You don't legally have to replace tyres in pairs, but keeping the two tyres on an axle matched matters for safe, balanced handling. And when you do fit just two new tyres, there's a clear safety reason they generally go on the rear. Here's the rule, simply explained, so you balance cost against safety the right way.
The short answer
It's fine to replace a single damaged tyre if the others have plenty of tread, see one tyre or all four. But if you're replacing two, do them as an axle pair, both fronts or both rears, so grip is even side-to-side. What you want to avoid is two very different tyres on the same axle, which makes the car behave unevenly.
Why axle pairs matter
The two tyres on an axle share the work of braking, cornering and gripping. If one is fresh and grippy and the other is worn, the axle grips unevenly, which can make the car pull or feel unpredictable under braking, especially in the wet, see wet-weather grip. Matching them keeps the handling balanced and predictable, which is the whole point.
Why new tyres go on the rear
When you fit two new tyres, the standard safety advice is to put them on the rear axle, even on a front-wheel-drive car. The reason is stability: better grip at the rear keeps the back of the car planted, so it's far less likely to slide round (oversteer) in a wet corner or an emergency stop. A car that understeers gently at the front is much easier to control than one that snaps at the rear.
When a single tyre is fine
If only one tyre is damaged and its axle partner still has plenty of even tread, replacing the single tyre is perfectly fine, as long as the new one matches the size and ratings. The pair rule is about not mixing very different tyres on an axle, not about always buying two. All-wheel-drive cars are a separate case and may need all four.
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