What can mismatched or incorrect sized tires cause?

Mismatched or incorrectly sized tires can lead to premature tire wear or tire failure primarily because they can create an unbalanced driving experience for the vehicle. When tires do not match in size or type, it affects the overall handling, alignment, and distribution of forces across the tires during operation.

When driving, each tire is designed to perform under specific conditions and with a certain amount of load. Mismatches can result in uneven wear patterns, as some tires may be subjected to greater stress than others. This uneven wear can lead to a decrease in tire life, causing them to fail before their expected mileage is reached. Moreover, a failure of one tire can lead to catastrophic loss of control for the vehicle, particularly in a heavy commercial vehicle with hazardous materials.

Improved traction, reduced fuel efficiency, and enhanced stability are not typically associated with mismatched tires; rather, they can adversely affect these characteristics. For example, improper tire size or mismatching could lead to reduced traction and stability, while also potentially negatively impacting fuel efficiency due to increased rolling resistance and instability on the road.