Questions about sidewall damage
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,475
Likes: 97
From: KY/TN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
Questions about sidewall damage
A simple question. How much damage is too much before it is considered unsafe? Previous owner drove with a flat, and the sidewall shows some wear. To me it doesn't seem like much. But I am not a tire expert. These tires still have 7/32 of tread, and are very rare 265/40/17 Eagle GS-D2s, same as the Eagle GS-D3s.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
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That wear on the ribbed portion of the sidewall looks more cosmetic than structural to me.
But I could be wrong.
I would get it looked at by a couple different tire experts and see what they say. Of course they may try to sell you new tires though.
But I could be wrong.
I would get it looked at by a couple different tire experts and see what they say. Of course they may try to sell you new tires though.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Since that tire is not a Run Flat you need to have the inside looked at. I had a Kumho 710 start to go flat at Watkins Glen this year and I drove about a mile and a half back to the pits at 30 mph. The outside of the tire looked fine but the rim tore a gouge on the inside of the tire that was quite deep and wide. The gouge cut through a couple layers of sidewall cord.
Get to a shop and have them check the tire. The tech will probably be able to tell once he has broken the beads loose. I know it was very obvious when the tech showed me what happened to the inside wall of my tire.
Bill
Get to a shop and have them check the tire. The tech will probably be able to tell once he has broken the beads loose. I know it was very obvious when the tech showed me what happened to the inside wall of my tire.
Bill
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,475
Likes: 97
From: KY/TN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
The tire was repaired at a tire shop. So I am making a big assumption (which I don't like to do) that the repair tech would not have repaired it if it was unsafe.
The reason I ask is that I need new rear tires and can get matching rear tires, instead of buying four new tires and trashing these.
The reason I ask is that I need new rear tires and can get matching rear tires, instead of buying four new tires and trashing these.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
The sidewall damage we see in your picture looks like nothing to be concerned about.
The flat tire repair, if it was just a nail in the tread area and it was repaired using a patch from inside, you should be fine.
If you really want to feel comfortable, have a tire shop unmount it and inspect it.
By the way, I never heard of a GS-D2, what is the tread like???
I have GS-D3's that have the "V" type tread for water dispersion. Are these similar??
The flat tire repair, if it was just a nail in the tread area and it was repaired using a patch from inside, you should be fine.
If you really want to feel comfortable, have a tire shop unmount it and inspect it.
By the way, I never heard of a GS-D2, what is the tread like???
I have GS-D3's that have the "V" type tread for water dispersion. Are these similar??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,475
Likes: 97
From: KY/TN
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by Glennm27
By the way, I never heard of a GS-D2, what is the tread like???
I have GS-D3's that have the "V" type tread for water dispersion. Are these similar??
I have GS-D3's that have the "V" type tread for water dispersion. Are these similar??
I would really like to have a matching set of front and rears, because these tires are so rare, and I can the GS-D3s in the 295/35/18 rear size. I would hate to scrap these tires if they were still good.
Goodyear's UK link
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,340
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From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
If it was me, I'd be at peace about it as long as I don't exceed say 90 mph. Also with the tire sensors working. It really seems to be superficial from this view. Any tire distortion noticed from another angle, and I'd replace them.
IMO
Ron
IMO
Ron
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by Ron Dittmer
If it was me, I'd be at peace about it as long as I don't exceed say 90 mph. Also with the tire sensors working. It really seems to be superficial from this view. Any tire distortion noticed from another angle, and I'd replace them.
IMO
Ron
IMO
Ron
Eric, thanks for the info. I did Google the Goodyear GS-D2's and found out about them.
I have the GS-D3's in 295/35x18 and 265/35x18 on my coupe. Great tires...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
You can tell very little about the overall condition of a tire just by looking at it from the outside. I have seen countless low profile tires come in that look to have minimal damage on the outside but are completely shredded on the inside. If you see a bubble on the outer sidewall the tire could blow at any time, replace it immeadietly!
Have the tire dismounted and take a look at the inner sidewall. If there is zero, or barely noticeable feathering of the rubber you should be OK. If there is flaking of the rubber, piles of shredded rubber, or you can see freyed nylon threads on the inside than the tire is dead. Also look at the patch job while the tire is off. Make sure that the tire received a patch or patch/plug combo, this is the only way to properly repair a performance tire. If there is just a plug with it's tail hanging out on the inside the tech was lazy and did a half-a** job, have them pull it and repair correctly.
Have the tire dismounted and take a look at the inner sidewall. If there is zero, or barely noticeable feathering of the rubber you should be OK. If there is flaking of the rubber, piles of shredded rubber, or you can see freyed nylon threads on the inside than the tire is dead. Also look at the patch job while the tire is off. Make sure that the tire received a patch or patch/plug combo, this is the only way to properly repair a performance tire. If there is just a plug with it's tail hanging out on the inside the tech was lazy and did a half-a** job, have them pull it and repair correctly.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 528
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Since the tire's structural integrity has already been compromised, have a qualified automotive tire shop dismount the tire and carefully inspect the tire's inner liner...the portion which actually gives a tubeless tire its 'tubeless' capability. If there's any hint of internal 'breakdown', then replace the tire immediately. 