Originally Posted by shapeshifter309
Well... I may have just ended my autocross season early. My back right tire sideswiped a curb pretty harshly, which wouldn't concern me really if there was no abnormal noises or bent looking rims, but this time I put a small (about 1-inch long or a little under) cut in my sidewall, in which rock chips from the yellow curb were embedded.
Now I won't be autocrossing until I can get new tires (or a set of really reasonably priced rear Michelin Pilot A/S's), but the question is it ok to drive on? I didn't look too deep, maybe a quarter of an inch at most in a downward angle, only slightly toward the inside of the tire. I'm just getting ready to leave tomorrow to make a 170 mile trip, and I'm concerned that it might exploded on the highway. Does anyone think it's still safe?
I owned a tire store for ten years and my answer is NO!! Sidewalls are barely a 1/4 inch to begin with, but even if you are off on the depth---still NO. When you drive the side heated up and the weak point will give. You already know that we do not have a spare, and a blown sidewall will have you sitting and waiting for a tow truck which will cost MORE than a tire. That's assuming you can keep it on the road---not worth the safety of you and others. You can get a used one for $40-65 bucks on the car if you need something to get you by. Jimmy