Can a Tire with a Crack Continue to Be Used?
3 Answers
Whether a tire with a crack can continue to be used depends on the size of the crack: 1. Small cracks that do not significantly affect the tire's structural strength can still be used; 2. Cracks that damage the internal cord layer of the tire cannot be used. Methods for tire maintenance include: 1. Regularly removing stones stuck in the tire tread; 2. Minimizing exposure to direct sunlight; 3. Promptly checking tire pressure; 4. Paying attention to suspension maintenance; 5. Regularly inspecting front wheel alignment; 6. Being mindful of driving habits. The functions of a tire are: 1. Transmitting driving force, braking force, and steering force to facilitate vehicle operation; 2. Supporting vehicle load; 3. Reducing and absorbing vibrations and impacts during driving to prevent severe vibrations from damaging vehicle components.
As someone who's been working in repair shops for years, I have to say you can't take tire damage lightly. Last week, a driver kept driving with a sidewall cut and ended up with a blowout on the highway. Tire repair technicians know best - the location of the damage is life or death: nail holes in the tread might be patchable, but sidewall cuts usually mean the tire's done for. Size matters too - gaps over 6mm can't be properly sealed by patches, and the rubber layers separate. Remember, even the slightest air leak means you should pull over and check - isn't this what spare tires are for? Don't gamble with your life.
Veteran taxi drivers with twenty years of experience know that tire damage varies: a slow leak from a nail puncture might let you drive to the repair shop, but if you hit a curb and the tire splits wide open, pull over immediately! Once, I ignored a bulge on my rear tire, and three days later, the entire tread came off the rim—luckily, I was driving slowly. Modern tires have a multi-layer structure; once the sidewall fabric layer is damaged, the tire is done. You might crawl to a repair shop at low speed for short distances, but never take it on the highway—a blowout is no joke.
