Just had the wheels off for pads and luckily noticed that both my front tyres (Kumho KU31's) have a split right across the tread, one quite deep! Had to put the spare on one front corner and rotate the other to the back and then set about getting new ones within day as was out of town visiting relatives so did not fancy a motorway journey with the dodgy one or 50mph spare (why is there a 50mph sticker on a 205/55/16 tyre on a steel rim???).

The friend who helped me mess with the car is a traffic cop and he said he has only ever seen a tyre like it once and that was a faulty batch they once had on some Vectras that did this after 200 miles.

I have to email Camskill, fill in a form, they collect the tyres and Kumho examine them. If they feel they are faulty I get a refund allowing for useage (so about £20 a tyre then...) but if they feel the damage is my fault then I get a £30 bill for carraige! Like to see them try that one ha ha. I should sue them for the day wasted sorting it out and the £220 I had to pay for tyres from a fitting place rather then the £75 a corner it SHOULD have cost me to get the Kumho KU39's I would have bought.

Edited 4 August, 201114 yr by xyster

I had this on my Kumho KU31s! I noticed it the other day (on one tyre) but didn't have time to really examine it. Since then the car has gone in for a service and MOT and failed on tread depth on said tyre (nr side fr wishbone bush worn causing the tracking to go out and dip below 1.6mm tread on that tyre. Annoyingly 4mm on the outer shoulder!).

I have since moved onto Hankook V12 Evos (based on reviews here and MyTyres) as the Kumhos in the wet didn't inspire massive confidence imo.

2 x new Hankook V12 Evos 225/45/17 92Y XL £92 inc VAT and fitted per corner.

I went for rainsport 2's in the end, as much because I had to get what they had in stock as anything but I remembered that they had decent reviews. I had no probs with the Kumhos and would have got more. Still have them on the back but will keep a close eye on them now!

I was tempted by the Rainsports but wanted to try the Hankooks all round before I changed (again!) brands.