Tyres with cracks between tread (photo)

ripplyuk

Mine are Rigdon. They weren't very expensive.

I've just been out to have a closer look at the other 3 and they don't have any of this cracking at all. They look perfect but this one looks awful. If it's because due to age or a cheap brand, I would expect all 4 to be wearing out. The difference is dramatic when you compare them.

I did think about buying spare rims but I was put off because I don't know anything about cars and could end up being sold the wrong size or something. Also the garage never charged much for changing them over. Would the rims need to be from the same model?

I'm now beginning to think these winter tyres aren't worth the hassle but it's easy to say when its springtime!

AdrianC

ripplyuk wrote: »

Mine are Rigdon.

Who?

I've just been out to have a closer look at the other 3 and they don't have any of this cracking at all. They look perfect but this one looks awful. If it's because due to age or a cheap brand, I would expect all 4 to be wearing out. The difference is dramatic when you compare them.

OK, that would confirm it as a manufacturing issue with that one tyre, then.

I did think about buying spare rims but I was put off because I don't know anything about cars and could end up being sold the wrong size or something.
Would the rims need to be from the same model?

Not necessarily, but there's several measurements that need to be the same, so it's easiest to get a set from the same model of car. It shouldn't be hard unless it's something really unusual.

ripplyuk

AdrianC wrote: »

Who?

That's what it says . I'm worried now. Are they unheard of?

Could I take this tyre back to the place I bought it or would it have to be the manufacturer?

I'm now thinking I'll have to buy 4 new tyres. These ones were from my old car and they're 175/65. My new cars tyres are 165/70. I did ring Volkswagen and they told me it would be fine. I had planned to wear them out and replace them with the correct size. With just one worn out, I'm not sure what to do.

AdrianC

ripplyuk wrote: »

That's what it says . I'm worried now. Are they unheard of?

Google finds mention of them, but not very much at all. No manufacturer website at all.

Could I take this tyre back to the place I bought it or would it have to be the manufacturer?

Your contract is with the supplier. But your contract with them is really just SOGA - and there's no way that you'd get "four years use" accepted as not being of merchantable quality. Your best bet for getting anywhere would be the importer/manufacturer - but good luck with that one, since they don't appear to own up to existing...

I'm now thinking I'll have to buy 4 new tyres. These ones were from my old car and they're 175/65. My new cars tyres are 165/70.

Same diameter?
That's not a million miles out at all.

ripplyuk

AdrianC wrote: »

Same diameter?
That's not a million miles out at all.

I think the new car has slightly narrower wheels. I know they are very close in size but if I buy the replacement tyre in the correct size, the other three will be different. I know I could just buy another in the old car's size but I'd prefer they were the recommended size for my new car.

I've also just done some brief googling and only found a few forum posts mentioning Rigdon, though mytyres.co.uk seem to sell them. I think I'll order the next tyres myself online and from a known brand rather than let the garage put whatever they want on it.

Iceweasel

Rigdon are/were a German retreading company.

Reifen Ihle GmbH have/had a remould/retread plant in Günzburg on the River Danube (Donau in German) hence RIG DON

They went bankrupt last year.

It's no surprise that there is an odd tyre - they were never a matched set except for size in the beginning.

Lord knows what age, or brand the underlying carcass is- or what treatment it had before it was given a new lease of life.

I believe that Rigdon were taken to court in Germany by Goodyear regarding 'copy-cat' tread patterns - but the court found against Goodyear.

The little hexagon pattern of the tread in the OP's pic is reminiscent of a Continental - but of course Conti have nothing to do with these tyres at all.

I'd flog these on eBay and buy a reputable known brand for next winter.

I don't think that you will have any success complaining to the company that bought them over.

AdrianC

Iceweasel wrote: »

Rigdon are/were a German retreading company.

Aha.

And in that one piece of information, all becomes clear.

Good ol' remoulds!

ripplyuk

So they're remoulds?!! The garage assured me they were brand new as they were well aware I didn't want remoulds. They quoted me a price for both new and remoulds and I chose new. They also told me they were a good make :mad:
It's my fault though for not knowing anything about it.

I'll get rid of them and get some decent ones. Though, reading the link posted above isn't much of a recommendation for continentals. I thought they were a reliable brand!

GolfBravo

Rigdon, according to their website (rigdon.de), are still/again trading.

They definitely sell remoulds only. They use old tyre carcasses and replace the tread and outer sidewall rubber ("bead to bead").

The production week on the sidewall indicates only the actual remould date, they can remould old tyres up to 7 years old.

No idea how they decide the speed and load ratings, but by law they should be no higher than the original tyre.

By law (ECE E108R) it should say RETREAD on the sidewall.

So on the OP's tyre it should say: tyre size, load rating, speed rating, TUBELESS, M+S, 4610, RETREAD

Iceweasel

Yup - the factory is back in production, with new management.

Only 2 weeks ago it seems.

I'm happy for the workers who were laid off and now have their jobs back.

http://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/guenzburg/Reifen-Ihle-Mitarbeiter-koennen-jetzt-in-Frieden-Weihnachten-feiern-id32348327.html

There is a human side to every problem.