PROBABLE CAUSES OF TYRE DAMAGE

1. PROBABLE CAUSES OF TYRE DAMAGE

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Irregular tread wear - Centre • 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.

5. Irregular tread wear - phased • 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.

6. Irregular tread wear – Localized • Description: • Excessive wear in one isolated localized spot • Probable Causes: • Extreme braking causing wheel lock.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Accidental tread cuts • 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.

10. 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.

11. EXTERNAL VIEW INTERNAL VIEW 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.

12. 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. INTERNAL VIEW

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.