Understanding 4X4

So this will be my first modern 4X4. My question is about the from diff while driving in 2 wheel drive. I'm installing larger tires 275/70-18 on my truck. If I were to get a front flat tire would I be okay to install the stock spar tire? Does the front differential spin freely? Or if I got a rear flat I would have move a tire from the front to the rear and install the spare in the front.

 

You can use your spare. Just don't be going 90. Get it fixed as soon as you can.

 

Yeah, what he said

 

even on the drive line? So if I got a flat on the rear your saying put it on the rear? Th reason I have such reservation is I got a flat on my STI and the tire size for the aftermarket tires were one size larger. I put the spare on and every 10 miles we had to pull over because the diff was overheating.

 

Mechanically, you are fine driving in 2wd with a different size tire on either the front or back, but handling and braking will be off, so you should put a matching tire on as soon as possible. I am also guessing that the traction nannies should be turned off as they are going to detect mismatched wheel speeds and possibly try to compensate. You should NOT drive in 4wd because the smaller tire will cause the driveline to bind. I have an Outback, so I know how sensitive Subarus are to differences in tire diameter. Their AWD systems are a different beast altogether (especially the STI), you cant even replace a flat tire with a new one of the same size without replacing all four because of the new tire's tread is thicker.

 

I think he's talking about driving in 4 wheel drive with the smaller spare tire on the truck. If you are on diet it's fine, and you shouldn't be in r wheel drive when on sticky surface or pavement anyway

 

V

 

thanks guys.