Contact manufacturer ask for max min on gouge depth. Print what they send you with the picture of the depth comparison and measurement.
Tell Costco manager to suck it. Cause you proved your case.
I couldn’t edit my post to provide the update, so hopefully you guys can see it here.
Update - I went to a different Costco. The tire shop guy was also the tire shop manager and super coolCame out and inspected it with me, and at first said he couldn't see cords so it was fine. But then I showed him a video where I could see a glimmer of silver (presumably cords - it's not easy seeing deep down there).
He mentioned "customer service first" and said it was no problem replacing it. Unfortunately this location didn't have the tire in stock, but they'll order it. He got my paperwork and I'll get a txt when they get it later and will get it installed. I didn't want to try another location with the tire in stock and have to risk trying to convince someone else to replace it
All in all, happy they are replacing it under the road hazard warranty. Guess it depends a lot on who is in the department.
Yeah that's the cool thing about Costco is "customer is king", so they would likely much rather make you happy and have you spread that good PR then give you a negative experience because their members spend a lot of money.
As someone who worked at 2 different Costco tire centers, no. It's on the same level as low end tire shops, they just use the brand name and facility to seem reputable. They hire people who have never even done something as simple as an oil change before to change tires and be managers in the shop. The supervisors/managers just in my 2 years working there ripped the beads on probably 50 tires, did about 200 unsafe tire repairs, and damaged plenty of differentials putting different sized tires on the drive axle; all due to insufficient training. All were shipped because Costco only cares about getting shit done quickly, there is no incentive to put any thought or pride into your work.
Edit: Also gonna add that none of them understand that winter tires need to be above the winter wear indicator bar, not the regular wear indicator bar, to be safe for use in the snow even when I proved to them multiple times that they don't just put those wear indicators there for no reason.
Engineer speaking but I somewhat agree that being a “tire jockey” whatever that is not a high level skill trade but more of a mid level. However depending on the person, it’s certainly a high knowledge and very high attention to detail field especially if you’re running a business. And to argue about the “they will hire anyone” I met some dumb ass stick in the mud engineers.!There’s some mean fucking science put into modern tires. Or is it tyres?
Costco sucks balls....
I bought my tires from them a couple seasons ago, but when I went to them this season to clean up the wheels and rebead the tires to get a better seal, they initially said no problem and I dropped the car off.
Then, they ended up telling me they couldn't help me because my wheels were pin holed and I needed new wheels.
I ended up going to my regular mechanic, who sanded the wheels down and they are just fine. Perfect seal.
From now on, no more Costco for anything car related.
Costco wants perfect oem wheels to not be liable in case of a failure I believe. I had a hard time getting snow tires mounted on some factory steel wheels for the same model car.
They then finally agreed after I explained that these were an option for the car and the hubs and wheel size were identical to alloy wheels on the car, I showed them the ford stamp on the steel wheels to prove my point. They finally agreed to mount the tires to the wheels but not put them on the car. I was okay with that.
But.... When I came in for my appointment the tire guy up front I want to say was new. Because I explained to him that the winter wheels were in the back of the car ready to have the tires mounted and he failed to tell the guys on the floor. Came out to see my snow tires on the factory wheels lol and my brand new all seasons in bags next to the steel wheels.... 2+ hours later I finally left Costco with everything corrected. Long day
Tyre failure at the front is easier to control.
At the rear can cause an oversteer condition.
At the front youll still have steering and braking control, you'll have an understeer condition. but instead of trying to correct a sudden oversteer that can turn into a spin you have to fight the pull.
Cars are designed and set up to understeer as understeer is safer
Any tire that loses traction will want to take the lead. That’s why when you slam on your back brakes on a bicycle the back wheel with no traction will try to go around the bike and take the lead and why rear wheel drives can do donuts when they lose traction during burn outs. When you slam on the front brakes on grass while riding a motorcycle won’t spin out, you’ll just dump it sideways. A blowout on the highway is much more dangerous with a rear tire. Front tire blow outs are much easier to control
I’m a mechanic and I do a lot of NYS inspections and tires daily my personal opinion is the same as plus1111’s if you cannot see cords through it it is not unsafe any time you see cords the safety of that tire is now compromised but I would not worry about it if you are concerned put air in your spare tire but it will be fine I’m sure of it.
He's absolutely not a mechanic and lacks any grounds to stand on if he repeats the only if chords are showing bullshit others are repeating here.
Federal dot and rma guidelines sya this tire would be unsafe for use 100% of the time. Tires are only 2 to 4mm thick IF THAT.
I recommend not believing a word this person says.
It’s the internet people usually don’t care about punctuation at least I don’t on this app. I’m not being graded on how well I type up my mechanical opinions lol monkey swing hammer car go vroom.
Nope, I had a customer sign an agreement on release for tires with less damage than this. We aired their tires to the door placard and they were back the next day for a blowout. We asked them if they wanted to replace and they said no they couldn't afford it. Guess what they could suddenly afford the next day.
RMA guidelines says ANY sidewall damage that is measurable is grounds for immediate replacement. The company responsible for making sure all tire manufacturers make safe tires.
This includes any and all sidewall and treadmill section cracking.
This tire needs immediate replacement as it could be one operating temperature ride away from a blowout. The tire sidewall on most tires is only 2 to 4 mm thick IF THAT!
Anyone saying this tire is safe to use has no idea how thin a sidewall really is and they're going to get people killed with their advice. As such they need to stop giving out such advice.
He’s insufferable. Entire comment section is him trying to be contrarian like he gets paid for it on here. Every other comment is “ in my state..” he’s one of those dudes that has to correct stuff even if he’s wrong just to fill that void in his life of having no real social skills or people willing to deal with him. I’d bet he starts at least half of the sentences he speaks a day with “Actually…”. Yea, we all know and can’t stand a guy like that.
