I'm driving the rx around in the snow in 4wd, and it's torque binding like mad. It's safer to leave it in 2wd, because in 4wd it's so squirrelly it's hard to stay in your lane. It's also impossible to shift out of 4wd unless you stop and back up a few feet.

 

Three tires are new, and one is about 50%. Would one tire being worn to this degree cause this much bind?

It would cause a bit of it for sure but how much is hard to say, 50% is a big diff.

are all of your tires the same size?

Yes, they are all the same.

50% wear could theoretically cause enough of a difference to create problems.

In snow, binding should be almost non-existant. Even with miss-matched tires.

 

-Brian

yeah in snow it shouldn't be too bad, but even with one tire at 50% that could throw the car off. I JUST got studded tires put on my white brat after having the front drivers side tire being almost bald, and it made a world of difference. Before I got the new tires, the car seemed like it need an alignment BAD but afterwards, it drives as straight as an arrow. Try that first.

In snow, binding should be almost non-existant. Even with miss-matched tires.

 

-Brian

I agree its like you have a mis matched diff. my loyale drives the same but with more traction and it can power oversteer in the snow. thats the only diffrence i can tell.

The last few days is the first time it's done this. The diffs aren't mismatched.

 

When it's not snow you are running in, and it's just wet, you can hear the gears wind up. Something is under a lot of tension. When you push in the clutch to coast, the car slows like you are pressing the brake.

 

Something will break if I leave it in 4wd.

Then don't, you aren't supposed to use 4WD on anything but slippery rump roast stuff

Yes, it is probably the oddball tyre. These cars are very fickle when it comes to tyres. Tim

Then don't, you aren't supposed to use 4WD on anything but slippery rump roast stuff

I'm just saying it never did it before.

Well, the first rule of troubleshooting is to figure out what has changed most recently that could affect the problem. Though I will say 50% difference does not seem much to my '85 GL; the RX has a different suspension and drivetrain. My best bet would be the odd tire. However, it would be prudent to check the gear oil level, in particular, see that it is in good shape (smells like rotten eggs and not too dark in color) and that it is the right type for the temp outside. It would also be prudent to check the rear diff oil. If in doubt, change both. At the least it won't hurt and it may help. 75w-90 is the correct weight and make sure both are hypoid GL-5 spec. That should resolve any problems. If you are still having trouble, check the suspension for misalignment/damage. The only difference in the drivetrain in 4wd mode vs 2wd is that two gears are not mated in 2wd mode; and are mated in 4wd mode.

Yes, they are all the same.

What I meant to say was "actually, no, they aren't. Also, I'm a jackass".

 

The moral of this story is to make sure your spare is the same size as the other tires before you put it on. The spare has about 50% tread left, but the correct size tire has like 25%. That's why I swapped them in the first place.

 

Also, I have $20 to my name, and I couldn't afford to have that last one replaced before the snow fell.

the previous owner of my brat did that same thing.......he had to park it a week later.when i got it these came out of the tranny when i drained it.bad juju

I drove my loyale with worn out street tires on the front and decent snow tires on the back and never noticed any bind, though you mentioned that you had different size tires on the car.