Greetings:

I was driving my 2005 with just under 20k miles to work today. I turned into the access road, accelerated, and my driver-side rear tyre delaminated. That is, the tread ripped off the side walls.

The tyres were still within spec [I have a tire tread gauge from my m/c days,] and the pressure was checked both within the last 9 days. I was going to replace the rears within the next two weeks as I was approaching borrowed time.

I am going to call Bridgestone when I can find a number to ask them about my experience. I don't know if I fault the tyre. I was just surprised on how it went. It's more likely I hit a pot hole on he way to work or the temperature [around 40 degrees fahrenheit] played a part. I was not in VTEC when it happened. I'm just happy I wasn't on an expressway etc. when it occurred. I'm hopeful the rim is OK.

I'm realistic to know I'm not Kimi Raikkenon in a McLaren circa 2005. At least I can say now we both have experienced a Bridgestone exploding.

I urge everyone to learn from my experience. Be careful getting your tyres up to temperature, and if you know it's about time to replace a tyre, then just replace it. Don't wait. I was lucky.

 

My take? Belts = more snow traction.

I once left a bubble in my tire for over a year. I refused to get a new tire. The day I was selling the car, as I was doing a motor swap on another car in the driveway, I heard a hiss. Then I saw the civic in my driveway tilting.

I am the world's most interesting man.

Crazy to hear about your situation, though. You should call Bridgestone. If this was a U.S. situation, they would have given you a new tire RIGHT away to prevent a lawsuit. They would have probably even thrown a cruise, 5 star dinner, and a Vegas vacation in there.

Anyway, get in touch with bridgestone. Tread shouldn't fall off of tires. I know that the tire does not come with a manufacturer defect warranty, but you should try to see what they can do for you.

 

The ultimate non-sequitor post.

Glad to hear that you are OK. 20k is great on these tires. Unlikely that you were not at or beyond the tread bars at 20k at best. By spec what do you mean?

Delaminate or tread separation or sidewall separation? Each has completely different reasons for failing.

Temperature is not associated with any tire failure that I have ever heard of, but loss of traction...

Driving on a bubbled side wall is retarded. Stay off the road.

He does not deserve a new tire or lunch or anything else. He lucked out and admitted that he should be more vigilant.

 

Tire delamination can happen due to too much heat too quick.

We experience alot of these sorts of incidents @ the track.
Especially the smaller tracks we run, as people start drifting around smaller tracks, tires delaminate.

I just cant see that happening in local roads.. that'd be quite scary.

 

I hadn't considered drifting. That sort of tire failure I consider straight abuse. I would guess that it wouldn't make any difference on heating those tires enough, that the separation is due to a loss of cohesion between the cap and tread, and the force is enough to do it. Hard to prove without back to back testing. Frankly it is a tribute to the exceptional quality of today's tires that you can drift at all.

 

kimi was on michelin's i'm pretty sure. sorry that happened to you though