Hi I am considering buying my first freelander when I inspected the car I noted that the tyres are mismatched when driving the car at around 65-70 there was a humming noise from the rear of the car which sounds very like a wheel bearing but I am concerned about the rear diff any advice on this would be extremely welcome
mismatched tyres
- Thread starter weej12
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Shimsteriom
Master Procrastinator
- Posts
- 41,905
- Location
- Over Here
Welcome 
gold rover
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 10,195
- Location
- dùthaich Dhè fèin
Welcome.
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 19,998
- Location
- heathrow
Hi and welcome to the forum
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 9,870
- Location
- Thatcham
Don't buy it, and welcome.
Col
Col
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
- Posts
- 14,376
- Location
- Trapped inside my head @ LZ asylum
Better than it being disconnected - that catches people out.
Welcome to LandyZone
Welcome to LandyZone
Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,639
Welcome to the forum
Miss matched tyres (different make/mode) can be physically different circumferences. If this is true on the one yer looking to buy then it will put the transmission under more stress than normal, if the 4x4 parts are all still fitted. That puts additional stress on the vcu viscous coupling unit. That normally ends in a bad way if it starts to stiffen up too much too often. Ird or/and rear diff can then fail. Ird is intermediate reduction drive. Its a fixed ratio transfer box that splits power to the front wheels and rear prop.
Eye would find out if the vcu and prop shafts are fitted. If not then its running mondo mode: front wheel drive only. Miss matched tires isn't a problem on freelanders running 2 wheel drive but don't feel right driving on road in my opinion.
Eye would steer clear of a freelander running mismatched tires unless the seller drops the price to replace them... And theres no problems with the transmission.
Miss matched tyres (different make/mode) can be physically different circumferences. If this is true on the one yer looking to buy then it will put the transmission under more stress than normal, if the 4x4 parts are all still fitted. That puts additional stress on the vcu viscous coupling unit. That normally ends in a bad way if it starts to stiffen up too much too often. Ird or/and rear diff can then fail. Ird is intermediate reduction drive. Its a fixed ratio transfer box that splits power to the front wheels and rear prop.
Eye would find out if the vcu and prop shafts are fitted. If not then its running mondo mode: front wheel drive only. Miss matched tires isn't a problem on freelanders running 2 wheel drive but don't feel right driving on road in my opinion.
Eye would steer clear of a freelander running mismatched tires unless the seller drops the price to replace them... And theres no problems with the transmission.
Last edited:
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
- Posts
- 14,376
- Location
- Trapped inside my head @ LZ asylum
He did it on purpose. To stay under the radarIf yer put a space between the @ sign and the user name, the tag won't work.
@Hippo will work
@ hippo won't work
Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,639
Me hellfire missile controller could still get lock on him.He did it on purpose. To stay under the radar
if he reduces the price and I fit new tyres and a recon diff would this solve any future problems or do you think I should just walk awayWelcome to the forum
Miss matched tyres (different make/mode) can be physically different circumferences. If this is true on the one yer looking to buy then it will put the transmission under more stress than normal, if the 4x4 parts are all still fitted. That puts additional stress on the vcu viscous coupling unit. That normally ends in a bad way if it starts to stiffen up too much too often. Ird or/and rear diff can then fail. Ird is intermediate reduction drive. Its a fixed ratio transfer box that splits power to the front wheels and rear prop.
Eye would find out if the vcu and prop shafts are fitted. If not then its running mondo mode: front wheel drive only. Miss matched tires isn't a problem on freelanders running 2 wheel drive but don't feel right driving on road in my opinion.
Eye would steer clear of a freelander running mismatched tires unless the seller drops the price to replace them... And theres no problems with the transmission.
Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,639
If it were me I would want to test drive it. Check it's in 4s4 with the vcu and prop shafts fitted. Test the vcu anorl with the OWUT one wheel up test. If everything was ok then i would want the price dropped due to the tires. There's always a risk in buying but just plan for a reconditioned vcu if it's got a lot of resistance because the timings are high. Other than that, only change items like the ird or rear diff if and when they fail. A lot of peeps would tell you to walk away from it but if everything is working and theres no damage then it may be ok. The mismatched tire issue isn't a definitive fail fault. It depends how much they're mismatched and for how many miles. Plenty of Freelanders around for sale. Move to another if yer not sure. Or look towards a Freelander 2 if yer budget will go a bit higher.
If the vcu and props are missing then it's been converted to front wheel drive only. This can be a sign of problems if you want to put it back to 4x4 as owners take the vcu and props oft as a cheap fix when there is an eggspensive fault they don't want to repair. Normally the ird failing.
Last edited:
hi this is a freelander 2 I am talking about does that change things regarding mismatched tyres
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
- Posts
- 14,376
- Location
- Trapped inside my head @ LZ asylum
No.
A very wise GoldRover once told me - trust your gut If it doesn’t feel right for you walk away - there’s plenty others out there!
If you absolutely fall in love with it regardless then plan any likely costs into your budget.
A very wise GoldRover once told me - trust your gut
If it doesn’t feel right for you walk away - there’s plenty others out there!If you absolutely fall in love with it regardless then plan any likely costs into your budget.
Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,639
Ah, when peeps talk of buying a Freelander we assume it's a Freelander 1 as the original Freelander was named/badged as Freelander and only naturally became a Freelander 1 when the Freelander 2 came out. The Freelander 2 was always branded as just that, Freelander 2.
Mismatched tires on the Freelander 2 is not ideal, but not the end of the world. The haldex can take out the difference of front/rear rolling ratio if it's not too great. That's assuming it's a 4x4 capable Freelander 2 as opposed to the eD4 version which is 2 wheel front wheel drive only.
In theory is it best to put the tires with the deepest tread on the rear of both the Freelander 1 and 2. I would not run my FL2 with mismatched tires. It's advised to replace them in axle pairs if you can't fit 4 news ones. Depending on what tires it has, if they're rated as the same size it's not such a big problem on the FL2 but could be used to lower the price if you choose to push to change some of the tires so it's running 4 the same.
Last edited:
Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,639
Check the mot history
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
Ask for receipts and proof of service history
https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history
Ask for receipts and proof of service history