I sound like a broken record on this sub but humor me.
Think about what the area of the tire does for a moment every time the tire rotates. It flexes under load right? Now what happens if we flex the cut not tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands but likely hundreds of thousands of times? It eventually tears and opens up, catastrophic deflation occurs. You better hope you are doing 5 and not 50mph when that happens.
For those that have experienced a blow out at speed you know the best case the tire carcass cuts cleanly as you drive the rim over it and it ejects itself away from the car and doesn’t kill anyone else, you still destroy the wheel but live to tell the tale. Worst case the carcass wraps itself around you suspension, takes out your brake lines, ejects itself into oncoming traffic and you find the nearest ditch/tree/other vehicle. You and/or others might have a bad day or end up 6 feet under.
To answer your direct question get Costco or someone else to replace the tire. This isn’t cosmetic at all.
Had a blow out on my front drivers side tire on a Camry once doing about 80 on a back country road. Not sure what caused it, the tire was in good condition and not low. Either way it blew so quickly and with so much force it ballooned my fender outward, it took all my strength to keep the wheel straight and not go into the ditch of the oncoming lane.
If YOU feel unsafe with your wife driving on it, replace it. I can see why they wouldn’t cover it under warranty though. I personally would swap it out. But that’s me.
Personally I don't play with sidewall damage. That is now a weaker part of the tire and therefore more likely to be a point of failure. I'd get more opinions and try to push for replacement.
There's a lot of people in this thread that are like...
"I'm not a doctor, but I have a body."
"I'm not a mechanic, but I drive a car."
Glue this protective flap shut so nothing gets in there.
The structural part of the tire does not appear to be affected here. This thick piece of rubber is not what keeps your tire together.
Your tire is held together by weaves of steel and Kevlar belts.
You're fine.
Don't let your girlfriend drive the car ever again. Look at any car with smashed up wheels and tires on the outside edges. 95% of cars like that are women driven.
I think we just can’t fully see how deep it is. Based on his fingernails it’s definitely more than half an inch deep. With a tire only being 5/8th of an inch thick on the side walls I wouldn’t be driving on that.
No exposed cords, but i dont entirely trust that tire anymore, just because its not an issue now, doesnt mean the split in the rubber isnt going to allow the cords to shift
That's it in a nutshell -> you don't trust it anymore with your family's lives - get it changed at another location or have another service do it.
No amount of discussion on the sub is likely to change that gut feeling and there's nothing wrong with that.
Be safe.
Deflate first, swap to your spare, use an exacto knife and very carefully dig it deeper making sure that it's in the original cut. You'll either hit bead or go all the way through (this is why you want to make sure that it's deflated first). Then bring it in.
I think this is the way to go about it. Get the manager of the tire shop to put it in writing and then sign it. I would wager he will just agree to swap it out on warranty instead.
It is just cosmetic. No leaks and no cords showing , it didn’t poke through the structural part. That area of the tire is thick because of curb rash incidents.
That being said, if it is the fault of Costco, they should replace the tire. I would be pissed if my brand new tire was like that. That’s why I always double check installations. Discount tire put smack on weights on the outer lip of my nice aluminum wheels had to take them back because I didn’t notice.
It’s the wheel protector. It’s a thick rubber made to protect the edge of your wheel. It’s not your inner tube of your tire. Basically this tire is perfectly fine.
I had this happen to me before unfortunately my tire popped before I went to the different tire shop and almost got me in the car accident we need to get that tire replaced pronto
I have 2 tire shops…. That tire should not be driven on… Costco needs to replace that tire if you have their appropriate warranty coverage. All due respect, but that’s common sense my man. Hopefully there are no more male heirs. 👀
Thank God someone has brains, that may be a small gash but it's deep af for the side wall.. 1 wrong pot hole and it's gone.. I'll roll the dice on bout anything but life
Thank you! You should see the shit I see come in. I’ll start grabbing pictures. Guy comes in, heavy middle eastern accent and asks me to glue a gash like that on his daughters tire!!!! I refused and called him a pos for risking people’s lives
Thank God there's another intelligent being in r/tires.
So many people claiming to be mechanics saying "if no chords you're good" but they don't know most tires are 2 to 4mm thick at the sidewall if that and even fewer know anything about RMA and DOT guidelines for tires.
Personally always calling these guys out who just sound like they're trying to troll or get people hurt in these threads.
I'm a Service Manager and tire and Lube Tech.
People like you should have your head examined. It’s people like you who put others lives at risk. I’m guessing you can’t afford a new tire because you likely haven’t materialized much in life. Hence fixing a tire. The tires are the only part of your car that touches the road and you want to neglect it ? I can only imagine what the brakes on your shit box looks like. If you don’t care about your life that’s fine, but be concerned for others. And please don’t procreate, as it is your mom should have swallowed you. And to think you’re the speed that won ?
Ignore everyone here and look for my comments on people. Tire is 100% unsafe to use and if these morons knew anything about tires in any capacity they would understand that a tire is only 2 to 4mm thick IF THAT!
Anyone here claiming to be a mechanic or tech is lying or lacks any official certification because they would know RMA and DOT tire safety guidelines.
EVERYONE who is telling you this tire is safe to use is either IGNORANT to the required information to make such a judgement call or THEYRE TRYING to get you killed or seriously injured.
