Can Truck Tire Sizes Be Mixed

Updated 04/25/2018 | Published 04/24/2018

Question:

I want to put 7.50-16 tires on the back of my 4x4 truck and keep the 235-85-16 on the front can I do that?

asked by: Tommy

Expert Reply:

It is never a good idea to mix tires on a trailer. All should be the same type of construction (radial or bias ply), the same size and the same weight load range. This will usually also be true for vehicles.

We do sell light truck tires (LT type) in your size; you can see them on the linked page. But the tires we sell in size 235/85-16 are special trailer tires and should not be used on a vehicle.

If tires are mixed there will be a chance that some will take more of the vehicle weight, which can lead to overheating and eventual failure. Traction can differ between tires too and this could lead to loss of control. Also, these two tire sizes 235/85-16 and 7.50-16LT have different overall diameters; the 7.50-16LT is about 2/10ths of an inch larger.

Also note that the 7.50-16LT tire will fit ONLY on a 16 x 6 wheel; the size 235/85-16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel of 4 different widths: 6-, 6-1/2, 7- and 7-1/2-inches.

Since I do not know your specific vehicle I suggest checking with the auto maker. Odds are they will caution against mixing tires.

expert reply by: Adam R