daschlag said:
I wouldn't do it. I've had lots of AWD cars and it's common knowledge that you should use matching tires on AWD cars. Tirerack.com has an article which very nicely describes the 'why':
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... ?techid=18
daschlag said:
... it is recommended that all four tires be replaced with tires of the same size, brand, construction and tread pattern.
I have to strongly disagree with any previous comments that you must use the same brand, construction, age, tread pattern, etc. of a tire. None of this matters to the AWD system. Why would the drivetrain care about the brand of tires you are using? The ONLY thing that the AWD system is concerned with is the continuity of all 4 tires rolling at the same rate -- when the ATESSA system notices one or two tires rotating at a faster rate than others, it thinks the wheels are going at different speeds, thus it "thinks" the faster wheels are slipping. However,
all newer AWD systems are designed and programmed to have a narrow tollerance for variances between front and rear rolling speeds, which on our Nissans/Infinitis is approximately 3% before the AWD system will start throwing codes and AWD lights. Why? Because what if you get a flat and have to put a spare tire on? The nice new spare certainly isn't going to have the same wear pattern as the normal tires you drive on, it might not even be the same brand, and factually the left tire isn't even going to match the right tire on the same axle!! So to allow for slight variances, the system is designed to operate comfortably within a narrow margin. Even the Tire Rack article posted above states "Some vehicle manufacturers recommend that all tires maintain the same rolling radius and circumference, while others suggest that all tire circumferences remain within 1/4- to 1/2-inch of each other. Other vehicle manufacturers recommend that all four tires remain within 2/32-, 3/32- or 4/32-inch of each other, or within 30% of each other in relative remaining tread depth."
And I want to point out that what I'm proposing is minor stuff, like running two 265/50-20 tires of a different brand or different wear pattern. But the ATESSA system has such a well known tollerance for those 3% differences that there are many G35x drivers out there running STAGGERED wheels on their vehicles without problems:
http://g35driver.com/forums/wheels-tire ... -rims.html
http://g35driver.com/forums/g35-sedan-v ... gered.html
http://g35driver.com/forums/v36-brakes- ... issue.html
http://g35driver.com/forums/wheels-tire ... tions.html
As long as the overall rolling diameter of the tires, front to rear, is nearly the same, nothing else really matters. I've always replaced both of the tires on the same axle at the same time as a good practice, but slight differences of 2/32 or 1% are well within the tollerances of this vehicle.
Verdict: What I would propose to the OP is to measure your Goodyear RSAs on the front and see what the remaining tread depth is. The RSAs come new with 10/32" tread depth, and an overall diameter of 30.4". And the Yoko Paradas you are considering come new with 11/32" tread depth, and an overall diameter of 30.6". If the difference between your current RSAs and the new Paradas is 4/32" tread depth or less (1/4" less overall diameter), I think you are fine. And that's well within the 3% variance......closer to 1%. Anything greater than 4/32, and you might as well get all new tires anyway since those RSAs are crap.