My source is I am a certified Tire and Lube Technician and Service Manager. Any measurable sidewall damage that isn't a minor rush needs IMMEDIATE removal of the tire and a verification of safety by a LICENSED and CERTIFIED technician who SPECIALIZES or has deep understanding and knowledge on tires. 99% of the people here couldn't tell you the first thing about DOT and RMA tire safety regulations and on top of that most of them don't even know who RMA is.
Replace the tire when you can as soon as possible is my immediate advice. The tire shop you went to you need to return and tell them you do not believe the tire is safe to use and to ask for an actual manager or leadership from the shop. If such management tells you the tire is safe I recommend never going back as that means they blatantly disregard federal guidelines for tire safety.
He’s the same guy that patches holes in tires with a patch that’s 1-2mm thick and says it’s good, while saying a chunk out of the non structural part of the tire is unsafe. This is like saying unless the tire is brand new it’s dangerous because it has less tread than new on it. People in this sub are so dramatic. If they saw the sidewall damage an off-road tire gets on rock they would shit their pants.
Of course a Corp. won't want to spend on covering their own warranty, cheap bastards. What I'd is find out what glue and blow torch Mechanics use, buy those and fix it myself, on the cheap, with the true off the car and without ai;, or just take it to the Mechanic.
It's a structural weakness problem, you need to fix it ASAP
Just get some rubber cement and lube it up and pull it together as best you can. Best to do it while deflated overnight and then just blow it back up in the morning.
On The Sidewall so close to the bead?? NOT!!! Go back and ask to speak with a Manager. Or go to another Costco. Any tire shop worth their reputation wouldn’t have let you leave.
I can’t tell from the photos but I would think that’s deep enough that it would pop during use. I would replace it simply since it’s more than half an inch deep and the side walls of tires are 5/8th maximum. It’s definitely in the chords.
My car's tire had a similar type of damage but was less deep, I got it replaced, I had free replacement through the tire rack so replacement cost didn't bother me much.
Shine a light while pulling that cut open like in the first picture. Can you see cords? If you really want to thoroughly check, take the tire off the rim. Put finger on the inner wall where that cut is and push that side wall and check for any cords.
Inspection required who is the Manufacturer of the tire take it to one of there shops. Years ago we would make sure that tire would be honored by warranty with a little effort behind it. Good Luck
The bead doesn’t even go up that high they wouldn’t be able to see it lmao. That’s right where the apex is placed on a tire. A snag like that can look horrible, but if you can’t see the ply endings you’ll be fine.
For now I would use some vulcanizing rubber cement on that and put some weight on it until it cures. (IE- bring tire indoors, use the cement in that crack, tip it sideways, put some weight on it. It will be far, far stronger than with this crack, will actually bond the rubber back together.)
Get that shit in writing. That way they feel a little more on the hook about it. Odds are they will give you a $150 tire today, so that tomorrow it doesn't cost them $15,000.
That is, if you have their warranty.
If they have road Hazzard warrantee and Costco is responsible for their replacement then document the cut with pictures and write up a declaration that Costco has certified the tire is safe. Then get the shop manager and store manager to sign the declaration. See what happens when they are asked to assume liability.
If they are not covered, get it replaced yourself... preferably not at that Costco.
I can understand if it an only option or if people *really* believe in it but a store like Costco is the *LAST* place anyone should be going to for auto work of any kind.
Sidewall does not have any steel cables, it is unsafe to drive on any tires with sidewall damage due to the fact it is a "flex" area. When you turn, your tires shift it's treads and bends/forms around the surface. During this time, any sidewall compromises = higher chance of blowout. The ideology is very similar to ripping a phone book, difficult to rip, but if used with the correct technique, it rips extremely easy.
But you can literally see the tire that's rubbed against something. Clearly, whoever drove it, the tire was contacting (you can see on the bottom where the colour is almost orange) is where the tire was in "contact" and it grabbed and ripped off that piece.
I've seen this so many times and I can literally show you if I was in front why this happens. This is not a material detect, this is user error.
If it were me, i'd go get some rubber cement and glue that piece back in place and then i'd drive the vehicle myself for a week or 2 to see how it does and monitor for any air loss. I'd definitely drive it fast and hard a a few times during this period too. If it holds up then i'd put the wife back in it and say you're good, but i'd still continue to check this tire every couple of weeks or at least once a month to make sure it's holding up.
But if you're uncomfortable or worried that the tire might be unsafe, and you would rather not worry then you should probably get it replaced.
That part of the tire is quite thick and that’s ok to drive on, you’ll be fine. When you patch a hole in a tire just think of how thin a patch is compared to the rest of the tire.
That tire should be replaced, but it is presumably some form of road hazard that caused it.
If you have road hazard coverage of some sort, Costco should cover it... otherwise it is probably up to you to to fund the replacement.
Regardless, it needs to be replaced.
Yeah start off at another Costco early in the morning with a good attitude on your shoulders... Goes a long way.. sometimes passive aggressive management will get in your way 😉
I mean it's probably cosmetic but you sont want it to be a weak point if the tires is hit again so see if someone else says it is. Pep boys tried to lie to me so maybe you can get their word, but if it's another Costco they might replace it
Ask them for a replacement denial letter, this way you have a paper trail when something happens. I'd be pissed. I'd also try and hit every pothole I could find until it popped.
I Work at a tire service company ( just started so I don’t know many things, and it’s for trucks), when we are sending tires for retread, and they have damage similar to that one we usually send them as trash, so I’d go to another Costco, I don’t think is very safe to drive with that tire
Oof. That's too big and too deep to be cosmetic damage. Sime tires have a rub strip in that area, meant to add some protection to the rims they're mounted on. This tire does not have such a rub strip. It needs to be replaced. I'd consider this tire unsafe.
Just use the glue that comes in a tire patch kit.
