Off to buy yet another tire for the same problem on my Mera. BF Goodrich/TAs; unknown age, came w/ the car. I changed the right front tire about 8 months ago for the same problem, now its the left front tire. Does anyone know what causes this? Overall, the tire is still in great shape, no cracking anywhere on the sidewalls, still plenty of meat left. Car is always parked in the garage. Pic below.
Thanks!
Tom

It's caused when the belt fails and releases in the tire. (can be caused by impact, age, lots of things)
How old are the tires? Check the date code on the tire sidewall.
Tires are only guarantied for about 5 years and after that the rubber compounds start to break down and can lead to failure.

If you don't know how to read the code on the tire check the tirerack.com web site. Looking at the picture I'm guessing that is the case.

Often tire have been on car for a long time and are really way past their useful date but we keep running them anyway..

I know the ones on my 85GT and are fairly old and my 88 GT might still have the factory originals.. Whoooooo!..
(update, changed my shocks today so noted that the tires are from 2002)

A funny story(fortunately) . A friend of mine bought a 69 Dodge Fury convertible in Alabama. Drove it back to Nebraska.
The car had four tires that where basically brand new as far a tread except they where 14 years old. Car had been up on blocks in a garage and just driven a couple times a year. He got on the road and after about 300 miles the first tire shredded. He figured was just that one. Replaced that one tire and started off again. Another 200 mile and another tire shredded. He replace that one and took off again. About another 200 and the third tire shredded. So he replaced the last two. When they took off the last "good" tire is was almost ready to go also...

Lucky for him the tread just started to come loose as it separated from the belt and did not blow.

BTY 2-7-09 it's 60° in Lincoln and was 63 yesterday... Got to love Global warming...

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 02-08-2009).]

You probably know that already: This is a time bomb. It usually means that the tire is just being held together by the rubber in that spot. When more steel belts snap you'll have a blowout. (or an unfixable flat) It happened to a friend in San Diego. His was in the sidewall though. Pirelli tires are know for this failure.

What prob caused it was sitting in same position for long periods of time, caused the belts and rubber to separate. Yet another reason to NOT store cars, expecially with the tires on or on the ground.

Thanks for the info! Well, looked like most likely a combination of things (not driving it all that much) but age was probably the overriding factor. The code says manufactured in 1995. Whew! Was driving fine and then started to shimmy like crazy. Good to go now.

Hey DR, that's one hilarious story!

Tom

quote Originally posted by Fiero-in-Paradise:

Tire aneurism; a old tire that's ready to blow.

Shooot, I just had this happen to me.

I just got my Fiero running after sitting 5 or 6 years. When I bought it the tires were an unknown age already. I drove it for 6 months and had 1 tire let go so I replaced it. Now, almost 6 years later Im drivind down the highway for the first time and about 5 miles into it that very thing happened, belt separation. Put the spare on, got it to the next city (about 8 or 9 miles) and had that tire replaced. I didnt want to replace all 3 (or 4) because I knew I could get the tires cheaper elsewhere. Started driving back home, went about 10 miles and guess what? Another tire gone. Now its dark, Im changing the tire alongside the highway and thinking to myself Ive got 1 brand new tire, 1 tire that was brand new 6 years ago, a spare tire, and a tire that I know is about to go at any minute. Luckily I made it home safely and all is well now.

-Joe

Today, on my way walking out of ACE hardware, I notice a 2000-ish blue Jag with the front passenger tire had a bubble on the side wall. I didn't know who was the owner, so I left.

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 02-08-2009).]