Street Tire Question

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04.09.25, 9:50 PM
Craig Henry

Street Tire Question
I had (2) new Goodyear Assurance Maxlife tires delivered from Tire Rack yesterday to replace the front tires on my wife's car. She brushed a sharp stone curb and cut the right front sidewall pulling into a parking spot. I decided to replace both front tires.

Issue / Concern:

One new replacement tire looks fine and is identical to the original tires. Date code is week 48 / 2024.

The second new replacement tire visibly looks like a poorly made tire:
- Both the inner and outer sidewalls bulge out 1" making the tire 2" wider all around in cross-section compared to the original tires and the other new replacement tire.
- The tire is also 2" wider at the tire bead in cross section all around. The tread with is the correct width.
- There is a significant amount of mold flash in the tread area and tread to sidewall transition area (seems to be scuffed up all around in this area too.)
- The bead is not a smooth, consistent, and uniform size.
- The sidewalls feel more pliable / weaker (my perception.)
I called Tire Rack and they quickly sent out a replacement that arrived late today. Unfortunately, it is identical to the "bad" tire. The date code even matched.

I'm concerned the sidewalls have been compromised. I'm sure it will mount up / bead seal fine but is it a blowout waiting to happen?

So, am I making a mountain out of a molehill or do I have a legitimate concern? Tire Rack considerers this to be a cosmetic issue but is willing to try and send out another tire with a different date code... more downtime (my wife hates driving my truck and the summer toy is still in storage, and it snowed again yesterday.) I can go out in the garage and mount / balance / install the "bad" tire tonight (I have the tools and have been doing my own tires for too many decades.)

Thoughts?

Thanks for the help,

Craig
04.10.25, 2:52 AM
BLS

Me, I figure if it looks like a POS, it is a POS. I wouldn't put my wife or children in a car with bad tires. YMMV
04.10.25, 10:12 AM
Rick Kirchner

Did you send a comparative picture to Tire Rack?
04.10.25, 11:15 AM
DaveW

Off-shore manufacturing plant

I'm betting the 2 wider/scuffed area tires were made at an offshore (different) plant, and while they may have met GY's specs for those tires, the sidewall width and bead spacing were not clearly specified.

That sort of thing happens all the time. That's why government and other critical items' specs are often extremely detailed and a PITA to comply with.

These 2 tires may look different, ride and handle differently from the ones like those on your car, but most likely would perform OK, as long as they don't rub on anything.

YMMV
04.10.25, 7:35 PM
Offcamber1

Send them all back

And buy a matched set of 4 Michelins.

I put awful, no name junk on my car. If they fail I can deal with it. The good wife gets Michelins as I don't want her on the side of the road.
04.11.25, 7:14 PM
DaveW

Or Bridgestones

Quote:

Originally Posted by Offcamber1

And buy a matched set of 4 Michelins.

I put awful, no name junk on my car. If they fail I can deal with it. The good wife gets Michelins as I don't want her on the side of the road.

I buy Bridgestones or Firestones, depending on their intended use. All of them are tires that are VERY highly rated on Tire Rack, etc. I get a significant discount for being a BF retiree, so I have to admit I am biased.