[Levi3xt]

On my previous car I had a FULL size spare wheel (Michelin). When rotating the wheels I only used the 4 wheels and did not include the spare. When I eventually updated the 4 tyres (tires) to Bridgestone I was told that that I shouldn't mix the Michelin with them. Consequently, when I sold the car it had an almost new spare.

Now, fast forward to my Cx-3 which only has a temporary spare (dam this practice). I have toyed with the idea of replacing it with a FULL size spare and got to wondering that, when the present tyres need replacing I might not want to keep the same brand. So, we go back to the situation as described above. Unless I purchase 5 tyres of the same brand. Any thoughts on the brand mixing?

 

[Snoogie]

Mixing brands which in turn mixing tread pattern will alter how the tires will grip the road. One tire or more tires will gain grip and may unintentionally engage the AWD system and over work the either the transfer case or rear diff. I would at the very least try to keep identical tread patter for your spare and make sure its as close to that spare when changing your active tires.

 

[anchorman]

Not wishing to contradict but I absolutely do not agree with that. In real use there is no way that tyres will be kept either matched by brand or matched by tread depth, especially when the car gets into second or third ownership. Owners can’t always afford to do it by the book.

If this is really the case and I doubt it is, Mazda have created the most intolerant drivetrains in the world.

 

[ghmpm]

Keep your wheels balanced, tire pressure in correct range and watch alignment. If you do this you will replace all 4 at one time! Problem solved... Myself I will not switch to a full-size spare. Usually just a steel wheel that looks like sh*t so I would not leave on the ground long in any event... And now in my dotage I have roadside assistance so it is "Hello? Please come change my tire for me". LOL

 

[Snoogie]

Not wishing to contradict but I absolutely do not agree with that. In real use there is no way that tyres will be kept either matched by brand or matched by tread depth, especially when the car gets into second or third ownership. Owners can’t always afford to do it by the book.

If this is really the case and I doubt it is, Mazda have created the most intolerant drivetrains in the world.

True, from what I'm saying is what I discussed this with our Techline Mazda authority geek overlords service people (the people who authorize any warranty work which includes factory tires) and that is their text book never deviate (but we do it because like you said it can't be helped a lot of the time) rule for any problems caused to the drive train due to tires. I repeat we hardly ever follow that rule and just proceed to make the customer happy and either warranty it, get our district rep to authorize it which they usually do, or we just do it and eat the cost just to keep the customer happy and to prevent costly problems in the future which would bite us in the butt.

 

[Levi3xt]

Not wishing to contradict but I absolutely do not agree with that. In real use there is no way that tyres will be kept either matched by brand or matched by tread depth, especially when the car gets into second or third ownership. Owners can’t always afford to do it by the book.

If this is really the case and I doubt it is, Mazda have created the most intolerant drivetrains in the world.

Even before I posed the question about "mixing" different brands (and consequently tread patterns) I'd come to the same conclusion that anchorman man has stated. If it doesn't make sense, it's probably isn't.

 

[Toller]

If they denied a warranty because all the tires were well matched in size and type but not brand, they would lose a lawsuit and probably be charged with consumer fraud. It doesn't matter what small type in the warranty booklet said. (BTDT)

Unless they could document the problem was actually CAUSED by the mix, and then they would have even larger problems.