P 235 70 R 15 Yokogooga Trackolux.
The P means passenger car
The 353 is the nominal width of the tire in millimeters
70= Aspect ration - height to width.
R = Radial
15= Fits a 15 inch wheel.
Yokogooga Trackolux is a fictitious brand and model that I made up for demonstration purposes.
While it is true that for the vast majority of the time you are going to be fine with one oddball tire on your car, in adverse conditions it can get dicey - a panic stop at high speed or on wet roads or in snowy, icy conditions. That oddball tire will have different traction characteristics than the other three and your car may end up spinning like a top if you have to slam on the brakes when some nearsighted old lady pulls out in front of you on a wet road.
If the tire is the same physical size - the numbers match (P235 70 etc.) you will be ok as far as alignment issues but if it isn't, it can cause problems - which again might not become evident until something extreme happens.
But as it is from a different manufacturer with a different tread, then you have the aforementioned uneven traction - how bad is this? Who knows? The only way to know is to slam on the brakes at high speed in the rain or snow - I bet you don't want to do that.
Why replace three tires to match that one tire? Because the three older ones have more wear? Pure profit?
I'd never buy tires from a Midas. I get them from an independent shop but before I discovered it, I bought them at BJ's Wholesale club.
Go look at your tires - read the numbers on the sidewall and see if the tread pattern on that one odd tire looks similar to the other three - or if it is completely different.
It's up to you to make the decision but I wanted to let you know about problems caused by mismatched tires under adverse and extreme braking conditions.
Don't take even a bicycle to Midas. You say the LF tire is different, HOW? It definitely should be the same size. Winter snow tires mixed with summer cruising tires is a 'no-no', you should try to stay as close as you can to the same tread pattern. Midas will sell you stuff you don't even wanna buy! WAY over their price!
In my opinion, it's always best to have matching tyres. However, it's not that important with all 4 of them matching up.
IF the front 2 tyres are the same as each other and the 2 rear tyres are the same as each other...that's good enough. So two matching on the front, and two matching on the rear. IF the new tyre they put on still has a good amount of tread on compared to the other tyre opposite, then I'd personally try and find one like that and fit it. I guess it's because all tyres react differently in weather conditions, so it's best to get ones that match so they react the same.
Different how? Brand? Size? Tread type? Speed rating? Load index? If you wish your vehicle to handle and control as the automaker intended you should always have tires which match in model, size, load index and speed rating. Go take a look at the info sticker on your trucks door jamb to see what Ford recommended.
It is always recommended that tires on the front match and tires on the rear match. I said recommended. Obviously since you have been driving the truck for 4 months you already know that it isn't affecting the performance. I think he was just trying to make a sale in my opinion.
if the tread pattern is quite different then ,,knobby vs summer tire then in the rain or snow ,,hard braking it may go all over the place ...for that reason would suggest odd tire on the back
I got an oil change, signal switch change, and break inspection done at Midas.
Back in May, my front left tire ran over something which caused it to pop. I had it towed and had the tire changes at a shop. The tire they installed was different than the other ones.
Anyway, at Midas, I was told that I should change the other three tires so they are the same as the front left one. He said this would cost $880.
I have had no difficulty driving. I check the air pressure everyday etc and the truck is just fine.
Is this guy trying to rip me off? Or is this a genuine mechanical problem that needs to be addressed?
