Tire damage: A head scratcher...

[Paul Workman]

Got home from MR4 and BG and parked the car. It sat there in the garage for a week before I had time to wash and clean it up.

So, I pull out of the garage drive 30 yards or so to my wash area. While washing the A-molds, I notice the RF tire pressure appears to be a little low. But, by the time I get done with the drying/spritzing/polishing a few minutes later, the tire is almost flat.

After re-inflating and inspecting the tire, I find what looks at first like a cut in the sidewall extending from the rim edge half way across the sidewall. And, it is leaking bad enough to feel a breeze on the back of my hand when passed near the "cut".

However, the grass was just mowed (short) and there is nothing I could find that could cut a sidewall that way. And, there was no bruising around the damage to indicate something had punctured the sidewall. (Not a mark on the rim either, tho the split runs right up to the rim!)

I've seen tire damage and repaired hundreds of flats while working at a service station (back before gas stations turned into mini-marts). But, this is strange...