There is no other part of a car that requires as much attention as its tyres. On the one hand, hidden manufacturing defects can keep you awake at night, and on the other, tyres are constantly exposed to damaging factors during driving, parking, and storage. It is clear, then, that periodic inspection of their condition is a must-have. Our tyre testing machines come to the rescue, helping detect virtually all the tyre damage listed below.
MANUFACTURING DEFECTS
Slight Sidewall Deformation
Radial tyres (the most common type of tyre on the market) that have just left the factory may have slight deformation on their sidewall where the plies meet. However, there is no need to worry about this, as it is completely normal and it does not affect their performance.
DAMAGE DUE TO NORMAL USE
Tread Wear
According to Polish law, the minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm (other countries have different standards). However, approaching this limit should be avoided, as it indicates very poor traction. Furthermore, tyre manufacturers sometimes provide their own recommended tread depth, and this should be considered a priority when deciding on a replacement. Considering the properties of tyres themselves, the optimal tread depth is at least 3 mm for summer tyres and 4-5 mm for winter tyres. It is worth noting that even exceeding 3.5 mm for winter tyres will result in a noticeable degradation of traction.
Rubber Damage in the Tyre’s Center
Various external factors can alter the properties of the rubber, resulting in bulging, crumbling, or softening. This can manifest itself on the tyre’s sidewall or tread. The most common cause of this degradation is constant contact with various lubricants, fuels, or oils in the area where the tyre is stored or where the car is parked. Leaks in the exhaust, fuel, or brake systems can also be a source of the problem.
Tyre Sidewall and Tread Cracks
Cracks are a fairly common condition, most often occurring on the sidewall of the tyre, and less frequently on the tread. This usually affects old tyres stored near ozone-producing equipment, such as compressors, central vacuums, generators, or furnaces. Exposure to ultraviolet rays and high temperatures, the main source of which is leaving tyres in direct sunlight, are also a contributing factor. While these causes cannot be completely prevented, this symptom also occurs when washing tyres with an overly aggressive cleaning agent. If such damage is shallow and does not cover a large area, it is possible to continue using the tyre, but it is important to regularly check its condition to ensure it has not deteriorated significantly. Alternatively, you can replace your tyres approximately 5 years after their production.
DAMAGE DUE TO IMPROPER USE
Increased tread wear in the center of the tyre
When the center of the tread is worn more severely, it is most often due to overinflated tyres This problem also often occurs when transporting goods, as the vehicle is more heavily loaded when traveling in one direction than when returning. Preventing this from happening, however, requires carefully planning your load along your route and inflating or deflating your tyres as needed. Regardless of the cause, if the wear is excessive, the tyre should be replaced.
Visible tyre shoulder wear
If the tyre shoulders are noticeably worn, but not in the center, the cause is likely a tyre or valve leak, or exceeding the vehicle’s load capacity, resulting in underinflated tyres. If the tyre shoulder wear is not excessive, you can continue using the tyre after it has been repaired or the vehicle’s load has been reduced.
Rubber Tear
The main cause of tyre tearing in the grooves or sipes is improper vehicle use, such as driving too fast on corners after installing winter tyres. Minor damage will not eliminate the tyre from service, and simply reducing the frequency of driving on uneven surfaces will be sufficient.
Bead Overheating
Bead overheating is characterized by the separation of smaller or larger pieces of rubber from the bead. This can occur due to high rim temperatures, poor airflow in the wheel or brake drum, constant braking, mismatched rims, or wheel lockup while driving. Tyres damaged in this way should only be replaced.
Casing Crack
Casing damage, manifesting as a deep crack in the tyre sidewall, can be caused by a severe impact with an object, while overinflating or overloading the tyre increases the likelihood of this occurring. Sometimes, it also occurs as a result of an object (such as a stone) getting caught between the dual tyres. A tyre damaged in this way must be replaced.
Tread Deformation or Separation
Tread damage, sometimes resulting in a puncture or separation, is most often caused by the separation of tread layers caused by driving with an overload or underinflated tyres. Furthermore, the situation can be exacerbated by rusting of the metal components of the tyre due to water ingress through various types of damage. This type of damage completely disqualifies the tyre from use.
Localized Tread Wear
Localized tread wear can often be identified by the worn surface being smoothed at a similar angle, and by visible tears or scuffs around the tyre’s edges. Causes of this wear include heavy braking with locked wheels (when the ABS system is inoperative or absent, or when an object gets caught between the wheel and the wheel arch), a jammed transmission, a faulty brake system or shock absorbers, or excessively loose suspension. This usually eliminates the tyre from further use due to the risk of severe vibration. If this was a one-time incident, replacing the tyre will be sufficient, but otherwise, the brakes should be inspected.
