infate

iTrader: (5)

Hey guys,

Was on a hiatus, haven't been on CL for a while, but I really have an urgent question to ask you guys about. I think one or two of my tires have this rubbing mark on the sidewall, and I was wondering if this is still drive-able? It doesn't seem like it's really deep. How would I know when to actually change my tires ? If I see the actual belt? lol. It's probably because my commute to school has a lot of big dips on the freeway, which is explains these spontaneous marks.

Thanks in advance guys!

A1cntrler

iTrader: (2)

Yes that's from the wheels tucking up into the fenders and rubbing. When I was little on trips in our '88 Thunderbird with a load of luggage and 3 kids across the back seat, my moms car would bottom out and the aftermarket wide wheels/tires in the rear would rub like that at speed on the highway. Keep an eye on it for blistering or visible cords, either of which warrant immediate replacement. Sidewalls are a zero tolerance area in regards to blisters/punctures, but yours here is on the border of sidewall/tread, but close.

Yours there don't look too terribly deep so it should be ok for a bit. Just be mindful of it and keep an eye on it. Stay out of the dips at speed!

I've got wider tires on my Explorer Sport Trac and the fronts rub on the fender liners at full lock. The guy at the tire shop was concerned for the rubber on plastic. I convinced him that after a little while the tire/fender would just clearance itself. And here it is about three years later and the clearance has been set and no more rubbing.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

Mostly cosmetic by the looks of it.

Noeh

iTrader: (3)

Won't the tire eventually explode if they keep rubbing like that?

MoeSzyslak

^ Yes.. Well not explode but it will eventually go out. I would say that the integrity of the sidewall has been compromised. Also where I live, it is illegal for any part of the car's body to touch the body during bumps, driving, or full lock to lock steering. If it is in fact doing this, the car can be deemed unsafe and the plates would get pulled and your car towed at your expense plus ticket. That there would be proof of car being unsafe.

azfsprt

iTrader: (4)

That doesnt look safe my friend. If that was on the flat thread then that should be ok but since it is the corner that is your support frame on the tires. Any damage to that and usually that is cause for it to explode, separate or even brake apart depending on how much further you are driving on it, the heat the tires are going through from weather and load...

If it was just basic rubbing it would be fine but from the looks of the rubbing it looks like they are making streak or cuts on the tire..

I would change that as soon as possible.

darkdream

I see so much debris from tire blowouts on the highways in California lately.

Sffd103

iTrader: (16)

You're rubbing a bit. How long have you had the tires. I've had so much worse from being really low. I wouldn't worry to much. Just monitor it occasionally.

jdmSW20

iTrader: (12)

agreed. ive seen way worse tire rub than that and those setups were fine. just keep an eye on it though

Jman8108

iTrader: (2)

I've ran on much worse than that for 15,000+ miles. You're fine, it's just cosmetic.

infate

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for all the helpful analysis and suggestions. I really appreciate it. I'm just going to monitor it every now and then, it doesn't seem that bad, but I'm definitely not going to use these for 15K more miles though, lol. Thanks again guys!