I have to disagree.....that looks like a classic tire cut down by either debris or hitting the spring perch while under compression. Look at the tire closely and it looks like the tread is even gouged out a bit prior to and after the actual cut.
I say separation where the tread band is vulcanized to the base carcass. It was most likely caused by an air pocket during manufacturing. My $.02
The tire will not hit the spring perch at all under compression. that relationship does not change, regardless of what may be going on. Besides, if it did, there is nothing in the tirewell that would cause that damage. Personally, I've run MUCH larger tires in every dimension and never had an issue like the above. IMO he would have had to run over a very large razor blade for the sort of damage. Even then, it would have went though steel belts in the process. The amount of force it would have taken for debris to cause that, would have been very clear to the OP what caused a flat tire, rather then there being a question mark. IMO tire defect.
It is not a defect....just look at the damage done. It obviously hit or ran over something. It could have been done at a slow speed, like a something in a parking lot. But you are right about the spring perch.
Well I can tell you that I didn't hit anything that I knew of. I left my driveway in the morning drove 1/8 mile got on parkway ramp onto parkway, car started to pull left about a 1/4 mile down the road low tire pressure light came on and I got off at next exit, so I did have to drive slowly on it for about another 1/4 miles.
Scott you see damage that I don't. I see rubber and belting hanging from the separation But maybe 30+ years dealing with these types of issues has finally made me stupid.
Hey we are both looking at this from a picture, so all opinions are valid. But I see obvious damage to the rubber both before and after the area where the cord is showing. This would not be the case if the tread was separating. It would look like a split in the rubber, but this looks like a gouge. But again as we both have not seen the actual damage it is all conjecture at this point. Mr Jim.....Do you know if you have any kind of road hazard warranty from the tire dealer?
Scott, I'm just too easy! BTW, if you look closely at the photo the inside of the wheel has a pothole mark at the lip, at the same reference point of the begining of the separation (and Scott's gouge) too. I'm close to being convinced that it is road damage, but I would have already adjusted it as a warranty claim. :biggrin5: Sorry Jim
The plot thickens.... Pothole cause bead to separate briefly cause loss of air. Driving on low pressure tire causes tread separation. Plausible theory?
....or, pothole rim to wheel rim causes immediate pinch of low aspect ratio sidewall releasing tread band at carcass joint :shocked:
No RHW I'm afraid. That mark is not a pothole mark either, if anything it's just a scratch when taking them on and off to clean, lol. I just think whatever happened, once the tire went flat driving on it even at low speed f'd it up more. Just received the replacements from the rack, I'll keep the one for a spare.
Just a couple of points: It takes a considerable amount of force to un-bead a tire. If the there were enough force to un-bead (even un-inflated) there would be MUCH more damage to the wheel then just a slight paint scrape. The metal would be gouged at the very least, but would most likely be bent. IMO The fact there is no damage to the wheel, and all damage is singled to the tire, makes me believe tire defect. Believe it or not, the wheel is the weaker of the two, and much more susceptible to damage. FYI the tire i posted was driven on for 20miles completely flat. Also, i've shown the photo to my father (ASE master tech) and a couple buddies who are tire sales guys. They all agree it is tire defect. So, Jim, i would get with TR and they will likely work w/ some sort of reimbursement for one of the tires you bought. EDIT: I actually have an one going convo concerning this on FB involving a few individuals (outside of my local contacts) that have a lot of experience w/ tires. They all seem to think; tire defect as well.
I don't see anything posted about the tire coming off of the bead...... I have had the sidewall of a tire get cut kinda like that after getting to close to a concrete form stake while turning. Wasn't as long, but it did similar damage
Post #30, un-beading was mentioned. And, if it were shorter, i could maybe see that. But that is A LOT of damage in a very long and specific area.
I was referring to Mr Jim mentioning something about coming off bead. Guess we will have to wait and see what the shop says.