boaterboy

Many thanks for all of your inputs. I very much appreciated your comments. I calculated the circumferences of my new Michelin 255/65R16 Synchrone tyres and my 'half' worn Michelin 255/65R16 XPCs and found that the new tyres were 0.8% bigger on the circumference. I have also calculated the difference in circumference between my retained XPCs and the two XPCs that I replaced and found that to be 1.6% , i.e. unbeknown to me the difference in tyre circumference back and front was greater prior to my fitting new tyres than after - and I am unaware of experiencing any excessive wear in the transmission judging by transmission noise. On this basis, I think that I will keep the existing situation with regard to buying a further two new tyres. Interestingly, the Driver's Handbook for the vehicle, whilst stating that different tyres sizes should not be fitted makes no reference to all tyres being required to have the same tread depth / degree of wear. Yes, I had heard comment about Freelanders being prone to transmission wear in this situation but also that this is because of the central diff. being a type of viscous 'coupling'?

\Thank you for that speedy response. Yes, all tyres are exactly the same size. I haven't measured the difference in circumference between the front and back tyres, but I will do and get back. If both front tyres have the same circumference, likewise both rear tyres but slightly different from the front ones, then presumably the centre differential spins all the time?

I have recently fitted new tyres to one axle on my 2002 TD5 Discovery leaving the other axle with half worn tyres. All tyres are of the same make and size, although the tread pattern of the new tyres are slightly different to the older ones. I do all my motoring on main roads with no off-roading. My vehicle is not fitted with a differential lock. Will the different circumferences of the front and rear tyres have any adverse effect in any part of the transmission, e.g. increased wear, etc.?