Is this really as bad as it looks.. :(

[gareth.e]

Had a confrontation with the curb while it was snowing.. pulled over to drop someone off and hit an invisible half height curb..

Only just been inspecting the car since the mot is up in a week and this looks like a potentially dangerous? fail..







replace both tires? Neither or just the culprit.. still plenty of tread in both of them

[Soovy]

You'd drive on that?

Nutter!

[gareth.e]

Soovy said:

You'd drive on that?

Nutter!

only spotted this morning

[edo]

I'd be replacing that tyre at my earliest opportunity.

[DLovett]

Yes, it is.

[Kentish]

That's only a nick in the outer rubber by the look of it.

If there's no bulge and no steel braiding showing then it should be safe enough to keep on the rear or as a spare.

If in doubt though, have it changed.

[Farmboy UK]

My Sister took a similar chunk out of the sidewall on my Dad's focus. Took it to a tyre fitters and they said it was fine. By the next day I was so uncomfortable driving it I made my Dad change the tyre anyway.

So, as always it's up to you but I advise you at least get it looked at.

[kambites]

It's quite hard to tell how deep it is from the pictures, but I probably wouldn't drive further than the nearest tyre fitter on that. It'll probably manage to get that far, though.

Whether you replace both tyres on that axle will depend on how paranoid you are, I suppose. There's no legal requirement to, but it does make the handling more predictable on standing water.

[jagracer]

If it's not down to the wire or canvas that isn't an MOT fail.

[gareth.e]

the inevitable confirmation

btw not sure how long its been like that, but a fast moving blow out is quite a riveting thought

I'll get it checked out

[Accelebrate]

gareth.e said:

Had a confrontation with the curb while it was snowing.

gareth.e said:

btw not sure how long its been like that

Presumably since you drove into a kerb when it was snowing. Unless it has appeared/increased in size since in which case it definitely needs replacing.

Did you not inspect your car after you knew you'd driven into something?

[gareth.e]

Accelebrate said:

Presumably since you drove into a kerb when it was snowing. Unless it has appeared/increased in size since in which case it definitely needs replacing.

Did you not inspect your car after you knew you'd driven into something?

Thats the thing, I did inspect it and didnt notice although the weather could have easily been reducing its visibility as it was still snowing and starting to get dark.. That or the fact I was fixated on the massive gash to my pristine alloys

[Petrolhead_Rich]

£60 for a new tyre or risk of this:



your choice, but I'd rather replace the tyre, maybe as suggested keeping it as a spare, it would be better than a flat, but I wouldn't drive on that!

[Baryonyx]

A rip in the sidewall of the tyre, £60 endorsable ticket there. It's a danger, and could well lead to a blowout. I'd advise taking the appropriate action to get the tyre changed immediately and avoid driving on that one.

[KaraK]

It looks like it's the rim protector thats damaged from what I can see. Although there might be, damage further into the actual structural bits of the sidewall. Personally I wouldn't be mucking around I'd just get it changed.

[WeirdNeville]

Baryonyx said:

A rip in the sidewall of the tyre, £60 endorsable ticket there. It's a danger, and could well lead to a blowout. I'd advise taking the appropriate action to get the tyre changed immediately and avoid driving on that one.

Only if the cord or ply is exposed.

Personally, I think that's safe. IF you pull it right back, can you see any cords/nylon threads? Any noticable bulge? Is the rim itself dented or just ground down a bit. If the answer is no, then I'd be happy to leave it. I wouldn't track it, and I wouldn't do hihg speeds on it (ie. exceed greatly the national speed limit)

The rubber on the sidewall is there to protect the actual structure of the tyre - that is the cords and the steel radial belts. It adds no strength and does nothing to hold air in. So long as that whole layer is not compromised, the tyre has not been weakened and It should last a while yet.

[Frik]

It doesn't look that bad from here. However, if you're in any doubt, change it.

[The Nur]

When exactly do you think this happened? Does anybody else drive the car other than you?

[gareth.e]

for the record no cords, nylon threads or anything exposed, but there is a reasonable amount of rubber cut back...

[gareth.e]

The Nur said:

When exactly do you think this happened? Does anybody else drive the car other than you?

Nobody but me drives the car, really not sure could have been before xmas around nov/early dec or late jan.. My memory is terrible