Can anyone tell me what happened to this tire?

rick-l · 10-31-2009, 09:42 AM

MT930 · 10-31-2009, 09:49 AM

Looks like retread cap separation on a truck tire.

Hopefully a rear tire!

stomachmonkey · 10-31-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MT930

Looks like retread cap separation on a truck tire.

Yup

Laneco · 10-31-2009, 09:59 AM

It is a little hard to tell from the picture, but I believe what I see there is actually a failure of the tread to sidewall ply. As if the tire were run with a significant alignment issue and wore the edge severely, or were run nearly flat.

I'm going with ply failure (for one of the two above reasons) as it looks like the edges of the opening have torn polyester ply(s) visible.

If it is a recap, it's more than just tread seperation. It's an actual failure of the original tire carcass. Meaning not only is it bad, it is not suitable for another recap either. It's a "shredder" tire.

Obviously replace this one, check the dates on the other tires as well. Dates older than 5 years become suspect pretty fast. Look for the four digit code on the sidewall. The first two digits are the week of manufacture, the second two are the year of manufacture. If I recall correctly, this marking was mandatory after 2000 and some makers did it voluntarily prior to that date.

angela

fingpilot · 10-31-2009, 10:00 AM

I see the words Radial T/A, isn't that the group of tires that had a recall for just that type of failure a bunch of years ago?

m21sniper · 10-31-2009, 10:03 AM

Looks like a re-tread.

rick-l · 10-31-2009, 10:32 AM

It is not a retread it is a 14" wheel on an Subaru Imprezza. The car is 600 miles away so all I have seen is the picture also.

How low an inflation would cause this? The tire did have a nail in it, that is why it was brought in?

Do you think a road hazard warranty would cover this? It is on an AWD drive car so I am also looking for the different circumference specs for Subaru.

masraum · 10-31-2009, 10:45 AM

sort of looks like it was run flat/underinflated and driven on.

sammyg2 · 10-31-2009, 11:28 AM

BF goodrich radial T/A tire, not much chance of getting one of those re-treaded.
I say either too much toe in causing it to scrub around the edge, or the fender edge cut into it. Severe under inflation might do it too.
I assume that's a front tire, right? Howz the other front?

notfarnow · 10-31-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I say either too much toe in causing it to scrub around the edge, or the fender edge cut into it.

+1

My guess is something cut into it. I wonder if there's tire "dust" all around the inner fender. I had a the front muffler changed on a Renault, and they had the pipe clamp turned to the bolt end was pointed towards the tire. Worked fine for ages until I went to pull a REALLY sharp u-turn and the clamp cut into the tire.

masraum · 10-31-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfarnow

+1

My guess is something cut into it. I wonder if there's tire "dust" all around the inner fender. I had a the front muffler changed on a Renault, and they had the pipe clamp turned to the bolt end was pointed towards the tire. Worked fine for ages until I went to pull a REALLY sharp u-turn and the clamp cut into the tire.

Yeah, a cut from rubbing. Running on an severely underinflated tire can cause similar symptoms including a groove worn in the sidewall, but there would be more rubbing on the sidewall itself. It's hard to say since the visible rubbing in the picture could have been post blow out.

What's the other side of the tire look like?

rick-l · 10-31-2009, 12:09 PM

The other tires have tread wear just like the one shown.

I'm leaning toward under inflation but the tire store didn't mention it.

fingpilot · 10-31-2009, 12:23 PM

Rick;

I seem to remember something about the steel belts (if they are steel) getting moisture as the tire rubber cracked with age, and rusting, causing the tread sep like that. How old are they? Maybe some kind of NHTSA search could come up with recall if there was one. You'd need the info from the sidewall. And a good tire guy/shop would gladly do the research knowing he was gonna sell you some new ones.

slakjaw · 10-31-2009, 12:47 PM

it got too hot.

cashflyer · 10-31-2009, 01:21 PM

We are looking at the inside edge, so it is not a fender cut-down.

I would vote for being run severely underinflated, but it does not show any usual sidewall scuffing that is associated with underinflation and wallowing.

It does look like the inside shoulder is worn away on either side of the groove, possibly indicating a severe misalignment problem such as improper toe. Once the wear got down to the cap belting, it could have allowed a belt separation along the seam.

Still, the groove is so long and even that I'm inclined to believe something cut into it. I'm not familiar with an Impreza suspension setup; is it possible it was rubbing on a suspension component? Is it the correct size rim for the car?

scottmandue · 10-31-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laneco

It is a little hard to tell from the picture, but I believe what I see there is actually a failure of the tread to sidewall ply. As if the tire were run with a significant alignment issue and wore the edge severely, or were run nearly flat.

I'm going with ply failure (for one of the two above reasons) as it looks like the edges of the opening have torn polyester ply(s) visible.

If it is a recap, it's more than just tread seperation. It's an actual failure of the original tire carcass. Meaning not only is it bad, it is not suitable for another recap either. It's a "shredder" tire.

Obviously replace this one, check the dates on the other tires as well. Dates older than 5 years become suspect pretty fast. Look for the four digit code on the sidewall. The first two digits are the week of manufacture, the second two are the year of manufacture. If I recall correctly, this marking was mandatory after 2000 and some makers did it voluntarily prior to that date.

angela

I love it when you talk dirty.

rouxroux · 10-31-2009, 02:22 PM

By the scalloping close to the tread, it appears as if this one was run quite a ways underinflated.

MRM · 10-31-2009, 04:00 PM

I agree with sever underinflation. What probably happened was the nail hole caused it to deflate without the driver noticing for a long time, causing the secondary damage shown in the picture.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Something cut it it....likely the suspension settings are at fault.

Laneco · 10-31-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I love it when you talk dirty.

Yeah when chicks talk tires it just puts a little wiggle in your walk now doesn't it!

Oh, and road hazard will cover this when those monkeys from oz fly out of sniper's nether regions (or he moves to california).

angela