Fixing A Tire Slice

[red_eh_4]

So I hadn't driven my A3 in a few weeks (waiting for snow to melt) and when I got back from a real quick trip to the store, I noticed after I parked my driver-side front tire had a pretty large (I'd say 1.5'' wide X .25'' deep) gash on the sidewall right under the rim lip . I have driven on it for over a week now and haven't noticed anything, or even air pressure loss... The gash is not straight in like a nail or screw would cause, it's sort of from the top and it was a slice, as opposed to a puncture. Kind of hard to describe, but I think it could be from ice rubbing against it when I parked it for the last storm we had.

My question is- is there an OTC rubber sealant I can buy and use to fill the gash to prevent it from wearing more? Or would this need to go to a quality tire and wheel repair place to check, and fix? Anyone know estimated cost(s)? The tire only has 4,200 miles on it THANKS!

[rjpiselli]

So I hadn't driven my A3 in a few weeks (waiting for snow to melt) and when I got back from a real quick trip to the store, I noticed after I parked my driver-side front tire had a pretty large (I'd say 1.5'' wide X .25'' deep) gash on the sidewall right under the rim lip . I have driven on it for over a week now and haven't noticed anything, or even air pressure loss... The gash is not straight in like a nail or screw would cause, it's sort of from the top and it was a slice, as opposed to a puncture. Kind of hard to describe, but I think it could be from ice rubbing against it when I parked it for the last storm we had.

My question is- is there an OTC rubber sealant I can buy and use to fill the gash to prevent it from wearing more? Or would this need to go to a quality tire and wheel repair place to check, and fix? Anyone know estimated cost(s)? The tire only has 4,200 miles on it THANKS!

You cannot repair a slice anywhere; and you cannot repair anything in the sidewall. At least not safely. However, just because there is a "slice" in your tire, does not mean that you need to take action. Tires, just like anything else, can have cosmetic damage that only affects the appearance. My recommendation would be to take it to your nearest tire shop and have them check it to see if the integrity of the tire has been compromised.

With gashes in the sidewall, if you cant see the cords of the tire, you are safe. If you can see the cords, replace immediately. If the cords are exposed, they will rust and break. If you cannot see cords, then the damage is purely cosmetic and you may continue driving the tire for the rest of its tread life. If the damage has sort of a scuffed appearance that's too noticeable, you can have the tire dismounted and have it remounted with the damage on the inside (providing that the tire isn't directional or designed with serrations for aesthetics on one side).

[moyenecorniche]

Ice wil not slice your tires, It is water frozen which melts under any sort of friction. Not possible.
Is this gash/cut 1.5" in length ? or width. If the latter then your tire is done.
(1) You either ran into a sharp metal object or it could have been from a pothole or recessed sewer grates whatever.

Point is that if it is 1.5" long and only 1/4" in depth then you can seal it but you need to find a specific epoxy ( solvent bonding ) that will fuse the cut and seal it. Most OTC stuff is not capable. GO to a NAPA and ask them..

I would not remount the tire with the repaired slice on the inside. You want to be able to see what happens to it over time. Since you cannot see cords ( structural part of the carcass) then glueing this closed is OK. 1/4" or less is not enough to cause safety concern. But if the tire is losing air then you do need to have a tire specialist look at it. Find someone reputable who knows their field, not some sales guy trying to just sell you a replacement. You do need toy know wether the tire can be repair and safely driven. If not then you need to buy a new tire. As far as gluing the damaged area, I have done it many times on both car tires and racing bicycle tires. You need to have the appropriate epoxy or adhesive. It has to bond the damaged part and still be malleable. But again more often than not a slice/cut in the tire is too severe to be safely repairable.

[red_eh_4]

Ice wil not slice your tires, It is water frozen which melts under any sort of friction. Not possible.
Is this gash/cut 1.5" in length ? or width. If the latter then your tire is done.
(1) You either ran into a sharp metal object or it could have been from a pothole or recessed sewer grates whatever.

Point is that if it is 1.5" long and only 1/4" in depth then you can seal it but you need to find a specific epoxy ( solvent bonding ) that will fuse the cut and seal it. Most OTC stuff is not capable. GO to a NAPA and ask them..

I would not remount the tire with the repaired slice on the inside. You want to be able to see what happens to it over time. Since you cannot see cords ( structural part of the carcass) then glueing this closed is OK. 1/4" or less is not enough to cause safety concern. But if the tire is losing air then you do need to have a tire specialist look at it. Find someone reputable who knows their field, not some sales guy trying to just sell you a replacement. You do need toy know wether the tire can be repair and safely driven. If not then you need to buy a new tire. As far as gluing the damaged area, I have done it many times on both car tires and racing bicycle tires. You need to have the appropriate epoxy or adhesive. It has to bond the damaged part and still be malleable. But again more often than not a slice/cut in the tire is too severe to be safely repairable.

