Tires: studded tires on 4wd, 4wd vehicle, studded tires

Question
I have a 2004 4WD Toyota Tacoma pick up. Several years ago I purchased 2 studded tires which I have been running on the rear in winter removing them in the spring. Yesterday I had them mounted and put on by an unfamiliar tire dealer, they told me I should not run 2 studded tires on a 4wd vehicle,that I should have all 4 studded or none and that running just 2 on the rear would damage the transfer case. This was certainly not mentioned to me by the reputable dealer who sold me the tires nor by the guy who had been putting them on and off for the last three years. Is he correct? Is there a problem running two studded tires on a 4wd vehicle?

Answer
Edward,

Yes, there is a problem any time you have different tires on any position of a 4X4 or All Wheel Drive.  Differences in diameter (and in this case slippage) can cause the center differential or the transfer case to bind up and that could lead to a failure of those components.  This is not a 100%, all the time, kind of thing - meaning it is possible to "get away with it unscathed".

But so long as you never use the 4X4 feature, there will never be a problem - and so long as there can be slippage in the front, then it would be OK.  But from the tire dealer's perspective he's not only trying to warn you of a potential problem, but also to protect himself in case something does happen.