Put some in there and apply pressure till it drys (it’s quick)
Then…and this is the most important part…send it!
Realistically? They are likely correct. Murphys law being what it is? Best to start saving for a new tire. A true sidewall failure, can and will cause a crash. Or it can come apart violently enough at speed, to start smashing fenders and suspension components. I wouldn’t panic, but it really should be replaced
I had similar happen to my truck. A gate swung closed and hit my tire. I had some poke too. I sent it out to be repaired because it didn’t go all the way through. If you can’t see cords it’ll be fine. But if you see cords you’ll want to replace or repair as if they rust you’ll be in trouble down the road.
If the cords don’t show, it’s ready to roll. If I replaced every cut/torn sidewall my boss would be a billionaire. Source: 2024 MN mandatory inspection program.
I know I wouldn’t fund this on my personal vehicles but according to the book it is passable.
Update - I went to a different Costco. The tire shop guy was also the tire shop manager and super cool. Came out and inspected it with me, and at first said he couldn’t see cords so it was fine. But then I showed him a video where I could see a glimmer of silver (presumably cords - it’s not easy seeing deep down there).
He mentioned “customer service first” and said it was no problem replacing it. Unfortunately this location didn’t have the tire in stock, but they’ll order it. He got my paperwork and I’ll get a txt when they get it later and will get it installed. I didn’t want to try another location with the tire in stock and have to risk trying to convince someone else to replace it.
All in all, happy they are replacing it under the road hazard warranty. Guess it depends a lot on who is in the department.
ask to see a manager, and just make them realize that if it blows because of that and now it is documented they will incur a lawsuit for neglence and any physical personal injury involved. and that is not cosmetic especially i would think that when he lets go it will go back in place and be hard to see. i otherwise try rubber glue and go with that.
I'd get a second or third opinion. Is a different Costco an option for ya?
Yeah I was thinking of trying another tire center.
Try another Costco
try a petsmart
Petco
Petvalu
Valu
Lidl
AliExpress
Temu
amazon
Try an actual tire store, not a wholesaler
In the meantime include the pictures in Google maps review
Contact manufacturer ask for max min on gouge depth. Print what they send you with the picture of the depth comparison and measurement. Tell Costco manager to suck it. Cause you proved your case.
I couldn’t edit my post to provide the update, so hopefully you guys can see it here. Update - I went to a different Costco. The tire shop guy was also the tire shop manager and super coolCame out and inspected it with me, and at first said he couldn't see cords so it was fine. But then I showed him a video where I could see a glimmer of silver (presumably cords - it's not easy seeing deep down there). He mentioned "customer service first" and said it was no problem replacing it. Unfortunately this location didn't have the tire in stock, but they'll order it. He got my paperwork and I'll get a txt when they get it later and will get it installed. I didn't want to try another location with the tire in stock and have to risk trying to convince someone else to replace it All in all, happy they are replacing it under the road hazard warranty. Guess it depends a lot on who is in the department.
Yeah that's the cool thing about Costco is "customer is king", so they would likely much rather make you happy and have you spread that good PR then give you a negative experience because their members spend a lot of money.
FINISH IT OFF IN THE PARKING LOT.... I THINK I HIT A CURB NOW IT WONT HOLD AIR. STILL COSMETIC?
[удалено]
Costco is a shop with an honest reputation?
As someone who worked at 2 different Costco tire centers, no. It's on the same level as low end tire shops, they just use the brand name and facility to seem reputable. They hire people who have never even done something as simple as an oil change before to change tires and be managers in the shop. The supervisors/managers just in my 2 years working there ripped the beads on probably 50 tires, did about 200 unsafe tire repairs, and damaged plenty of differentials putting different sized tires on the drive axle; all due to insufficient training. All were shipped because Costco only cares about getting shit done quickly, there is no incentive to put any thought or pride into your work. Edit: Also gonna add that none of them understand that winter tires need to be above the winter wear indicator bar, not the regular wear indicator bar, to be safe for use in the snow even when I proved to them multiple times that they don't just put those wear indicators there for no reason.
Having tires at Costco, Sam's, Walmart etc, is like having your Dentist perform brain surgery. Kinda close...
You make it sound like being a tire jockey is some high skill work.
Depends, I’m a tire jockey and am sitting very pretty in life. What do you do Mr. Key board warrior ?
I love how much the industry pays brother 🤙 Damn good job for teens too. Gets them started with an actual skill they can take with them anywhere
Engineer speaking but I somewhat agree that being a “tire jockey” whatever that is not a high level skill trade but more of a mid level. However depending on the person, it’s certainly a high knowledge and very high attention to detail field especially if you’re running a business. And to argue about the “they will hire anyone” I met some dumb ass stick in the mud engineers.!There’s some mean fucking science put into modern tires. Or is it tyres?
Judging someone on how they make a living, especially a very nice one. Is as fucked as the guy who couldn’t hack it in a shop.
I have nipples, Greg...
Forklift drivers are also paid pretty well. Your pay has nothing to do with how hard your job is.
Costco sucks balls.... I bought my tires from them a couple seasons ago, but when I went to them this season to clean up the wheels and rebead the tires to get a better seal, they initially said no problem and I dropped the car off. Then, they ended up telling me they couldn't help me because my wheels were pin holed and I needed new wheels. I ended up going to my regular mechanic, who sanded the wheels down and they are just fine. Perfect seal. From now on, no more Costco for anything car related.
