A warning for those driving on the tyres that came with the car

[Hipsi]

Firstly some background. I've had my Legnum for almost a year. Bought from a dealer in Tokyo with a full documented inspection, 200+ photos etc. Not a problem to speak of. The car has been brilliant until the last month or so when I noticed a vibration on the highway, indicating to me that either a wheel was out of balance or slightly buckled. Okay fair enough, service is due shortly so I'll deal with it then.

Heading to Bunnings on Saturday I heard a loud almost 'twang' sounding noise while turning though a corner. Got to bunnings, found a park and dropped to my knees to look under the car.

This is how it now sits at home.

and this is why.

Believe it or not the tyres were still holding air. Needless to say the car was jacked up right where it sat at Bunnings and wheels were removed there and then. These are good quality tyres folks, Bridgstone Potenzas, and never in my travels have I seen one tyre do this, let alone 3.

I'm just glad I didn't put the car thru its paces earlier that day at the Evo Oz LVMA.

Trav.

 

[Kristian]

Wow. Lucky you hear the twang! What width are the rims? There's no real signs of long term rubbing on there, maybe it's only a problem when cornering? Weird.

 

[leebutts]

Wow! Even if they were new they might have ended up looking like that if you had done the Mt Cotton session

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Wholy snapping ducks poo Trav, WTF, is it possible that some road bourne chemical could have done this...... I'd be sending these pics to Bridgestone and asking for a please explain??

 

[Hipsi]

zero rubbing, didn't look what width the rims are. If these tyres were purchased in this country I'd definately be following it up, but since they've originated from Japan, plus I don't know how they've been treated over there, I don't really have much to substantiate an argument.

 

[minik1971]

Wow lucky you found out the way you did and not some other less forgiving way! BTW shouldn't your tyres have been changed for compliance? I thought that compliance was meant to fit new "Australia standard" tyres? Mind you my "clear" branded tyres aren't much either I suspect.

 

[Guest]

I agree, holy crap!, but it's a compliance requirement to change the tyres isn't it?

Oh, and HOORAH for bright green hubs!

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Mine weren't changed, they aren't available in Australia

Yea, hear what your saying, mine came with Bridgestone B500-Si tyres so there gone whether or not tread bars are showing (my justification for I want new tyres) they are scarey................ I just ordered 4 new Yokohama 235/45/ZR17 ADVANSports and booked for fitting on Friday (wanted S-Drives but unavailable, so getting ADVANSports-V103 at same price - $265ea instead of $328 - bargain.

Trav those things are dangerous, could you imagine those in a high speed emergency situation......lethal

 

[Hipsi]

They were changed at compliance.........I just happened to change them back
Kat, I've had a front tyre blow at 110kph. I know exactly how scary it is!

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Maybe they put oz tyres on for compliance then changed them back after they'd certified mine........ mine are gone, I'm not risking that sort of disaster, thanks for the reality check trav

 

[Hipsi]

The car is predominantly used by my wife with our 3 yo son in the back. I'd hate to think what might have been if one of these tyres let go on them. It sure pays to do a 'pre flight check' every now and then for a little piece of mind.

 

[SiliconAngel]

Yea but hard to check the inside tire wall... Makes me glad I replace tires every 12 months. I once had the outside rear tire blow going hard round a 90° bend onto the freeway a few years ago, I felt the back end sway out as the tire tore off the inside edge of the rim and the car moved over a whole lane but fortunately it was 3am so no other traffic. Straightened up and parked on the emergency lane - the lads in the back of the car hadn't even realised I'd copped a flat, let alone torn it off LOL. Stupid me had left the lock nut key at home though

Glad it worked out the way it did, Trav - the alternatives aren't even worth contemplating!

 

[Kristian]

Particularly after reading your post above, Trav, I'm just glad you discovered it without anyone getting hurt. It's great to have a nice car, but family comes a lot higher up the importance scale.

 

[matchtheclown]

Mine came with dunlop direzza's and they where great until I realised after about 4000k's that the insides where so bald that I had some steel belt hanging out.

I just went in to get my wheels balanced because I ran a gutter Came out with a full new set of shoes as well :|

 

[Guest]

Far out, never seen anything like that before, you know how old the tyres are? They don't have any date codes stamped anywhere? Lucky no-one was hurt.

Mine weren't changed, they aren't available in Australia

Yea, hear what your saying, mine came with Bridgestone B500-Si tyres...

Mine came with the same tyres and I was given new ones to drive away on. Really weird that they put the japanese tyres on, sounds a bit dodgy.

I hope this is a bit of a wake up call for other members on here too.

 

[Kitty's VR4]

Yes Stephen absolutely scarey, hence why I ordered my new ones today

 

[Hipsi]

They're 5 years old. It wasn't the compliance centre that put the tyres on there

 

[Guest]

Just throwing this out there. What if it was caused by the elements (hot and cold)? Sure the car might have only done 40,000km and the tyres look almost brand new, but the elements must have some affect on the rubber over 5 years or so.

I know my girl friends lancer blew 2 tyres (not at the same time) and it was put down to the elements, it had only done 50,000km at the time and the tyres looked practically new (and it was a 1.8L auto so it wasn't seeing any track work ).

What if they rotated the tyres on the car before they sold it, would explain why it was the inside that blew.

 

[bradc]

GIII tyres are sold new in NZ and are a normal summer tyre, when I first saw the thread I thought you had been running on snow tyres.

What size are they and what is the load rating? Had you seen the inside of them in the past? What pressure were you running?

 

[Hipsi]

They're 225/40/18. 91 load rating, pressures were 31-32psi all round. I've been under the car a few times before and nothing really stood out but I've not really had a serious look at the tyres before this.