Not that I'm about to do this BUT...

Would there be any advantage to putting two completely different types of tires on the front two wheels vs the rear two wheels. For example, mud terrains on one axle, and something that can handle packed ice/snow on the other axle.

Would this create harmful strain on the 4wd system? It just seems like an interesting idea...

 

As long as they are the same size on the same axle you wont hurt anything. The only reason know of doing this is if you have 2 wheel drive and don't want to buy 4 mud tires. I think it looks silly but I have seen it. As for one set for snow and one for mud. I live in an area that sees snow but not enough that I would get snow tires. The MT's I've had always have done fine for me, so I can't help with that.

 

We drive in the snow all winter long and use mud terrain tires. Not real sure why the thought would cross your mind.

 

I drive on mt's year round, see a fair about of snow and never have any trouble

 

I would think if you were in 4x4 it might cause you transfer case issues down the road because the tires would not be spinning the exact same. One would be causing extra stress. If you were in sloppy wet mud it would prob. not bother it much. That would look kinda funny especially if one was a 35 inch and the other a 31!

 

Both front and back tires need to be same size . If not your t case will be destroyed. I have seen same size tires run different heights once on rim.

 

I used to do alot of "muddin" and we used super swampers in the front for steering, and super swamper boggers in the rear for the extra grip. Never had problems, but like everyone said, they need to be the same size