Tyre side wall partly ripped

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 14:56
Tyre side wall partly ripped - SotoLoto

Hi everyone! :)

I have the BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM005 winter tyres and it appears I've hit something, which has cut out a bit of the rubber of the side wall. The depth of the cut is about 1-2mm and overall size of the cut-out piece, when u look at it from the side, is 20x30mm.

Roads here don't get salted and winters are not too harsh and not long (2 months max). Mostly a bit of rain and very little snow/ice. Tyres are sorta new too. I've done 3 winters with them, the DOT is week 24 of 2021.

Could someone with knowledge and experience advise me whether or not I should change the tyre or of it's safe to ride as it is. No air is leaking, I'm just worried about the general safety.

Pics uploaded here - postimg.cc/gallery/M6SBpPf

Edited by SotoLoto on 26/01/2024 at 15:03

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 15:08
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Chris M

Guess it depends on how cautious you are. If you can't see the cords then it won't be a MoT fail, just an advisory.

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 15:16
Tyre side wall partly ripped - SotoLoto

Guess it depends on how cautious you are. If you can't see the cords then it won't be a MoT fail, just an advisory.

Thanks for the reply, I'm not worried about authorities and such, only about safety. Indeed I can't see the cords, luckily so I just wanted to know if it's too bad to keep on driving as is or if I should change the tyre altogether.

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 15:57
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Xileno

No-one can give an accurate assessment from a photo, it needs professional inspection. If you've run over something, it's possible there's damage the other side of the tyre.

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 16:14
Tyre side wall partly ripped - SotoLoto

No-one can give an accurate assessment from a photo, it needs professional inspection. If you've run over something, it's possible there's damage the other side of the tyre.

Thanks. No, I don't think there's anything on the other side. This is just a curb hit of some sort.

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 16:39
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Chris M

"needs professional inspection"

If you have a TRUSTED tyre fitter, get them to check however, I suspect a visit to a quick fit centre may find you leaving with four new tyres, four wheel tracking and dire warnings that your exhaust will fall off 100 yards down the road!

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 17:02
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Andrew-T

"needs professional inspection" ...

As said, show it to a tyre specialist. It's not a lot of use asking for advice on some damage we can't inspect here. Or wait for your next MoT tester to comment ....

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Fri 26 Jan 2024 17:02
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Xileno

Don't forget the shock absorbers... ;-)

But yes, you will probably be better off going to a small independent place, preferably one recommended by people you know.

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Sun 28 Jan 2024 17:19
Tyre side wall partly ripped - SotoLoto

Thanks for all replies. I simply cannot see where in the settings it is that I can set an email notification on new post replies. Anyone knows?

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Sun 28 Jan 2024 17:27
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Xileno

Sorry we don't have that feature. We did years ago (2003/4) but it was turned off due to a security flaw and it was never switched back on.

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Mon 29 Jan 2024 08:04
Tyre side wall partly ripped - SotoLoto

ok, that renders this forum almost ... unusable

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Mon 29 Jan 2024 08:12
Tyre side wall partly ripped - RT

ok, that renders this forum almost ... unusable

Those of us who use the forum don't find it unusable - we don't all need to be nannied and told there's a new message - just check the forum and it'll tell you if there are new contributions on each thread.

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Wed 31 Jan 2024 07:04
Tyre side wall partly ripped - Red Baron

Hi,

Two things from those pictures...

1. I think the tyre should be replaced. I don't know your driving style/speeds/journeys. If you just pootle around town, then it may be okay. If you regularly do 70 on the motorway, then is it worth risking a blow-out for the sake of £140?

2. Those rims look awfully proud of the tyre. Are you sure that you have the correct tyre size fitment and it may be this aspect that has resulted in the tyre being pinched/shaved as the wheel encountered the obstacle.

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Fri 2 Feb 2024 12:26
Tyre side wall partly ripped - John F

I wouldn't worry. The pressure in a car tyre is far lower than in a much thinner and flimsier bicycle tyre. (Mine recommend 80psi) If you really want to check its conformity and continence, pump it up to the maximum allowed (it'll probably say on the sidewall somewhere - usually circa 50psi) and go for a short drive.

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Fri 2 Feb 2024 19:06
Tyre side wall partly ripped - galileo

I wouldn't worry. The pressure in a car tyre is far lower than in a much thinner and flimsier bicycle tyre. (Mine recommend 80psi) If you really want to check its conformity and continence, pump it up to the maximum allowed (it'll probably say on the sidewall somewhere - usually circa 50psi) and go for a short drive.

With respect, John F, I seem to remember that the tension in the walls of a cylinder or tube is dependent not only on the pressure but also by the internal diameter.

i.e. A small diameter tube will contain pressures which would burst a bigger tube made of the same thickness of material, this why bicycle tyres can be 'flimsier.'

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Sat 3 Feb 2024 13:52
Tyre side wall partly ripped - John F

I wouldn't worry. The pressure in a car tyre is far lower than in a much thinner and flimsier bicycle tyre. (Mine recommend 80psi) If you really want to check its conformity and continence, pump it up to the maximum allowed (it'll probably say on the sidewall somewhere - usually circa 50psi) and go for a short drive.

With respect, John F, I seem to remember that the tension in the walls of a cylinder or tube is dependent not only on the pressure but also by the internal diameter.

i.e. A small diameter tube will contain pressures which would burst a bigger tube made of the same thickness of material, this why bicycle tyres can be 'flimsier.'

Theoretically true. However, in practice a car tyre has to be very deeply damaged before there is any likelyhood of a 35psi failure. Larger diameter truck tyres, admittedly thicker, are often over 100psi. An Airbus A320 has over 200psi in each of its four big main landing wheels. (It always amazes me how they almost never burst on hard landings!)

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