QuestionQUESTION: 2 years ago 2 different size tires were put on my 1998 all wheel drive ford explorer- 3 @ 235 and 1 @ 225. Now it has major transfer case problems. Could this have caused all this damage.
ANSWER: Greg,
I AM GOING TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES AND ASSUME THIS WAS FIXED 2 YEARS AGIO.
WITH THAT KIND OF TIME DISTANCE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TRANSFER CASE TO HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO PROVE.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I AM SORRY IF I DIDN'T MAKE MYSELF CLEAR. A TIRE FRANCHISE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND PUT 2 DIFF. SIZE TIRES ON ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT BECAUSE IT WENT BAD AND NOW I HAVE A BAD TRANSFER CASE. ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DIFFERENT SIZE TIRES ON A 4WD IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND CAN RUIN TRANSFER CASES AND I ASSUME OTHER PARTS AS WELL [REAR TRANSFER CASE,DRIVESHAFT,UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ETC.]. THE TIRE FRANCHISE'S INSURANCE CO. IS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT ME SOON ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM JUST TRYING TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO BE BETTER INFORMED BEFORE TALKING TO THEM. THE MANAGER DID SAY SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ALLOWABLE SIZE DIFFERENCE FROM FORD WAS IN ORDER NOT TO CAUSE PROBLEMS. IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME IT IS ABOUT 0.39 IN. DIFF. IF MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT BETWEEN 225 AND 235 MM. IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ENOUGH DIFFERENCE TO CAUSE A PROBLEM. HOW GREAT OF A PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW BUT I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND THEY DID INSTALL 1 WRONG SIZED TIRE. I WAS JUST NEEDING ADVICE ON HOW TO HANDLE THE SITUATION WITH THIS BIG FRANCHISE TIRE DEALER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ANY INSIGHT AND ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME.
AnswerGreg,
Thanks for clarifying that.
Having a 4 X 4 with tires with different diameters can cause drivetrain failures.
Most true 4 X 4's are completely locked up in the 4X4 mode. So if only one tire is different the axle that the odd tire is on will try to spin at a different speed. This creates a bind in the system, and either the tire will slip or the transfer case will bind up.
Usually the tire will slip, but nevertheless, there is a tremendous amount of stress applied to the transfer case. This stress could also result in a driveshaft failure, since it is trying to transmit the torque.
I can't tell you how much tolerance an Explorer has, but I'll bet it isn't much.
Hopefully the insurance company will settle the case, but it should be fairly easy to get someone to testify in court to that effect, if it comes to that.
Just don't forget that there will be some wear and tear on these parts and it has been my experience that courts take this into account when awarding claims, so you may have to settle for something less than 100%.