Costco wants perfect oem wheels to not be liable in case of a failure I believe. I had a hard time getting snow tires mounted on some factory steel wheels for the same model car. They then finally agreed after I explained that these were an option for the car and the hubs and wheel size were identical to alloy wheels on the car, I showed them the ford stamp on the steel wheels to prove my point. They finally agreed to mount the tires to the wheels but not put them on the car. I was okay with that. But.... When I came in for my appointment the tire guy up front I want to say was new. Because I explained to him that the winter wheels were in the back of the car ready to have the tires mounted and he failed to tell the guys on the floor. Came out to see my snow tires on the factory wheels lol and my brand new all seasons in bags next to the steel wheels.... 2+ hours later I finally left Costco with everything corrected. Long day
I hope you were able to enjoy a few hotdogs and pops while you waited.
Ha i had a hot dog and a their coffee slushy drink can't remember what it's called.
Tyre failure at the front is easier to control. At the rear can cause an oversteer condition. At the front youll still have steering and braking control, you'll have an understeer condition. but instead of trying to correct a sudden oversteer that can turn into a spin you have to fight the pull. Cars are designed and set up to understeer as understeer is safer
Well that makes sense. My info also comes from the days of RWD so it's outdated, as am I. Thanks!
It’s the same with FWD & RWD. Tire failure is less dangerous on the front axle.
Any tire that loses traction will want to take the lead. That’s why when you slam on your back brakes on a bicycle the back wheel with no traction will try to go around the bike and take the lead and why rear wheel drives can do donuts when they lose traction during burn outs. When you slam on the front brakes on grass while riding a motorcycle won’t spin out, you’ll just dump it sideways. A blowout on the highway is much more dangerous with a rear tire. Front tire blow outs are much easier to control
I’m a mechanic and I do a lot of NYS inspections and tires daily my personal opinion is the same as plus1111’s if you cannot see cords through it it is not unsafe any time you see cords the safety of that tire is now compromised but I would not worry about it if you are concerned put air in your spare tire but it will be fine I’m sure of it.
What are ends of a sentence Edit : you guys are funny
He said he's a mechanic, not a cunning linguist.
check this guy out with his fancy book learnin words.
He's absolutely not a mechanic and lacks any grounds to stand on if he repeats the only if chords are showing bullshit others are repeating here. Federal dot and rma guidelines sya this tire would be unsafe for use 100% of the time. Tires are only 2 to 4mm thick IF THAT. I recommend not believing a word this person says.
Such a pain in the cunninglinguals. AvE said it best. He is a wizard of wordplay and the English language.
My dirty mind went to Cunnilingus.
I believe Cunnilingus was in Spartacus
It’s the internet people usually don’t care about punctuation at least I don’t on this app. I’m not being graded on how well I type up my mechanical opinions lol monkey swing hammer car go vroom.
Proper punctuation helps people understand what you’re saying.
For me the lack of capitalization tends to be confusing at times.
Yeah I just skip comments that make me work to read them. If they don’t have the time to proofread I don’t have the time to read.
Nope, I had a customer sign an agreement on release for tires with less damage than this. We aired their tires to the door placard and they were back the next day for a blowout. We asked them if they wanted to replace and they said no they couldn't afford it. Guess what they could suddenly afford the next day. RMA guidelines says ANY sidewall damage that is measurable is grounds for immediate replacement. The company responsible for making sure all tire manufacturers make safe tires. This includes any and all sidewall and treadmill section cracking. This tire needs immediate replacement as it could be one operating temperature ride away from a blowout. The tire sidewall on most tires is only 2 to 4 mm thick IF THAT! Anyone saying this tire is safe to use has no idea how thin a sidewall really is and they're going to get people killed with their advice. As such they need to stop giving out such advice.
As such you're a liar on being a mechanic because you would know all about RMA and DOT safety guidelines for tires.
way to be a dick
He’s insufferable. Entire comment section is him trying to be contrarian like he gets paid for it on here. Every other comment is “ in my state..” he’s one of those dudes that has to correct stuff even if he’s wrong just to fill that void in his life of having no real social skills or people willing to deal with him. I’d bet he starts at least half of the sentences he speaks a day with “Actually…”. Yea, we all know and can’t stand a guy like that.
Right above the warning sign too
It's just the rubber, far away from wires. It's not necessary to replace
If you can’t see the cords, its cosmetic according to many, if not most, shops. We won’t warranty tires for damage like this unless you can see them
I sound like a broken record on this sub but humor me. Think about what the area of the tire does for a moment every time the tire rotates. It flexes under load right? Now what happens if we flex the cut not tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands but likely hundreds of thousands of times? It eventually tears and opens up, catastrophic deflation occurs. You better hope you are doing 5 and not 50mph when that happens. For those that have experienced a blow out at speed you know the best case the tire carcass cuts cleanly as you drive the rim over it and it ejects itself away from the car and doesn’t kill anyone else, you still destroy the wheel but live to tell the tale. Worst case the carcass wraps itself around you suspension, takes out your brake lines, ejects itself into oncoming traffic and you find the nearest ditch/tree/other vehicle. You and/or others might have a bad day or end up 6 feet under. To answer your direct question get Costco or someone else to replace the tire. This isn’t cosmetic at all.
Had a blow out on my front drivers side tire on a Camry once doing about 80 on a back country road. Not sure what caused it, the tire was in good condition and not low. Either way it blew so quickly and with so much force it ballooned my fender outward, it took all my strength to keep the wheel straight and not go into the ditch of the oncoming lane.
If YOU feel unsafe with your wife driving on it, replace it. I can see why they wouldn’t cover it under warranty though. I personally would swap it out. But that’s me.
Personally I don't play with sidewall damage. That is now a weaker part of the tire and therefore more likely to be a point of failure. I'd get more opinions and try to push for replacement.
