I've asked four people and my responses are 50/50 drive it, it's dangerous. Anybody weigh in on this tire dimple thingy? It's not a bubble, like a lined verticle dimple on the sidewall.
Typically it is a bulge from where the material overlaps in the core of the tire. Frequently seen in radials. Often caused by the liner separating from a serious pot hole hit which ruins the tire. Can't tell if is an indent or bulge from the pic. Indent I would normally say are ok but a bulge I would be concerned about. Have you dismounted the tire and inspected the liner?
I drive on way worse tires than that. From that picture it looks quite minor. Keep an eye on it to see if it gets bigger, in my experience bulges get seriously ugly and big before the tire failing.
I had a couple whitewall tires on my 56 made by air cusion that had the same dent. Drove on them for years, no problems. Heres something I found on the net: How does a tire get a dent in it? The sidewall of a tire has embedded carcass cords, which provide the rubber with its strength while also serving as a means of transmitting steering and braking forces to the wheels. In certain cases, once the tire has been installed and inflated, an indentation can be seen as a result of this overlap.If you feel uncomfortable have atire shop look at.
I think it depends on how you drive it, do you make extended freeway runs or like me a round town over to the lake and back is the extent of my driving, hell if I get a flat I make a call… That tire could have been like that sense it was new.
Mine look like that as well Matt. What tires are those actually? I know the Coker Classic radials on my Thunderbird had some pretty noticeable dents in them.
I'd have a good tire shop look at it but have the feeling that it is a cosmetic defect rather than a structural defect.
I've seen several over the years like that. Some of them were impossible to balance smoothly. I think it isn't really balance, but out of round or 'warped' side to side. Those that ran smooth, lasted as long as any.
Good or bad, cosmetically they suck if on a car you just finished and are taking to your first big show!
I don't think a dimple is anything to worry about. A bulge though, they can keep growing and cause a sidewall blowout.
I have 3 cars with wide whites and have owned 5 sets of Cokers. Every one of those sets had examples of what you're showing. It's not going to fail there.
Start of cord overlapped by end of cord during construction, normal. When inflated, the extra cord material restricts growth.
The Jalopy Journal
