So, on the way home this evening the misses pulls over on the A3 after feeling a judder on the front left. Checks for flats, nothing. Rings the AA as doesn't feel safe to drive (and I'm at work) who diligently come and confirm lots of road noise and a judder. Engine is fine. Wheel bearings are fine, suspension is fine. Jacks the front up and reports uneven tyre wear, drive home at 40mph and have it investigated.

When I come home I have a look and take it for a test drive. Both fronts look fine with about 3mm of tread (as expected), and tyre pressures are normal. Took it for a drive, and indeed there is a judder and lots of road noise, particularly 40mph and above. Stop and have another look, front up and spin the tyre. There is a HUGE, for want of a better word, flat spot across all 3 grooves. About 20 cm wide and equally worn to practically nothing (see poor quality picture). The rest of the tyre is 3mm apart from this area. The tyre appears to be bulging out in this area centrally, and there is possibly some sort of puncture wound there, too - although not losing any air as far as I can tell.

I change it to the healthy spare and we are on our way, no worries.

1) What is the cause?

My misses doesn't drive like a badass and I'm not concerned this is a locked front. I'm aware suspension geometry or tracking issues may cause inside or outside edge wear. Again I'm aware high pressure could cause central wear, but the tyre, as far as I know, has been the correct pressure since checked 2 weeks ago. But this damage was across the entire width of the tyre. There are not signs of wear elsewhere. I will have the tracking and geometry checked when I fit a new front pair this week, but is there anything I should look for? The centre console bushes were replaced in August, but that's 10,000 miles ago!

2) Why the feck did the AA man not change the wheel for the spare?! The spare has a practically new tyre on and would ensure a totally safe journey home! He even had it up on jacks and didn't! Very peeved about that!

3) Where is a reliable place to get my tracking/geometry done - anywhere between Wimbledon and Farnham, Surrey.

Thoughts? All advice appreciated!

Cheers,

Oli

Pothole damage / over inflation

Tyre has started to disintegrate

Edited 15 December, 201312 yr by BigJase88

They look to be illegal in the middle.  Ism't that the marker in the middle on the right?  Flush with the tread?  Looks to be still legal on the edges so might suggest wearing too much in the middle - hints at possible overinflation?

 

Could be the structural integrity of the tyre is weaking in that point.  They can get like this is sat for a long time, or just due to a fault in the production process or something like that.

Indeed, I'm not questing the legality. There isn't even a marker to find at that point. If the picture was better it would show the wear is pretty even, and substantial across the entire surface - not just the middle. At the right you can see the tread marker for all 3 grooves and they are fairly equal I think.

If it was over inflation - why would it cause a focal flat spot such as this, and not loss of tread in the middle around the entire circumference?

I'm leaning towards pothole damage. It's definitely not be sat for any period longer than 24 hours in months!

I would lean toward pothole damage too - overinflation would obviously be all around the tyre equally in the middle.

Flat spotting on both tyres? 

 

I'd have though locking up the brakes could have caused this. Possible fault with your ABS/other halfs lead breaking foot?

Yes, I'd say pothole damage too. 

 

I had a very similar delamination type failure like that on a tyre a few years ago. The tyre had about 2.5mm of tread on it and was nearly worn out anyway. I had hit a pretty substantial pothole the day before and am certain that's what caused the failure. 

 

Fairly poor form for the AA guy not to notice it.......it could have let go on the drive home.

Floor in the tyre manufacture.?

Bte it the alloy true or buckled?

Flat spotting on both tyres? 

 

I'd have though locking up the brakes could have caused this. Possible fault with your ABS/other halfs lead breaking foot?

  

Just the nearside! She's pretty good so I'm not worried about that!

Yes, I'd say pothole damage too. 

 

I had a very similar delamination type failure like that on a tyre a few years ago. The tyre had about 2.5mm of tread on it and was nearly worn out anyway. I had hit a pretty substantial pothole the day before and am certain that's what caused the failure. 

 

Fairly poor form for the AA guy not to notice it.......it could have let go on the drive home.

  

That makes me feel somewhat reassured! Indeed poor form from the AA guy... He noticed something but then didn't act on it - very odd.

Floor in the tyre manufacture.?

Bte it the alloy true or buckled?

I will get the alloy checked when they go in. They were checked for trueness when bought earlier this year, but you never know I guess!