So I have an 06 XC-90 with 196K miles on it. It's been a great vehicle. I had the 80K Cooper tires put on at 154K. Last week I found a screw in my sidewall and had to replace the right rear tire (same type). New tire has 10/32 depth and other tires have 6/32 depth remaining. I've been told that I should change at least both tires on the same axle or all 4 for AWD vehicles due to the gearbox and the new tire travelling a different distance (greater circumference) than the other 3. Is this true? Is 1/4 larger diameter tire due to the increased tread really going to potentially affect a gear box (strip it out over time, etc)? Appreciate any insight anyone might have on this topic. Thanks,
Jim

 

Some tire shops can trim a tire to match another tire. Seems to me this would be a less wasteful procedure.


See this http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=18

 

Very few shops do the "tire shaving" thingy these days. Tire rack is one of them, by the time you are done with shaving, shipping, you may as well buy another tire for the same price!

I HAD the exact same issue, you can see the replies by the Volvo guru tech (jimmy57) below:
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/for...p?f=10&t=66473

 

It will be fine. The problem is more for the old mechanical AWD systems that use a viscous coupler, not the electronic ones.