r/Cartalk • u/jonathaaan • Feb 09 '25
Tire question How safe is it to drive on this tire? But
As the title states. Noticed this sizable gouge on the side of a tire. It’s a 2020 Honda Insight, if that matters
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u/RoverTiger Feb 09 '25
Don't risk it. Replacing a tire is way cheaper than replacing a car and medical bills.
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u/Dramatic_Nose_9207 Feb 09 '25
Replacement needed immediately
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u/Striking_Serve_8152 Feb 09 '25
Absolutely agree. OP, your putting not only yourself but others at risk if you drive on that. It's a blowout ready to happen. Have a good spare at least until you get a new tire? Use it.
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u/nano8150 Feb 09 '25
You misspelled 'funeral expenses'
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u/Young_furbs Feb 09 '25
that’s for your loved ones to deal with, if you don’t have/don’t care, I’d say send it
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u/Pvrb80 Feb 09 '25
And the lawsuits I’d he heats some else
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u/chknugetdino Feb 09 '25
Im sorry what?
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u/sword_0f_damocles Feb 09 '25
I think they’re saying “hits” with a Spanish accent
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u/farksninetynine Feb 09 '25
Stroke?
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u/LsG133 Feb 09 '25
It could last 50 miles, it could explode as soon as you get up to speed
Replace it
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u/NotAPreppie Feb 09 '25
That should get you all the way to the scene of the accident.
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u/agravain Feb 09 '25
a very very very short distance to buy a new one, beyond that ...no
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u/Familiar9709 Feb 09 '25
And only if it's at low speed, e.g within a city. Otherwise I'd put the spare tyre. No way I'd get to 70mph with this.
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u/Intelligent_Ebb4887 Feb 09 '25
I wouldn't go 40 on this. My only drive would be a couple miles to a tire place going 25-30 with my hazards on. I don't have a spare, but if I did, I'd put that on before driving with that tire.
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u/Traquer Feb 11 '25
Eh it's not that bad, especially if you're expecting it to blow. Under 50 mph the most that will happen is it pops and you pull over right away so you don't damage the wheel. Even if it's on the front. You're making it sound like the entire wheel will come off lol
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u/bmxracers Feb 09 '25
Yes to the nearest tire shop at low speed
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u/SpiritCakes Feb 09 '25
I'm inclined to agree, I hate paying for a tow. I would say 15 miles max, 15 mph max and completely avoid pot holes and speed bumps. One way trip to a tire shop.
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u/SeaworthinessSome454 Feb 09 '25
15 miles is too far to run that tire and that would mean an hour of driving, which would be a terrifying hour waiting to be run off the road for going way too slow or waiting for the tire to blowout.
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u/SpiritCakes Feb 09 '25
I would risk it, at 15 mph you wouldn't risk harming anyone else on the road and if you had a blow out your rim would survive.
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u/Waiting4The3nd Feb 09 '25
This is a case where I wouldn't ride on the tire with a chunk eaten out of the sidewall with the cords showing. If no compact spare kit has been purchased for OP's car, I would recommend taking the tire off and taking it to a tire shop to be replaced. Get a ride if necessary. Borrow a jack if you have to.
Also, if there's a blowout, you're assuming the sidewall doesn't shred to the point that the rim can contact the road, and that they can pull over immediately which may not be the case. For instance, where I live, there are long stretches of road where the shoulder is either soft, steep, or non-existent. You can go a mile (or more sometimes) without being able to safely stop somewhere. We can't be absolutely sure that OP doesn't have some similar conditions between them and the tire shop. And you know Murphy's Law, if those conditions exist for just a quarter of a mile somewhere, that's damn sure where the tire will blow out.
(Finally, I think it's an egregious oversight that any car can be sold without a donut and jack kit... that's insane.)
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u/Small-Policy-3859 Feb 09 '25
Yeah I agree, the tire inflation kits with the glue-ish substance that new Cars get are only good for small punctures, if the damage is a little bit too big you might be able to inflate your tire only for it to go flat in a few miles and now you've used all your tire repair stuff and have to call a tow. A spare tire should be mandatory from factory, 100%. It's just more penny-pinching at the expense of the customer. Their argument is that People don't want to change Wheels Next to the Road, but why not supply a spare AND a tire repair kit? The argument that People don't know what they're doing and causing unsafe circumstances is also BS, i think the chances are much bigger that People keep driving on dangerously damaged tires than that they put the spare on in an unsafe manner.
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u/aust_b Feb 09 '25
That’s bad enough if you don’t have a good spare or donut, I would have it towed to a tire shop to get it replaced.
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u/Accomplished-Fun-72 Feb 09 '25
Towed for a tire? Take it off and Uber if that's the only option? Tows are fucking expensive
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u/aust_b Feb 09 '25
Depends on their situation, but if they are asking this question, they probably should not take their tire off themselves.
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u/PrimitiveThoughts Feb 09 '25
A tear in the rubber doesn’t matter.
