Tires: replacement tire for Honda Pilot SUV, fwd and rwd, honda pilot

Question
Must I replace all 4 tires when one tire is ruined.  I have been told that they must all have the same tread depth?  Can the two front tires be the same tread depth (new) while the back tires are still the originals but within the legal tread depth? Thank you for your help.

Answer
Marcella,

The general rule is that if you have an All Wheel Drive (AWD) or a 4X4, then all 4 tires must be the same size, same make, same model, and same state of wear.  To do otherwise risks a driveline failure - very expensive.

The general rule for 2WD (FWD and RWD) is that it is best if the tires are all the same in order to have the best handling balance, but at the very least the tires have to be the same on an axle (same size, same make, same model, same state of wear) with the best tires on the rear, so that the rear of the vehicle is the least likely to break loose.  You want to keep the front in front and the rear in the rear.