2000 996 Carrera 2 6 speed: replacement of damaged tire

[Philip54]

Today I had a rear tire flat and the tire cannot be fixed.

The tire catalog says that the tread depth can differ no more than 2/32 from tire to tire otherwise transmission damage can result. I have not yet measured the other rear tire tread, but after 17,000 miles, I expect the wear to be more than 2/32.

Will changing one tire only result for sure in damage to the differential? Is 2/32 the maximum wear difference recommended by Porsche?

Thanks

[Loren]

17,000 miles on 996 rear tires? You must drive with a very light foot ;)

I have never gotten more than 11,000 out of the rears.

I would buy two new rear tires - you got your monies worth IMHO.

[alw911@ashburnva.net]

Good question on the rear diff.

I am by no means an authority on anything cars, but 2/32 is just about the thickness if a quarter. I assume a newer tire will be 2/32 taller or you can say the angle of the drive shafts going into the newer tire side of the diff is not matched to the other side. so what happens when the car is carrying a single passenger?? isn't the geometry of the right and left side no longer aligned/matched?

If anything at all, wouldn't the premature wear be on the cv joints?

I think we need a physicist to figure out the geometry.

[JasonStern]

Don't drive with one worn tire and one new tire. Even if no additional damage or wear happens to the car, the amount of grip the tires will provide is going to differ, causing a potential safety risk, especially in rain/snow/ice. If you cannot afford two new tires, check used tire stores/junk yards/craigslist/ebay for a matching set with the same level of wear, and have them properly balanced when mounted.