the one I've used for the last 40 years, but it raises problems with the spare. Several times in the past, I've tried to buy one new tyre and team it with an unused spare, only to find that the tyre maker has dropped that particular pattern. In any case, a tyre has a recommended shelf life of 5 to 6 years, so the brand-new 2003 spare tyre I have now is almost finished! For these reasons, I now lean to the idea of wearing all 5 tyres out together and then buying a completely new set of 5.

Now that i think about it... the TS 94' still has the original spare....

Not to mention it was still rolling on 2 of them originals when i bought it 16mths ago....:redface:
Only done 23thous k's of granny driving....
I had them on for like 2 months before getting rims and never though of it again till now.:confused:

Now that i think about it... the TS 94' still has the original spare....

Not to mention it was still rolling on 2 of them originals when i bought it 16mths ago....:redface:
Only done 23thous k's of granny driving....
I had them on for like 2 months before getting rims and never though of it again till now.:confused:


Yeah, that's the trouble with older cars with low kays - the tyres still look new, especially if the car has been kept in a garage. Unfortunately, the rubber begins to harden (slowly but surely) from the moment the tyre is made, regardless of how well it's stored. The time limit before it's too hard (which leads to poorer grip) is still being debated, but most manufacturers now say 5 or 6 years before they should be replaced. This is why they have to date-stamp every tyre. Speaking of which, don't let dodgy tyre sellers rip you off by giving you old stock.

Yeah, that's the trouble with older cars with low kays - the tyres still look new, especially if the car has been kept in a garage. Unfortunately, the rubber begins to harden (slowly but surely) from the moment the tyre is made, regardless of how well it's stored. The time limit before it's too hard (which leads to poorer grip) is still being debated, but most manufacturers now say 5 or 6 years before they should be replaced. This is why they have to date-stamp every tyre. Speaking of which, don't let dodgy tyre sellers rip you off by giving you old stock.

If only I could make my tires last that long! I'm lucky to get 2 years! I'm going for my third set soon, mines also a 2003 model. There is also an idea that you need to replace all tyres at once on AWD's . After much looking on the interweb, I think this has been debunked.

If only I could make my tires last that long! I'm lucky to get 2 years! I'm going for my third set soon, mines also a 2003 model. There is also an idea that you need to replace all tyres at once on AWD's . After much looking on the interweb, I think this has been debunked.

I'm hearing you there :nuts:

You are supposed to have the same rolling diameter, but the rear is viscous coupled - a little bit off wont matter that much.

My wife has a 2001 TJ with the original tyres on the rear (140,000Klms!!!) but they are just prior to the wear markers, and are getting those little cracks in the rubber as it perishes - worrying. Time for some new ones methinks.

If only I could make my tires last that long! I'm lucky to get 2 years! I'm going for my third set soon, mines also a 2003 model. There is also an idea that you need to replace all tyres at once on AWD's . After much looking on the interweb, I think this has been debunked.

I take it you have a TJ AWD! When you say you're going for your third set, do you mean a third set of four tyres?

Another good point in getting complete sets is that you can choose a different brand / type, whatever. You're not constrained to get exactly the same tyre. Of course, if what you've had is OK, fine, just get another set of them.

I take it you have a TJ AWD! When you say you're going for your third set, do you mean a third set of four tyres?

Another good point in getting complete sets is that you can choose a different brand / type, whatever. You're not constrained to get exactly the same tyre. Of course, if what you've had is OK, fine, just get another set of them.

The problem may (or may not) be my driving style :) .And lots of dirt roads (and driving back to adelaide a few times, canberra, south coast NSW etc). I'm buying the third set now. The first couple of years of my cars life were as a hire car. Almost all AWD were rentals, government buys (v.cheap in SA, SA water used them alot) or police in the eastern states. Not many privately owned ones (first owner that is), esp. for the TJ's.

The first couple of years of my cars life were as a hire car. Almost all AWD were rentals, government buys (v.cheap in SA, SA water used them alot) or police in the eastern states. Not many privately owned ones (first owner that is), esp. for the TJ's.

Mine was originally a private first owner, but I had to go to Perth to get it. Then drive it home to Sydney (great trip!). I guess there weren't that many TJ AWDs to start with - only 6 or 7 months production? Anyway, they are hard to find for sale in Sydney. My local mechanic says he regularly services three of them, and all of their owners seemed determined to preserve them. I must say I now feel the same way - what could possibly replace it for a similar price???

Mine was originally a private first owner, but I had to go to Perth to get it. Then drive it home to Sydney (great trip!). I guess there weren't that many TJ AWDs to start with - only 6 or 7 months production? Anyway, they are hard to find for sale in Sydney. My local mechanic says he regularly services three of them, and all of their owners seemed determined to preserve them. I must say I now feel the same way - what could possibly replace it for a similar price???

Mind if I ask who your mechanic is? I'd like to move away from mitsubishi for servicing, there are so few of them around in sydney. It would be nice to have someone who knew their way around an AWD. BTW, no dec 02 TJ AWD went to private sellers (useless fact of the day)

Mind if I ask who your mechanic is? I'd like to move away from mitsubishi for servicing, there are so few of them around in sydney. It would be nice to have someone who knew their way around an AWD. BTW, no dec 02 TJ AWD went to private sellers (useless fact of the day)

I use Centreline Mechanical Services, at 147 Tower St Panania (in South-West Sydney). They do nothing apart from mechanical work, and they are so flat out you sometimes need to book up to 2 weeks ahead. I'm happy to recommend them to anyone - good honest service. Phone 9773 8843.