Quote:
Originally Posted by HeliAnimal
AWD vehicles need to have tires almost exactly the same tread depth, or the transfer case will be screwed.
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That's not actually the case - in the case of the DSM AWD system, what gets screwed is the centre diff and to a degree, the VC, the transfer case is quite happy in this operational mode. A stock centre diff internals are not designed to be spinning constantly, there are no actual bearings inside, just thrust bearings - little more than coated washers; when the internals get spun for extended periods the result is the thrust bearings get ground away and the hard parts contact the casing and weld themselves in place. If the diff lasts long enough the VC will overheat and the plates can buckle or the fluid will shear itself to death.
This is why TRE and others offer the Torrington bearing upgrade, replacing the thrust bearings with 'real' bearings, so now the internals can spin up until the VC seizes !
Cusco offers a 35:65 centre diff which is engineered for this purpose, one could run any wheel/tyre combination as the diff is specifically designed to operate in this manner.