But if you see metal, the tire needs to be replaced.
And there is lots of exposed metal.
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u/SBNShovelSlayer Feb 09 '25
I'm not looking to nitpick, but those cords are not metal. I get what you are saying, and you are right, but I don't want people to look and say, "No metal showing, just nylon cords, I must be fine".
Those lines showing are nylon cords and it means your tire will fail soon and must be replaced asap.
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u/gorambrowncoat Feb 09 '25
Under no circumstances drive around with that tire. Thats just asking for trouble.
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u/Bandits101 Feb 09 '25
If you haven’t a spare, safest is to remove the wheel, take it to a tire shop and get the tire replaced.
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u/I426Hemi Feb 09 '25
For me, that's a pull the tire off the car amd drive it to the tire shop in a separate vehicle but I live 40 miles from the tire shop. You could maybe are it and not die if you were careful.
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u/NoNo_Bad_dog Feb 09 '25
I work for a tire manufacturer, those cords are not only exposed, they look to be damaged as well. This tire may blow out in a few miles, it may last 100 or more, hard to say for certain, but the odds are stacked against you at this point.
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u/BWKeegan Feb 09 '25
It’s not. Put on the donut and get yourself to a tire shop right away or sit tight and call for roadside assistance.
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u/HandicappedCowboy Feb 09 '25
As long as it’s DIRECTLY to the tire shop and there are no highways involved, you’ll be fine. Lmao.
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u/MrMarez Feb 11 '25
Is this a serious question? I had to do a double take. I thought I for sure was seeing post from r/askashittymechanic
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u/bigloser42 Feb 09 '25
This is cooked, I wouldn’t even drive it to a shop if it’s at all avoidable.
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u/Able_Sandwich6279 Feb 09 '25
The tire explosion itself can kill pretty much anything that's in front of it. The lost of vehicle control if it exploded in motion can take out a bus stop full of kids. so the answer is no, it is not safe to drive on.
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u/thebigaaron Feb 09 '25
Not safe, you can see the cords have been exposed. If there was no visible cords and only rubber it might be ok but not this.
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u/rulesrmeant2bebroken Feb 09 '25
Go to the nearest tire shop at a low speed and do not hit any pothole whatsoever.
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u/deal-with-it- Feb 09 '25
I think this the first tire post I see that is legitimately in bad condition lol
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u/Consistent-Cost-231 Feb 09 '25
Drive it to the nearest shop, don't drive fast, and be aware in case it explode, like don't drive laid back with one hand, be prepared to stop at any time, and make sure to warn the shop you have that so the mechanic can be more careful
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u/Commercial_Mine599 Feb 09 '25
If you have to ask that question on the internet you probably already know the answer
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u/bbreddit0011 Feb 09 '25
It’s not really a question of how safe it is. It’s more how unsafe it is. And that answer is… very.
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u/drixrmv3 Feb 09 '25
You’re one good bump or rail road track and you’re calling a tow truck. Go get it changed.
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u/Queif_Cheif Feb 09 '25
Definitely get that changed as soon as you can like most other commenters have said one bump and you’ll have a blow out hopefully you have a jack and a spare in your vehicle
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u/SlapaBaby1 Feb 09 '25
U are risking a complete sidewall blowout more than likely gonna happen on the freeway. You don’t wanna risk it over a couple hundred bucks for a new tire.
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u/airfryerfuntime Feb 09 '25
Lol how did you even manage to chunk a sidewall like this without obliterating your rim? That tire doesn't even have a lip guard.
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u/Commercial_Low1196 Feb 09 '25
You’re joking right? Do you see how thin the side wall is? A simple pot hole would really compromise that area to the point of popping the tire…
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u/cradditzz Feb 09 '25
I’d jack your car up and take it off your car, bring the wheel to a local tire shop that looks cheap. you’ll have something to drive on for $20 that’s not dangerous
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u/Valuable_Assistant93 Feb 09 '25
If you drive on private roads under 5 miles an hour maybe but anywhere else you're signing your own death warrant
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u/shityplumber Feb 09 '25
If you dont care about your safety or the safety of others, that tire is ready to roll on brother!
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u/CrutialElement Feb 09 '25
It'll get you to the nearest tire shop if you can't put your spare on but I wouldn't drive far or fast on that
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u/SubarcticFarmer Feb 09 '25
I wouldn't run this tire on my farm and I have equipment with original tires from the 70s mounted.
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u/SpiritedEye6807 Feb 09 '25
About as safe as unprotected sex with your tinder date on the first night
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u/Top-Veterinarian-493 Feb 09 '25
Put your spare on. Or have a friend help take the wheel in buy a new tire.
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u/Logical_Frosting_277 Feb 09 '25
Noooooooo. A blowout on the highway could kill you and other people.
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u/KanadianMade Feb 09 '25
Your underwear is thicker than the material holding the air in that tire. Put the spare on if you can.
