Hi, is this anything to be urgently concerned with? It's a small chunk out of the side of a tyre. Unsure if this will result in a slow puncture or blow out?
Better to just Google than ask the armchair experts on here
Tyre sidewall damage
Another common cause of MOT tyre fails is cuts, nicks, bulges and bubbles on the tyre sidewalls. Your sidewalls are vital to driver safety, since they absorb all the pressure that is exerted on your tyres. Any damage to your tyre sidewalls puts you at risk of a blowout, increasing the chances of a serious accident. If your tyres are found to have any sidewall damage, your vehicle will fail its MOT.
I did find it strange the comments above saying it wouldn't fail an MOT.
Even if it's safe, I'd be changing it for peace of mind. One of the cheapest things to replace on a car (edited)
Depends on the brand and tyre size surely, the rear tyres on my car cost a fair few pennies the last time I had them changed.
Its perfectly fine, theres multiple layers of cord and metal wire underneath the rubber, the top layer of cord is in the rubber, so long as the cords aren't showing you'll be fine, as mentioned above it wouldn't even fail an mot (edited)
You don't know how deep that damage is and do you really want to risk getting a blowout or puncture on some cold wet evening etc. for the sake of a few quid.
As long as the treads are not exposed, which from the photograph they aren’t. Then I would say that they are safe. This damage would not be an MOT failure. Therefore safe to drive.
Author
Isn't there a risk of a puncture where the slight chip is?
According to the manual, the lump out of the sidewall would pass an MOT. The cut next to it might not. The MOT tester would/should probe it with an appropriate blunt instrument to determine the depth and whether there was any cord material exposed.
Another poster referred to "multiple layers of cord and metal wire underneath the rubber, the top layer of cord is in the rubber" Truish, but varies between manufacturers and tyre size.
Just because there's no cord visible, it doesn't mean the reinforcing structure, hasn't been compromised. For example, if the damage was done by the sidewall of an underinflated tyre being nipped between the wheel rim and, say, a kerb, then it's possible the steel cord could get kinked, which in turn would lead to separation starting within the rubber that the steel's embedded in. Depending on the damage, you may be able to see or feel an irregularity in the sidewall.
One example of this I saw was on the rear tyre of a car I was behind. A lump was clearly visible. I managed to attract the driver's attention and get him to stop. The lump was bigger than a golf ball.. He said he'd thought there was something wrong but hadn't checked, thanked me, then drove off at speed, with female passenger and kids in the car. Some people are just plain stupid!
OP. The masses have spoken. Live your life and don't worry about the tyre
Author
Thanks everyone. Sorry, I'm a worrier!
Hey nothing wrong with worrying, means you're careful in life. Personally I'd change the tyre just because I'd be worried myself As a few people have mentioned tyres do have quite a few layers and cords, but I'd be paranoid it would blow up or something! End of the day a tyres the only thing keeping you on the road. Maybe pop into your local tyre place and ask them?
Unless it's a misleading image, the amount of tread (not) remaining indicates the tyre is near end of life anyway. Consider replacing.
Author
It passed MOT in Nov with no advisories and the 20p test says there's enough tread
When I saw the thread title, this was my first thought
Your tyre tread looks like its seen better days i would just replace it otherwise put it at the rear
Best / greater grip tyres go on rear. Lesser grip on front. So says all credible tyre & tire shifters.
OP is confident subject tyre is worthy of comparison to 20p, so should be on front - assuming OP insists on swerving around immediate bin without taking out the bin.
You will be alright. No issues.
I would not trust it on a motorway with the tyre temperatures. I had similar damage and was very lucky that it blew on the slip road from the M42 to M4 when I was only doing 40. Not fun changing the tyre in that location but it could have been worse.
I had this kind of damage when I scrapped a kerb and I went on driving for years. No issues at all.
Author
Garage checked it. Said it was fine, no bulges/internal exposed. Not urgent unless it gets/looks different.
28 Comments
sorted byTyre sidewall damage
Another common cause of MOT tyre fails is cuts, nicks, bulges and bubbles on the tyre sidewalls. Your sidewalls are vital to driver safety, since they absorb all the pressure that is exerted on your tyres. Any damage to your tyre sidewalls puts you at risk of a blowout, increasing the chances of a serious accident. If your tyres are found to have any sidewall damage, your vehicle will fail its MOT.
Another poster referred to "multiple layers of cord and metal wire underneath the rubber, the top layer of cord is in the rubber"
Truish, but varies between manufacturers and tyre size.
Just because there's no cord visible, it doesn't mean the reinforcing structure, hasn't been compromised.
For example, if the damage was done by the sidewall of an underinflated tyre being nipped between the wheel rim and, say, a kerb, then it's possible the steel cord could get kinked, which in turn would lead to separation starting within the rubber that the steel's embedded in. Depending on the damage, you may be able to see or feel an irregularity in the sidewall.
One example of this I saw was on the rear tyre of a car I was behind. A lump was clearly visible. I managed to attract the driver's attention and get him to stop. The lump was bigger than a golf ball.. He said he'd thought there was something wrong but hadn't checked, thanked me, then drove off at speed, with female passenger and kids in the car.
Some people are just plain stupid!
Personally I'd change the tyre just because I'd be worried myself
As a few people have mentioned tyres do have quite a few layers and cords, but I'd be paranoid it would blow up or something! End of the day a tyres the only thing keeping you on the road.
Maybe pop into your local tyre place and ask them?
Consider replacing.
Mrs Doubtfire
Lesser grip on front.
So says all credible tyre & tire shifters.
OP is confident subject tyre is worthy of comparison to 20p, so should be on front - assuming OP insists on swerving around immediate bin without taking out the bin.