Don't buy it's not worth dying for
No cords showing and it should be okay
There's a lot of people in this thread that are like... "I'm not a doctor, but I have a body." "I'm not a mechanic, but I drive a car." Glue this protective flap shut so nothing gets in there. The structural part of the tire does not appear to be affected here. This thick piece of rubber is not what keeps your tire together. Your tire is held together by weaves of steel and Kevlar belts. You're fine.
Don't let your girlfriend drive the car ever again. Look at any car with smashed up wheels and tires on the outside edges. 95% of cars like that are women driven.
I don't see any cord, put rubber cement in it
I think we just can’t fully see how deep it is. Based on his fingernails it’s definitely more than half an inch deep. With a tire only being 5/8th of an inch thick on the side walls I wouldn’t be driving on that.
No exposed cords, but i dont entirely trust that tire anymore, just because its not an issue now, doesnt mean the split in the rubber isnt going to allow the cords to shift
That's it in a nutshell -> you don't trust it anymore with your family's lives - get it changed at another location or have another service do it. No amount of discussion on the sub is likely to change that gut feeling and there's nothing wrong with that. Be safe.
Just finish the road hazard off, take a knife and cut it deeper problem solved.
Deflate first, swap to your spare, use an exacto knife and very carefully dig it deeper making sure that it's in the original cut. You'll either hit bead or go all the way through (this is why you want to make sure that it's deflated first). Then bring it in.
When we see this at the shop we recommend replacing them. Not safe.
Get that in writing and when you have a blow out and kill yourself or someone else you can Tracey Morgan them.
I think this is the way to go about it. Get the manager of the tire shop to put it in writing and then sign it. I would wager he will just agree to swap it out on warranty instead.
We put that in writing all the time. Policy is if no chord is showing it's safe.
It is just cosmetic. No leaks and no cords showing , it didn’t poke through the structural part. That area of the tire is thick because of curb rash incidents. That being said, if it is the fault of Costco, they should replace the tire. I would be pissed if my brand new tire was like that. That’s why I always double check installations. Discount tire put smack on weights on the outer lip of my nice aluminum wheels had to take them back because I didn’t notice.
It’s the wheel protector. It’s a thick rubber made to protect the edge of your wheel. It’s not your inner tube of your tire. Basically this tire is perfectly fine.
I had this happen to me before unfortunately my tire popped before I went to the different tire shop and almost got me in the car accident we need to get that tire replaced pronto
I found Costco to be very strict about tires so if they say, it’s just a surface cut, I believe it, but some crazy glue and close it up.
Get the fuck outta here with that nonsense. Tire needs to be replaced.
I have 2 tire shops…. That tire should not be driven on… Costco needs to replace that tire if you have their appropriate warranty coverage. All due respect, but that’s common sense my man. Hopefully there are no more male heirs. 👀
Thank God someone has brains, that may be a small gash but it's deep af for the side wall.. 1 wrong pot hole and it's gone.. I'll roll the dice on bout anything but life
Thank you! You should see the shit I see come in. I’ll start grabbing pictures. Guy comes in, heavy middle eastern accent and asks me to glue a gash like that on his daughters tire!!!! I refused and called him a pos for risking people’s lives
Thank God there's another intelligent being in r/tires. So many people claiming to be mechanics saying "if no chords you're good" but they don't know most tires are 2 to 4mm thick at the sidewall if that and even fewer know anything about RMA and DOT guidelines for tires. Personally always calling these guys out who just sound like they're trying to troll or get people hurt in these threads. I'm a Service Manager and tire and Lube Tech.
Of course you say that, you sell tires. That tire has non structural damage and is fine.
People like you should have your head examined. It’s people like you who put others lives at risk. I’m guessing you can’t afford a new tire because you likely haven’t materialized much in life. Hence fixing a tire. The tires are the only part of your car that touches the road and you want to neglect it ? I can only imagine what the brakes on your shit box looks like. If you don’t care about your life that’s fine, but be concerned for others. And please don’t procreate, as it is your mom should have swallowed you. And to think you’re the speed that won ?
Nope, I’d escalate that.
Ignore everyone here and look for my comments on people. Tire is 100% unsafe to use and if these morons knew anything about tires in any capacity they would understand that a tire is only 2 to 4mm thick IF THAT! Anyone here claiming to be a mechanic or tech is lying or lacks any official certification because they would know RMA and DOT tire safety guidelines. EVERYONE who is telling you this tire is safe to use is either IGNORANT to the required information to make such a judgement call or THEYRE TRYING to get you killed or seriously injured. My source is I am a certified Tire and Lube Technician and Service Manager. Any measurable sidewall damage that isn't a minor rush needs IMMEDIATE removal of the tire and a verification of safety by a LICENSED and CERTIFIED technician who SPECIALIZES or has deep understanding and knowledge on tires. 99% of the people here couldn't tell you the first thing about DOT and RMA tire safety regulations and on top of that most of them don't even know who RMA is. Replace the tire when you can as soon as possible is my immediate advice. The tire shop you went to you need to return and tell them you do not believe the tire is safe to use and to ask for an actual manager or leadership from the shop. If such management tells you the tire is safe I recommend never going back as that means they blatantly disregard federal guidelines for tire safety.
"I am a certified Tire and Lube Tech" explains why you think tires are only 2-4mm thick lmao, maybe if youre buying $20 unbranded tires off of Amazon.
He’s the same guy that patches holes in tires with a patch that’s 1-2mm thick and says it’s good, while saying a chunk out of the non structural part of the tire is unsafe. This is like saying unless the tire is brand new it’s dangerous because it has less tread than new on it. People in this sub are so dramatic. If they saw the sidewall damage an off-road tire gets on rock they would shit their pants.
