Just need one tire - no one wants to install it, only 11,000 miles

Would the AT Temp lamp flash if there is a mismatch between front and rear speeds? I got mine to flash by pulling the parking brake in the snow, and letting it skid on only the back wheels.

Don't do that.

You may have already checked this, but didn't say..is the bad tire repairable? Sidewall problem is a no-go...tread punctures can be plugged (safely, generally, as long as you're not driving "emergency vehicle style")...

Steve

What they said.

Subies are very ticklish to variations in tire size. That's why the tire shops won't do it.

Costco won't sell non HR rated tires for a Subie...because the HR tires' have sidewall and tread characteristics that are required by the AWD for reliability.

Buy a pair. (I feel your pain)

Alsa, a pair will not do. The problem with AWD cars occurs when there is a difference in tire circumference front to back and not side to side.

Gilles Gour a écrit :

I believe it's only a problem with limited-slip differentials. A regular differential shouldn't have any problem with tires of different sizes. So if the car's an automatic (I don't believe it was mentioned), a pair might be ok or a single one up front (or the rear if there's no limited slip differential back there).

I wish Subaru would just put a lockable center differential on their manuals. I find them more useful and there wouldn't be a problem with tire sizes.

Automatic or manual, an AWD Subaru has a center diff (viscous coupling with the mt and electronically activated clutch pack if auto) and it's this center diff which will suffer if front and back tires are not of the same size. The center diff or Ecu (in the case of the auto) «interprets» this difference as being a wheel always slipping and this will overwork the center diff. The problem here is NOT with the front or rear diff be they open or limited slip. The beauty of AWD is that the center diff is NOT locked and will adapt to the conditions of the road sending power to the axle that has grip and allowing for the car to make a turn on dry pavement without binding. On the Loyale for example, there is no center diff (equivalent of locked center diff) and that makes 4WD (not AWD) usable only on slippery surfaces. You get binding in a Loyale when you make turns on dry pavement. I actually have a 96 Leagacy but used to drive a 92 Loyale. Hope that this clears things up a little. Happy new year. Gilles