Have you ever thought about replacing only one side of your car tires? At first glance, it may seem trivial and cost-effective. But in fact, this method can cause many risks that make driving uncomfortable and can even endanger your safety.

Ideally, tires should be replaced in pairs or all four at once. If only one side is replaced, the car can lose its balance. To better understand this, let's break down the risks involved in replacing only one tire.

Risks of Replacing Only One Tire

1. The Car Becomes Unstable

Old and new tires have different levels of wear. The result? The car feels wobbly and its response to the road becomes unbalanced. This is extremely dangerous when driving on rough roads.

2. Different Grip, Difficult Control

New tires usually have stronger grip. Meanwhile, old tires have decreased performance. As a result, the car is more difficult to control, especially on slippery roads or sharp turns.

3. Suspension Damage

Tire imbalance often causes misalignment. If left unchecked, it can spread to other suspension components.

4. Unsafe Suspension

The suspension will be pulled unevenly due to the difference in tire load. Shock absorbers, ball joints, and other components can quickly become damaged.

5. Vibrations and Noise

Ever felt the steering wheel vibrate even though the tires are still fine? This could be the effect of replacing only one tire. Driving becomes completely uncomfortable.

6. Aquaplaning Becomes More Likely

Worn tires lose contact with the road more quickly when it rains. If the other tire is still new, this imbalance can cause aquaplaning.

7. Uneven Traction

The right and left tires pull differently, causing the car to veer to one side. As a result, braking is also not optimal.

8. Higher Fuel Consumption

Due to increased rolling resistance caused by tire imbalance, fuel consumption automatically increases. Your wallet will suffer.

Why Do Tires Wear Out on One Side?

This problem is often triggered by several things, including:

• Suspension problems – damaged shock absorbers or ball joints cause tires to wear out on one side.
• Incorrect tire pressure – too high causes the center to wear out quickly, too low causes the edges to wear out.
• Never rotating tires – causes uneven wear.
• Rough driving style – sudden braking or sharp turns cause tires to wear out quickly.
• Poor road conditions – bumpy or damaged roads cause tires to work extra hard.

Safety Tips When Replacing Car Tires

When it's time to replace your tires, don't just do it randomly. Here are some tips to stay safe:

1. Replace tires in pairs – start with the front tires first, as they bear more braking weight.
2. If possible, replace all four at once – this will maintain performance and balance.
3. Don’t forget balancing and alignment – this is crucial for keeping tires even and durable.
4. Avoid mixing different tire brands – each brand has unique characteristics, and mixing them can affect stability.

Conclusion

Replacing only one side of the tires may seem like a cost-saving measure, but the risks involved are greater and can lead to higher repair costs. So, if you care about your car and your safety, choose the safer option: replace at least a pair of tires, or if possible, all four at once.

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Risiko Ganti Ban Mobil Hanya Sebelah

Pernah kepikiran ganti ban mobil cuma sebelah saja? Sekilas mungkin keliatan sepele dan bisa bikin lebih hemat. Tapi faktanya, cara ini justru bisa menimbulkan banyak risiko yang bikin pengalaman nyetir nggak nyaman, bahkan bisa membahayakan keselamatan.

Idealnya, ban diganti sepasang atau langsung empat-empatnya. Karena kalau cuma satu sisi, mobil bisa kehilangan keseimbangan. Nah, biar makin paham, yuk kita bedah apa saja risiko yang ngintai kalau ganti ban cuma sebelah.

Risiko Ganti Ban Sebelah Saja

1. Mobil Jadi Nggak Stabil

Ban lama dan ban baru punya tingkat aus yang beda. Hasilnya? Mobil terasa goyang dan respon ke jalanan jadi nggak seimbang. Bahaya banget kalau harus lewat jalan rusak.

2. Grip Beda, Kontrol Jadi Susah

Ban baru biasanya punya daya cengkeram lebih kuat. Sementara ban lama sudah menurun performanya. Akibatnya, mobil lebih sulit dikendalikan, terutama di jalan licin atau tikungan tajam.

3. Kaki-kaki Ikutan Rusak

Ketidakseimbangan ban sering bikin spooring jadi kacau. Kalau dibiarkan, bisa merembet ke komponen kaki-kaki lain.

4. Suspensi Nggak Aman

Suspensi bakal ketarik nggak rata karena beban ban beda. Shockbreaker, ball joint, sampai komponen lain bisa cepat rusak.

5. Muncul Getaran & Suara Bising

Pernah ngerasain setir bergetar padahal ban masih oke? Bisa jadi itu efek ganti ban sebelah aja. Nyetir jadi nggak nyaman sama sekali.

6. Aquaplaning Makin Gampang Terjadi

Ban yang aus lebih cepat kehilangan kontak dengan jalan saat hujan. Kalau sebelahnya masih baru, ketidakseimbangan ini bisa memicu aquaplaning.

7. Traksi Nggak Merata

Ban kanan dan kiri nariknya beda, bikin mobil cenderung belok ke satu sisi. Efeknya, pengereman juga jadi nggak maksimal.

8. BBM Lebih Boros

Karena rolling resistance meningkat akibat ketidakseimbangan ban, konsumsi bahan bakar otomatis naik. Dompet pun jadi korban.

Kenapa Ban Bisa Habis Sebelah?

Masalah ini sering dipicu oleh beberapa hal, antara lain:

• Suspensi bermasalah – shockbreaker atau ball joint rusak bikin ban aus sebelah.
• Tekanan angin nggak pas – terlalu tinggi bikin bagian tengah cepat habis, terlalu rendah bikin pinggiran aus.
• Nggak pernah rotasi ban – bikin ausnya nggak merata.
• Gaya nyetir kasar – suka ngerem mendadak atau belok tajam bikin ban cepat termakan.
• Kondisi jalan jelek – jalan bergelombang atau rusak bikin ban kerja ekstra keras.

Tips Aman Saat Ganti Ban Mobil

Kalau sudah waktunya ganti ban, jangan asal. Ini beberapa tips biar aman:

1. Ganti ban sepasang – minimal bagian depan dulu, karena beban rem lebih besar di sana.
2. Kalau bisa, langsung empat sekaligus – biar performa dan keseimbangan lebih terjaga.
3. Jangan lupa balancing & spooring – penting banget buat menjaga ban biar rata dan awet.
4. Hindari pakai ban beda merek – tiap brand punya karakteristik beda, bisa ganggu stabilitas kalau dicampur.

Kesimpulan

Ganti ban mobil sebelah aja memang kelihatannya bisa ngirit, tapi risiko yang ditimbulkan justru lebih banyak dan bikin biaya perbaikan membengkak. Jadi, kalau sayang mobil dan sayang nyawa, mending pilih aman: ganti ban minimal sepasang, atau kalau mampu, langsung empat sekaligus.