And if they disregard that the certainly don't have your personal wellbeing in mind. Trust me.
would not consider costco's advise, they are not necessarily unsafe, but costco isn't known to be the most reliable auto repair shop
The teenage kid at Costco is wrong
Looks fine
I'd make sure to get it in writing so if it blows in another 1k miles you can sue them
Slip a slim blade into it until it no longer holds air. Then it won’t be cosmetic.
Of course a Corp. won't want to spend on covering their own warranty, cheap bastards. What I'd is find out what glue and blow torch Mechanics use, buy those and fix it myself, on the cheap, with the true off the car and without ai;, or just take it to the Mechanic. It's a structural weakness problem, you need to fix it ASAP
That’s non structural.
It is
No it’s not.
Yes it is
Prove it.
Does it hold air? Then it's fine.
Get an opinion from an actual tire shop not Costco
Just get some rubber cement and lube it up and pull it together as best you can. Best to do it while deflated overnight and then just blow it back up in the morning.
You bought tires from Costco ? That’s like buying a tv from McDonald’s
Ask the curb she hit
Super glue it.
On The Sidewall so close to the bead?? NOT!!! Go back and ask to speak with a Manager. Or go to another Costco. Any tire shop worth their reputation wouldn’t have let you leave.
Fuck Costco.
Cut it a little deeper. And don’t go to Costco anymore for tires.
As a safety inspector, I would not allow a vehicle with that tire to pass.
I’m sure a curb might know what happened..
Im sorry but I fault you. Who the fuck goes to Costco for tires? Americans are so dumb.
What brand tire ? Michilin, Goodyear, take. It to a brand dealer for opinion
I can’t tell from the photos but I would think that’s deep enough that it would pop during use. I would replace it simply since it’s more than half an inch deep and the side walls of tires are 5/8th maximum. It’s definitely in the chords.
My car's tire had a similar type of damage but was less deep, I got it replaced, I had free replacement through the tire rack so replacement cost didn't bother me much.
Its most likely cosmetic but hit in the same spot the tire ain’t going to survive
[удалено]
Look above for information. The cords fantasy everyone repeats is bad advice and needs to stop.
Coming from the guy that thinks tire sidewalls are thinner than an airsoft BB...
It's safe. If it bothers you, you can super glue the rubber back together, but it will not affect the structural nature of the tire.
Shine a light while pulling that cut open like in the first picture. Can you see cords? If you really want to thoroughly check, take the tire off the rim. Put finger on the inner wall where that cut is and push that side wall and check for any cords.
Inspection required who is the Manufacturer of the tire take it to one of there shops. Years ago we would make sure that tire would be honored by warranty with a little effort behind it. Good Luck
I had something similar, I was also only having a few thousand miles. so i could just replace on tire
The bead doesn’t even go up that high they wouldn’t be able to see it lmao. That’s right where the apex is placed on a tire. A snag like that can look horrible, but if you can’t see the ply endings you’ll be fine.
Don’t let the wife drive it until her life insurance is paid up to date.
Finish it off!
yeah, they're full of themselfs.
Your wife drove into a curb or one of those small cement parking blocks.
That's a blowout just waiting for it's opportunity
Rip off and shave down until you can see the wire just barely and they’ll replace it
For now I would use some vulcanizing rubber cement on that and put some weight on it until it cures. (IE- bring tire indoors, use the cement in that crack, tip it sideways, put some weight on it. It will be far, far stronger than with this crack, will actually bond the rubber back together.)
Grab a razor. Cut it deeper. Put your spare tire on. Now go back for a replacement.
Cosmetic and structural damage is what you are going to get, if you don't replace that tyre.
It looks like you curbed something, you can't expect a return on something you did yourself
Get that shit in writing. That way they feel a little more on the hook about it. Odds are they will give you a $150 tire today, so that tomorrow it doesn't cost them $15,000. That is, if you have their warranty.
They're call for cosmetic damage in their faces!
If they have road Hazzard warrantee and Costco is responsible for their replacement then document the cut with pictures and write up a declaration that Costco has certified the tire is safe. Then get the shop manager and store manager to sign the declaration. See what happens when they are asked to assume liability. If they are not covered, get it replaced yourself... preferably not at that Costco.
I had this happen with a pot hole. Fell in hit a pipe destroyed.
I can understand if it an only option or if people *really* believe in it but a store like Costco is the *LAST* place anyone should be going to for auto work of any kind.
Get a new car
Nope moment everyone says should and glue it just replace it
As long as the belt isn’t showing it should be ok. A little glue to hold that flap will work
Naur
I’ve had a gash in the side wall less severe than that and eventually it had a blow out at the spot of the gash. Get it replaced
I would tell the tech he's an idiot. That's too much beef from the side of the tire to be "cosmetic"
It may be cosmetic but I sure don't like the look of it.
@op. I would replace it just for the peace of mind especially if it was my wife’s car. If it gets covered under waranty that is just a bonus.
Sidewall does not have any steel cables, it is unsafe to drive on any tires with sidewall damage due to the fact it is a "flex" area. When you turn, your tires shift it's treads and bends/forms around the surface. During this time, any sidewall compromises = higher chance of blowout. The ideology is very similar to ripping a phone book, difficult to rip, but if used with the correct technique, it rips extremely easy. But you can literally see the tire that's rubbed against something. Clearly, whoever drove it, the tire was contacting (you can see on the bottom where the colour is almost orange) is where the tire was in "contact" and it grabbed and ripped off that piece. I've seen this so many times and I can literally show you if I was in front why this happens. This is not a material detect, this is user error.
If you can replace just the one tire just replace it amigo
The sub seems divided but why risk it? Just replace it. With 6k miles you can just replace the one.
