question on mismatched tires

I have the stock Dunlop tires on my 2014 4x4 DCLB (46k miles) and I want to get thru the summer without buying a full set of 4. I ran over a screw with my rear driver's side tire and the tire guys said it can't be repaired because there isn't enough tread left. It has around 3/32" and there's a bunch of dry rot and cracking but no belts showing or anything like that. I found a used tire guy who can hook me up with one that's the same size for $45, but it's probably going to have more tread than my other tires.

It's time for an oil change and tire rotation so if I put that new tire up front and stay out of 4WD it can't cause any extra wear on my drivetrain due to being a different diameter, right? Right now I'm using the spare but it has full tread and is noticeably bigger than the used up tires so I'm trying to keep the speed and miles low so I don't burn up my rear diff. I'm going to get 4 new Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac A/T 6 ply tires but I want to hold off until just before the snow falls.

What do you guys think? Thanks in advance!

 

You'll be fine. If it makes you feel better use the spare and the mismatch tire on the same axle since they are in better shape.

 

awesome, thanks!

 

I'd use the matched set on the drive axle, avoid using 4X4 except in an emergency and only long enough to get out of a mudhole etc. Just be aware that a lot of tire stores won't sell you just 2 tires for a 4X4 vehicle. The old tires will effectively be one size smaller than the new tires even if you buy the same tire, in the same size. This is especially true on tires with more aggressive tread.

Think about it, many mud tires have near 3/4 of tread on the tire. By the time you wear it down to 3/32 the tire is 1" or more shorter than before. I'd be like running 33" tires on one axle and 32's on the other. Operating it in 4X4 could do serious damage. That is why many stores won't do it, they know that it opens them up to a lawsuit if the guy buying the tires breaks something.