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Feb 09 '25
As a Reddit ordain lawyer I'd have to say the fact that you are aware, posted a picture , and we've seen it means if you drive on it I could theoredditicaly plead you down to wreckless operation if you have a mishap.
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u/Leneord1 Feb 09 '25
This is akin to having an injury with bone sticking out. If I saw this on my mom's car, I'd immediately yell at her for not telling me she hit a curb while removing the tire and getting a new tire. If this was my own car I'd replace it immediately
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u/bhubaneswarguy Feb 09 '25
Low profile tyres with side wall damage...recipe for disaster.. Pls change asap
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u/SakuranomiyaSyafeeq Feb 09 '25
Change ASAP. You would encounter multiple issues with tire pressurization if you keep using the tire
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u/Slartibartfastthe2nd Feb 09 '25
I would limp it to the tire shop, but nowhere else, and not on the interstate or really even above 30-40mph.
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u/fordduckingranger Feb 09 '25
I've driven about 10000 miles on the same damage to a tire.And have had zero issues , but probably should replace it
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u/Joneseeyyy Feb 09 '25
Safe enough to get to a tire shop and change it immediately. I wouldn’t take it on the highway tho
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u/Individual_Lab_2213 Feb 09 '25
Depends how good you are at handling a blow out. Only you know the answer
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u/Broad-Cantaloupe86 Feb 09 '25
Don't listen to them, if you're not going above 120kmh it's all good. You can apply heavy super glue on top of it just incase.
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u/sr_dankerine Feb 09 '25 edited Feb 09 '25
No, plain and simple no. If you absolutely have to drive I will not go above 25, get the car towed or take the wheel to the shop by itself with an Uber or a friends car.
Also invest in a spare tire. While the insight did not come with one, you can add one there is still a space for it
I can visibly see the wires in the tire. The structure is compromised and you are at an extreme risk of the tire exploding from that point. If you are moving, not only will the car jerk, but pieces of the tire will fly out and potentially harm others as well as causing damage to the vehicle. Even if you just let the car sit, it will progressively get worse, tires are not something to mess around with, please do not injure yourself or someone else trying to drive on this
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u/Racing-Type13 Feb 09 '25
-13 You’re in the negatives rn if you even consider driving on a tire like that. Not to mention living on borrowed time. Guessing this is a joke right….right?!?
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u/Ok_Train_8508 Feb 09 '25
Oh man, I thought you were this Honda guy I just saw who had something similar happen at a local tire shop. New Honda and all..
They made him pay for the rotation and inspection he changed his mind last minute. But kept his fucked up tire thinking the cost of replacement for one either new or used tire was too much..
As he was leaving he mentioned he was about to head out and do a three hour plus drive out of town...
Guessing his life wasn't worth $100 to $300 bucks?
Is yours?
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u/MickyFany Feb 09 '25
it’s gonna blow. your not gonna die when does, but you’ll be stuck somewhere on a dangerous highway changing it where you have a good chance of dying
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u/Far_Impression9756 Feb 09 '25
I wouldn't. The tire is degraded on the sidewall. That's inviting a blowout 🤨
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u/NorthDriver8927 Feb 09 '25
It made it that far, send it. If you happen to wreck on the way to a tire shop I’m in no way responsible
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u/Southernbear89 Feb 09 '25
Just put some flex tape on it. Flex tape is so good I sawed my car in half
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u/Murky_Plantain_4696 Feb 09 '25 edited Feb 09 '25
Pick and pull sells tires for $25. They actually have good ones sometimes, I found two pairs for my car and they were just about brand spanking new lol, great tread and even solid manufacturing date on them … anyway that’s if you know how to mount and unmount tires yourself, it will save you a couple hundred bucks as even a used set of tires cost around $300 at a “used tire shop” I mean you can get a cheaper set , but they probably won’t have much tread on them and I’ve even seen people get sold tires with dry rot (but good tread) because they didn’t know better and wanted to get that $180 used tire set lol
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u/Jesus3628 Feb 09 '25
I wouldn’t recommend it, but I’ve done worse lol, I would take it to discount tire or a tire shop to get a new tire. Immediately, I wouldn’t wait another day.
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u/Lucky-Cars-4524 Feb 09 '25
“I just bent my knee 90 degrees backwards, am I good to run a marathon?”
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u/JustBlewInToTown Feb 09 '25
I'd even have it towed by your insurance to the tire shop if you're able. I wouldn't drive it at all.
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u/Staple_nutz Feb 09 '25
That's 100% in the nope territory.
I see a few people posting here with small grazes or little thin flaps of rubber peeled back and they are ok.
I can see the belts in yours as clear as a barcode. There is no way that tyre should be on the road. Please just cough up the cash for a new one or pair.
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u/ian799 Feb 09 '25
It’s a safe bet you won’t be going far. Rule thumb you see the metal cords it’s toast.
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u/VoroVelius Feb 09 '25
This is the equivalent of you having a wound where you can see bone and asking if you’re okay
Congrats, you found the tire bone. Now fix it before driving anywhere.