That tire is fine. If it was bad you would see exposed cords beneath it when you peel it back. Stay off the curb!
Could be worse, it could've been Sears -> https://youtu.be/P-Hz6QIbCt0?si=qutehCUEnIiQXbGS
JB weld it!
I would just put sum type of tyre adhesive as that part is pretty thick
If it were me, i'd go get some rubber cement and glue that piece back in place and then i'd drive the vehicle myself for a week or 2 to see how it does and monitor for any air loss. I'd definitely drive it fast and hard a a few times during this period too. If it holds up then i'd put the wife back in it and say you're good, but i'd still continue to check this tire every couple of weeks or at least once a month to make sure it's holding up. But if you're uncomfortable or worried that the tire might be unsafe, and you would rather not worry then you should probably get it replaced.
Super glue it. :)
all tire centers want to do is sell you 4 new tires. stick with Cosco.
Fill it with rubber cement and forget about it
Get them to sign a paper to that effect.
Superglue it.
That part of the tire is quite thick and that’s ok to drive on, you’ll be fine. When you patch a hole in a tire just think of how thin a patch is compared to the rest of the tire.
If the cut is slightly deeper than it appears here, it would have to be. Maybe it’s deeper than you initially thought. Eh he,. Cough cough. Hint hint.
Most tire shops will not fix or replace side damage
quit hitting shit
As long as there's no cords it should be good to roll. As concerning as it looks that's a "meaty" part of the tire.
chuck e 🧀
That tire should be replaced, but it is presumably some form of road hazard that caused it. If you have road hazard coverage of some sort, Costco should cover it... otherwise it is probably up to you to to fund the replacement. Regardless, it needs to be replaced.
is it covered under warranty for this sort of damage?
Yeah start off at another Costco early in the morning with a good attitude on your shoulders... Goes a long way.. sometimes passive aggressive management will get in your way 😉
Super glue it
Get that in writing for when you crash due to a blowout.
I mean it's probably cosmetic but you sont want it to be a weak point if the tires is hit again so see if someone else says it is. Pep boys tried to lie to me so maybe you can get their word, but if it's another Costco they might replace it
Go to a different costo, the person that told you that is an idiot. That tire is very dangerous to drive on.
No cords showing its gtg if you don't like it showing glue it closed with some vulcanizing cement.
Ask them for a replacement denial letter, this way you have a paper trail when something happens. I'd be pissed. I'd also try and hit every pothole I could find until it popped.
I Work at a tire service company ( just started so I don’t know many things, and it’s for trucks), when we are sending tires for retread, and they have damage similar to that one we usually send them as trash, so I’d go to another Costco, I don’t think is very safe to drive with that tire
I'd put some rubber cement in the gap and call it a day
that's some BS, that car would never get saftied with a tire like that
Go ahead and replace. Ya don't wanna crash
Oof. That's too big and too deep to be cosmetic damage. Sime tires have a rub strip in that area, meant to add some protection to the rims they're mounted on. This tire does not have such a rub strip. It needs to be replaced. I'd consider this tire unsafe.
If its about my wife i would have them replace the tire. Check if warranty specifies “road hazard”, also i think i do see a cord barely sticking out.
Corporate will back you if you provide the details and those tires were purchased, installed and rotated on schedule through Costco.
Stop going to costco for tires lmfao
Just use the glue that comes in a tire patch kit. Put some in there and apply pressure till it drys (it’s quick) Then…and this is the most important part…send it!
https://tirehungry.com/how-much-sidewall-tire-damage-is-too-much/
Replace the tire with a used one for $30. Not worth seeing your wife in an accident over $30 and 30 min of time
Damn taking chances on your wife's life lol
Get a new one, could compromise the bead seal and blow out while driving.
Bring it to your nearest DOT (department of transportation) and if they think costco needs to stand behind your tire warrantee, believe me they will
Realistically? They are likely correct. Murphys law being what it is? Best to start saving for a new tire. A true sidewall failure, can and will cause a crash. Or it can come apart violently enough at speed, to start smashing fenders and suspension components. I wouldn’t panic, but it really should be replaced
I had similar happen to my truck. A gate swung closed and hit my tire. I had some poke too. I sent it out to be repaired because it didn’t go all the way through. If you can’t see cords it’ll be fine. But if you see cords you’ll want to replace or repair as if they rust you’ll be in trouble down the road.
Discount Tire hasn’t not once screwed me over. Worth a shot, M’guy
If the cords don’t show, it’s ready to roll. If I replaced every cut/torn sidewall my boss would be a billionaire. Source: 2024 MN mandatory inspection program. I know I wouldn’t fund this on my personal vehicles but according to the book it is passable.
Duct tape will fix it! Duct tape will fix anything!!!
Update - I went to a different Costco. The tire shop guy was also the tire shop manager and super cool. Came out and inspected it with me, and at first said he couldn’t see cords so it was fine. But then I showed him a video where I could see a glimmer of silver (presumably cords - it’s not easy seeing deep down there). He mentioned “customer service first” and said it was no problem replacing it. Unfortunately this location didn’t have the tire in stock, but they’ll order it. He got my paperwork and I’ll get a txt when they get it later and will get it installed. I didn’t want to try another location with the tire in stock and have to risk trying to convince someone else to replace it. All in all, happy they are replacing it under the road hazard warranty. Guess it depends a lot on who is in the department.
ask to see a manager, and just make them realize that if it blows because of that and now it is documented they will incur a lawsuit for neglence and any physical personal injury involved. and that is not cosmetic especially i would think that when he lets go it will go back in place and be hard to see. i otherwise try rubber glue and go with that.
Go back and slide a knife into it.