Tyre Sidewall Distortion
When the tyre is scratched or impacted, blisters may appear. This damage results from the cord tearing caused by driving over a pothole or curb. However, sometimes the culprit is a poorly inflated tyre, whose sidewall is more easily compressed when it is caught between the rim and an obstacle. Such a defect is not always easy to notice, especially if it appears on the inside of the tyre. In such cases, the only obvious symptom may be an unusual vibration of the car while driving. In any such case, the tyre should be replaced and the rim inspected to check for damage. This should never be ignored, as such a damaged tyre can explode during travel, potentially causing unexpected loss of vehicle control.
Tread or Sidewall Cut
A tyre cut occurs when the tyre encounters a sharp edge or object. In the case of the tread, this can be repaired by filling the hole if it is not too deep. However, a complete tear in the casing renders the tyre unusable. A similar situation occurs with such a defect on the outer or inner sidewall, as sealing it would reduce the tyre’s resistance to deformation.
Sidewall Abrasion or Scratch
Sidewall abrasions are most often caused by hitting a curb while parking. In most cases, this type of damage is minor and does not pose a threat, but it is best to visually inspect the tyre after any incident.
Nail or other sharp object impact
It’s quite common for a driver to miss a nail, glass, or other sharp object after hitting a tyre without immediately noticing that something is wrong, as the tyre pressure doesn’t drop very quickly. This usually doesn’t require tyre replacement, but rather a quick trip to a tyre shop to isolate the source of the problem and patch the leak. This type of repair should not be attempted by amateurs, as it risks damaging the tyre’s structure. It’s also important not to ignore it, as an embedded object can momentarily lock the wheel while driving and eventually cause a flat tyre. The best solution is to change to the spare tyre immediately after noticing the problem or drive very slowly to a repair shop, as the car can suddenly pull sideways at speeds as low as 90 km/h, potentially resulting in a fatal accident.
Circumferential Tyre Damage
Tread tears that form a line around the tyre are caused by a sharp object penetrating the wheel arch or by bending components around the wheel, causing them to come into contact with the tyre and damage it. The need for repair or replacement should be verified by a tyre repair shop, as each case is different.
Fatigue Crack
Deep cracks on the sidewall of a tyre can be caused by overloading the tyre, consistently driving with too little pressure, or even leaving the tyre deflated. This type of damage eliminates the tyre from further use.
Tyre Rip
If the tyre catches on a protruding angular or sharp object, a deep tear in the tyre flap can occur. Tyres damaged in this way should be replaced immediately.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY IMPROPER SERVICE
Excessive tread wear on the inside or outside of the tread
Excessive tread wear on the inside and outside of the tread, combined with scuffing on the longitudinal edges, indicates that the wheels have not been properly aligned. If these marks are not too deep, a visit to the tyre repair shop should be made to have the wheel alignment adjusted, which takes into account the degree of tyre wear. If the tread is worn evenly on only one side and no scuffs are visible, the most likely cause is improper vertical wheel alignment. This can be resolved with wheel alignment, but an inspection of the vehicle’s suspension is also recommended.
Unusual tread wear
If the tread is worn irregularly in different areas, which can sometimes resemble waves, it is most often caused by improper wheel alignment or a fault in the vehicle’s suspension. If these causes have been eliminated, the tyre can continue to be used, but you should regularly check for recurrence.
Bead Damage or Bead Tear
A damaged bead can be identified by deformation or by cuts or tears in the rubber sealing area. A bead tear, on the other hand, is characterized by a large tear starting at the bead and extending to the sidewall. The most common cause of this problem is improper installation or removal of the tyre due to a lack of tyre mounting compound or the use of incorrect tools. A tyre with this defect is unusable. This also raises the suspicion that the tyre service technician has also damaged other tyres on the vehicle. Other possible causes include debris or stones getting between the rim and the tyre during mounting, as well as driving on a rusty or mismatched rim.
Deformation after mounting the wrong size tyre
If a tyre that is too large or too small is mounted on a rim, it will not fit properly. This will result in air leakage and tyre deformation due to improper vehicle weight distribution. As a result, the tyre will be unusable.
Step-shaped tread wear
If tread marks appear on the sidewalls, which look somewhat like steps, the cause is usually excessive toe-in or toe-out. However, driving an unladen vehicle with the tyres fully inflated or driving too aggressively are also possible factors. To counteract this, it is important to maintain proper suspension adjustment and change driving habits. The effects of this problem can be mitigated by buffing (leveling the surface), but unfortunately, this causes a shallower tread.
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