Is It Safe If a Piece of Tire Rubber Is Torn Off?
1 Answers
Tire damage where a piece of rubber is torn off can be concerning. If the damage is on the sidewall of the tire, it is recommended to replace the tire, as the sidewall is the weakest part of the tire. If the fabric layers are exposed, it becomes particularly dangerous and significantly increases the risk of a blowout. For safety reasons, it is generally advisable to replace the tire with a new one. However, if the depth and width of the damage are less than 3 millimeters, the tire can still be used as a spare. More details are as follows: 1. Tire Damage: Any damage to a tire should be taken seriously, as tires bear the entire weight of the vehicle, and a blowout poses a significant risk. If a small piece of rubber is torn off from the tread pattern, it may not be a major issue for daily driving, but it is not recommended for highway use. If the sidewall is damaged, replacement is advised because the rubber on the sidewall is already thin, and further thinning due to damage increases the likelihood of a blowout. 2. Tread Wear Indicators: If the tire has worn down to the tread wear indicators—small raised bars located at the bottom of the tread grooves, which are 1.6 mm high (the legal minimum groove depth)—the tire should be replaced immediately, as continued driving is no longer safe. Using worn tires on wet roads can lead to hydroplaning, increasing the risk of losing control. This is because excessively worn treads cannot effectively channel water away from under the tire, leading to potential loss of vehicle control.
