PROBABLE CAUSES OF TYRE DAMAGE

Irregular tread wear – One shoulder

• Description:– Excessive wear on ONE shoulder

around the circumference of the tyre.

• Probable Causes:– Axle geometry

• Axles not parallel.• Incorrect wheel alignment.• Excessive toe-in or toe-out.

• Suggested Actions:– Check wheel and axle

alignment. – Check suspension system.

Irregular tread wear – Both shoulders

• Description:– Excessive wear on BOTH shoulders

around the circumference of the tyre.

• Probable Causes:– Incorrect tyre inflation pressure.

• Underinflation.

• Suggested Actions:– Look for reason of underinflation

(defective valve, accidental damage or puncture, defective repair, etc.).

– Check vehicle manufacturers recommended inflation pressures.

• Description:– Excessive wear in central tread

area around the circumference of the tyre. Characteristic of rear drive axle fitment.

• Probable Causes:– Incorrect tyre inflation pressure.

• Overinflation.

• Suggested Actions:– Check vehicle manufacturers

recommended inflation pressures.

Irregular tread wear - Centre

• Description:– Excessive wear in regular angular

phases or spots around the circumference.

• Probable Causes:– Axle geometry.– Mainly on non-driven rear axle.– Defective suspension system.

• Suggested Actions:– Check suspension system.– Check complete axle / vehicle

geometry.

Irregular tread wear - phased

Irregular tread wear – Localized

• Description:– Excessive wear in one isolated

localized spot

• Probable Causes:– Extreme braking causing wheel

lock.

Tread separation

• Description:– Separation of tread rubber from

carcass.

• Probable Causes:– Underinflation causing excessive

flexing and heat generation leading deterioration of rubber bonding.

– Overloading.– Incorrect application.– Accidental damage to tread area

resulting in water/dust penetration.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check inflation pressures.– Check tyre size, load / speed

correspond to manufacturers specification.

Tread chipping/chunking

• Description:– Chipping and or chunking of

tread rubber.

• Probable Causes:– Excessive use on gravel / sharp

stone road.– Incorrect tyre application.– Incorrect inflation pressure,

overinflation.

• Suggested Actions:– Check inflation pressures.– Check tyre suitability for

application.

• Description:– Cutting or laceration of the tread

rubber.

• Probable Causes:– Accidental damage after contact

with sharp object on the road surface (eg. glass, stone, nail, metal, etc.).

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service and

have inspected by qualified tyre dealer to assess damage.

Accidental tread cuts

Accidental tread impact damage• Description:

– Disintegration of tyre structure.

• Probable Causes:– Violent impact with road obstacle (eg.

large rock, pot hole, etc.).

– High speed impact.– Over inflation.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check inflation pressure corresponds

to vehicle manufacturers recommendation.

Sidewall impact damage (1)

• Description:– Convex bulge on sidewall / shoulder

area of the tyre due to broken carcass.

• Probable Causes:– Impact with obstacle on road surface

(eg. large rock, pot hole, etc.).

– Impact against kerb stone.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check inflation pressure corresponds

to vehicle manufacturers recommendation.

INTERNAL VIEW

EXTERNAL VIEW

Sidewall impact damage (2)

• Description:– Convex bulge on sidewall /

shoulder area of the tyre due to broken carcass.

• Probable Causes:– Incorrect fitting / removal

procedure.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.

EXTERNAL VIEW

INTERNAL VIEW

Accidental sidewall damage (1)

• Description:– Clean cuts into sidewall rubber.

• Probable Causes:– Damages caused by impacts

against sharp foreign bodies or vehicle parts.

– Contact with “kerb” or foreign object on the road.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service and

have inspected by qualified tyre dealer to assess damage.

– Check clearance from wheel arch and ensure free rolling without interference from vehicle parts.

Accidental sidewall damage (2)

• Description:– Radial cut / break-up in the

sidewall area.

• Probable Causes:– Violent impact against foreign

body.– Damaged rim.– Incorrect rim size.– Incorrect fitting procedure,tyre

not correctly “seated” on rim.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check tyre suitable for rim.

Accidental upper sidewall damage

• Description:– Circumferential break-up in the

upper sidewall area.

• Probable Causes:– Overloading.– Under inflation.– Misapplication.– Stone trapping when in dual

fitment.– Incorrect dual spacing or

underinflation causing tyre “kissing”.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check load/speed and inflation

pressures of remaining tyres.

Accidental lower sidewall damage• Description:

– Circumferential break-up in the lower sidewall area.

• Probable Causes:– Overloading.– Under inflation.– Misapplication.– Incorrect tyre for rim size.– Incorrect fitting procedure,tyre not

correctly “seated” on rim.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check load/speed and inflation

pressures of remaining tyres.– Check tyre suitable for rim.

Accidental bead damage

• Description:– Circumferential cracking /

tearing of rubber in the bead area.

• Probable Causes:– Overloading.– Under inflation.– Fitted without lubrication– Incorrect tyre for rim size.– Incorrect fitting procedure, tyre

not correctly “seated” on rim.

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check load/speed and inflation

pressures of remaining tyres.– Check tyre suitable for rim.

Accidental run flat damage• Description:

– Circumferential abrasion / cracking of rubber on the sidewall and inside tyre due to running at insufficient pressure.

• Probable Causes:– Overloading / under inflation.– Slow air loss due to penetration of

foreign body or incorrect repair.– Incorrect fitting procedure, tyre not

correctly “seated” on rim.– Slow air loss from faulty valve core

(eg. dust in valve stem).

• Suggested Actions:– Remove tyre from service.– Check load/speed and inflation

pressures of remaining tyres.