bimmerdriver
12-03-2005, 11:05 PM
I took off my T1-S tires for winter. (It snowed this week.)
I knew the fronts were pretty much worn out, but when I got them off, I noticed there was an area on the inside edge of the tread where the tire was badly and abnormally worn. Around approximately 1/2 of the circumference, the inner edge of the tread was cupped instead of rounded. In the middle of that area where the cupping is the worst, there is about a 2" section where the edge of the belt is exposed.
I took a some of pictures which are attached. (Sorry, not very good photos.) The first picture is the damaged tread area from overhead. The second picture is the damaged tread area from the side. You can see how the edge of the tread is cupped. The third picture is the inside edge of the tread, but from half way around the tire. It isn't cupped. It's worn exactly like the inside of the tread from the tire on the other side of the car.
The car was aligned by a very good mechanic with a high quality alignment rack. It doesn't pull at all so I'm not suspecting the alignment. If the tire was worn all the way around, I might think otherwise.
I showed the tire to a Toyo dealer who said it looks like the belt has separated. He had no idea what caused it. Anyone seen this or know why it happens? Is this just a tire defect?
I knew the fronts were pretty much worn out, but when I got them off, I noticed there was an area on the inside edge of the tread where the tire was badly and abnormally worn. Around approximately 1/2 of the circumference, the inner edge of the tread was cupped instead of rounded. In the middle of that area where the cupping is the worst, there is about a 2" section where the edge of the belt is exposed.
I took a some of pictures which are attached. (Sorry, not very good photos.) The first picture is the damaged tread area from overhead. The second picture is the damaged tread area from the side. You can see how the edge of the tread is cupped. The third picture is the inside edge of the tread, but from half way around the tire. It isn't cupped. It's worn exactly like the inside of the tread from the tire on the other side of the car.
The car was aligned by a very good mechanic with a high quality alignment rack. It doesn't pull at all so I'm not suspecting the alignment. If the tire was worn all the way around, I might think otherwise.
I showed the tire to a Toyo dealer who said it looks like the belt has separated. He had no idea what caused it. Anyone seen this or know why it happens? Is this just a tire defect?