My last two cars had aluminum wheels which tend to corrode and leak air. I have noticed that when the tire tread is low and I have the leaker repaired, the tire store service manager inevitably gives me the sad story that I have split tire liners and should have new tires installed. Unfortunately I am not allowed into the service bay to witness this condition, and probably wouldn't know what I was looking at anyway. Since this has happened on many previous occasions, at the same tire store, I am wondering if I am being scammed for a new set of tires?
How prevalent is tire failure from a cracked liner? I have experienced this condition 4 times in the past 15 years or so, and each time it was a leaker on alloy wheels, near the end of its tread life, and each time I opted for a new set of tires.
I can think that driving on a poorly inflated tire could cause its liner or casing to split or crack, but since most tires do experience low inflation at some point in it's life cycle, it must be designed to withstand this condition. And since alloy wheels are so common, there must be a lot of tires running low inflation, and thus split liners should be the number one cause of tire failure?? So is this so, or am I being scammed?
Just to be clear, I am not talking very low inflation or near flat, but around 15-20psi before I notice the tire is low. And not many miles at low inflation either, I'll guess about 50 miles before I notice the condition.
How prevalent is tire failure from a cracked liner? I have experienced this condition 4 times in the past 15 years or so, and each time it was a leaker on alloy wheels, near the end of its tread life, and each time I opted for a new set of tires.
I can think that driving on a poorly inflated tire could cause its liner or casing to split or crack, but since most tires do experience low inflation at some point in it's life cycle, it must be designed to withstand this condition. And since alloy wheels are so common, there must be a lot of tires running low inflation, and thus split liners should be the number one cause of tire failure?? So is this so, or am I being scammed?
Just to be clear, I am not talking very low inflation or near flat, but around 15-20psi before I notice the tire is low. And not many miles at low inflation either, I'll guess about 50 miles before I notice the condition.