Tyre Advice Please

WTFH

Rather than taking advice from a bunch of keyboard warriors on a website or just phoning a garage, take the car to be looked at. Your description might not be as accurate as a trained professional.

Also, someone on here who says they change a tyre after the slightest damage probably don't include hitting kerbs as damage or turning the steering wheel when the vehicle is stationary.

jase1

portly1 wrote: »

And if the tyre on the opposite side is below 3mm I change that as well. Times I have seen a new tyre on one side and a nearly bald one on the other.

Should really be changing tyres in pairs as a matter of course, unless the opposite tyre is nearly new -- and if you must have mismatched tyres on an axle, best on the back where the differential in grip is less of a problem than it would be at the front (on a FWD car).

Jamie_Carter

PJB wrote: »

Thanks for that.

Sorry I should have been clearer, firstly I have removed the offending blade and driven the car but only on local roads and it has been fine, secondly it was about 5mm into the tread and I think 1-2mm into the tyre itself.

I just called a local garage of good reputation and the guy said if it hasn't deflated and there is no sign of bulging he would carry on as usual as there is about 10mm of tyre inside the thread itself. Also wiogs he said that motorway driving puts less pressure on the tyre so if it was going to go it would most likely go driving locally as the pressures are higher as you are stop/start and turning.

If the tyre is nearly new, then the tread will be more than 4-5mm. So if the blade has only gone in 4-5mm then it hasn't even gone as deep as the tread, and should be perfectly safe.

If the blade has gone into the body of the tyre by 1-2mm, then you are underestimating the total depth that the blade has gone into the tyre, so it seems like there is some confusion.

So before you drive the car again, check the depth of the cut as described by Joe Horner. Then if the cut isn't down to the steel/canvas, drive it to a tyre depot tomorrow, and get it checked out properly.

Nobody can give proper advice over a forum, especially when the information given by yourself doesn't add up.

GAZ237

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Funny that, as an ex aero engineer myself, I was always taught don't throw away servicable parts!

As an ex Aerospace engineer. You should know, if in doubt replace, regardless.

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Nobody can give proper advice over a forum, especially when the information given by yourself doesn't add up.

Well there's a first. I agree with Officer Carter.

Or should I say, he has just repeated what I said.

By all means use this forum to ask advice about your car. If the outcome can only be you breaking down at worst. But when the outcome is, its likely you will lose control of your vehicle, then seek professional advice.

Driving a car is not a game.

Joe_Horner

GAZ237 wrote: »

As an ex Aerospace engineer. You should know, if in doubt replace, regardless.

But in this case, if the criteria I gave are met (no bulge and no exposed plies if the cut is opened) then there isn't any doubt - the tyre is servicable. It may be servicable even if those conditions aren't met, but in that case there's doubt so (as I said in a previous post) he should get it replaced.

In fact, if the damage isn't enough to have compromised the plies then there's more doubt with a brand new tyre. The chances are very low, but you can never be 100% certain that a new tyre doesn't have a manufacturing fault leading to a blow-out at speed. Seeing as this tyre's already been in use we know with 100% certainty that it was made correctly.

PJB

Thanks Joe et al.

I took it into a tyre (and exhaust admittedly) specialist today that has been around for over 60 years. He said as Joe has said that it is fine, although it has gone past the tyre tread as such, the cut has not got anywhere near the structure (cords) which gives the tyre the strength and hold, the tread gives grip and hold and in effect it has just added another groove.

To the scaremongers, you know who you are, I cam and sought advice as wanted someone who knew exactly what they what were talking about to advise me and I was always going to physically get it inspected. To start the guilt thing was pathetic, if you all value your safety so much you would not drive anyway and especially nit now you know I'm on the road!

salubrious

If the bade has hit the cords (no one seems to know for sure) then I would advise replacing it, other than that it should be fine.

portly1

GAZ237 wrote: »

Good to have someone else with sense.

Depending on what he drives. The tyre may even only be around £50.

But as you say it should make no odds what the price is and the fact the OP said this is a money saving forum, to try and justify themselves is disgraceful.

Always been taught by Father and Grandad, who are both Mechanical Engineers. Don't ever scrimp or take a chance on tyres.

Absolutely, the little bit of rubber that actually touches the road is all there is between a fatal accident happening and getting to your destination safely.

portly1

Joe_Horner wrote: »

The problem with that is that your tyres will be damaged every single time you drive on them, it's an unavoidable fact of rolling a piece of rubber in contact with tarmac and gravel. So you should be replacing them again as soon as you leave the tyre fitter, which must get expensive!

I suspect what you mean is "any damage above a certain level, below which I don't consider it damage" which is fine, but means you'll be spending a lot more, and doing a lot more harm to the environment (tyres aren't easy to recycle), than you need to.

Again, that's absolutely fine as it's your wallet / your choice. But expecting others to follow that lead based on a misguided idea of what is or isn't safe isn't fine.

From the description the OP gave, if there's no bulging and if there's no sign of the cords being exposed when the cut's opened then the tyre is just as safe as before it happened because the outer casing plays no part at all in its strength or integrity.

Each to their own I suppose - I just hope that we don't meet each other on a road with that attitude.

PJB

GAZ237 wrote: »

...........The tyre may even only be around £50...........

portly1 wrote: »

Absolutely, the little bit of rubber that actually touches the road is all there is between a fatal accident happening and getting to your destination safely.

So you both rave on about safety and then advocate buying a budget tyre for £50, the word hypocrite comes to mind!