Thank you for the advice. But I have to say I don't really agree with your assessment that ice can't slice, or puncture under friction. So are you telling me if you took a rubber ball (say tennis ball) and went up to a jagged piece of ice in 0 degree weather that's .5'' inches thick it wouldn't cut it? I seriously doubt that. Also- I'm not sure I'm understanding what the difference between "Wide" and "Long" is? The cut is probably 1.5 inches in length, and .25 inches deep / Wide, and maybe 1/8 inch tall high. It looks like someone took a swiss army knife and cut from below the wheel in to the tire, and then towards them 1.5 inches and .25 inches down.

[red_eh_4]

I also think it's hard to understand completely- but my driveway is 1 car wide, and I had an entire 1 foot thick block of ice running from the front to back of my driveway all along my house from blocks falling off the roof and collecting on the driveway next to the house... it was too cold, and impossible to pick up at the time, and I had to move my car out at one point, and I think that's where the issue happened. The ice was not typical... it was jagged, rough, uneven, and THICKKKKK. I'm talking... It would crush you if you had been under it... multiply that out by a few weeks of subzero temps in NY, and snow, and then you've got what I had running down my driveway against my house for a good 25 feet!!

[rjpiselli]

I also think it's hard to understand completely- but my driveway is 1 car wide, and I had an entire 1 foot thick block of ice running from the front to back of my driveway all along my house from blocks falling off the roof and collecting on the driveway next to the house... it was too cold, and impossible to pick up at the time, and I had to move my car out at one point, and I think that's where the issue happened. The ice was not typical... it was jagged, rough, uneven, and THICKKKKK. I'm talking... It would crush you if you had been under it... multiply that out by a few weeks of subzero temps in NY, and snow, and then you've got what I had running down my driveway against my house for a good 25 feet!!

Bottom line, if it caused damage that REQUIRES repair, its junk. If it doesn't REQUIRE repair, do nothing. There's no fixing a sidewall. The sidewall flexes. Patches, plugs, glue etc will break or crack and re-expose the problem areas over time.

With the described situation there are only 2 possible scenarios: 1. tire is junk 2. cosmetic damage that requires nothing.

[moyenecorniche]

I also think it's hard to understand completely- but my driveway is 1 car wide, and I had an entire 1 foot thick block of ice running from the front to back of my driveway all along my house from blocks falling off the roof and collecting on the driveway next to the house... it was too cold, and impossible to pick up at the time, and I had to move my car out at one point, and I think that's where the issue happened. The ice was not typical... it was jagged, rough, uneven, and THICKKKKK. I'm talking... It would crush you if you had been under it... multiply that out by a few weeks of subzero temps in NY, and snow, and then you've got what I had running down my driveway against my house for a good 25 feet!!

If ice would slice tires then you would find dozens of people on the highways with shredded tires. Ice does not slice tires, it never can be sharpened to that fine of an edge. Ice did not damage your tire. It's something metallic and sharp and with the car in motion there is enough pressure to puncture and slice.
I live in NorthEast CT, have lived in Vermont and the Alps. Have skied all my life. I have driven too many winters to even consider your theory. Not plausible.

Thank you for the advice. But I have to say I don't really agree with your assessment that ice can't slice, or puncture under friction. So are you telling me if you took a rubber ball (say tennis ball) and went up to a jagged piece of ice in 0 degree weather that's .5'' inches thick it wouldn't cut it? I seriously doubt that. Also- I'm not sure I'm understanding what the difference between "Wide" and "Long" is? The cut is probably 1.5 inches in length, and .25 inches deep / Wide, and maybe 1/8 inch tall high. It looks like someone took a swiss army knife and cut from below the wheel in to the tire, and then towards them 1.5 inches and .25 inches down.

A tennis ball is a completely different mix of compounds. Not even comparable. Again ice never sharpens to a knife edge capable of slicing thru a tires rubber composite.
Because of friction, there is always friction present when one object rubs against another. Friction results in heat, which where ice is concerned melts.
This is also why cars often do not go anywhere on snow / ice covered roads without proper winter tires. Tire spins, causing friction which melts snow ice and the tire floats on a thin film of water sandwiched between the frozen water ( ice/snow ) and the tires contact patch...

Length is from point to point = 1.5" meaning from 0 to 1.5" linear measurement is your length.
Width is perpendicular to the length ( 90 degrees )
Depth is thickness measurement from surface to bottom of cut / gash.

It's also possible someone could have sliced your tire. Does the cut travel from the lip of your wheel towards the center ? If so then it very likely is from someone attempting to vandalize.
If however the cut is in the same direction as a rotating tire than you ran into something sharp.... NOT ICE !!!

[snugglesftw]

Do you have a pic?

[moyenecorniche]

Cutting to the chase