Radial Peeled Cap

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Tread or some of tread missing
from casing. Belts usually still in place
and tire is usually holding air.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Loss of adhesion of retread from
casing.


Bias Peeled Cap

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Missing or partially missing
retread. There may be some cord
damage.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Loss of adhesion of retread from
casing.


Shoulder Separation

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Some or all of retread missing
from casing. Usually belts are damaged
and sides of casing are pulling away
from the cords.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Weakness in casing or possible
leak into sidewall.


TIRE DEFECT ANALYSIS
Radial/Bias Ply Casing Separation

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Retread and belt packages
pulling away from casing. May see some
loose cords.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Weakness in casing or possible
under inflation over time.


Retread Separation or Partially Peeled Cap

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Tread edge lifting up or what
may look like an air pocket under the
tread.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Probable cause is improper
curing during the retread process.
Skid/Skid Flat

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Flat spot in tread area, possibly
worn down to or through the plies of
the casing.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Trailer brakes locked up causing
tires to skid in one spot.

Run To Destruction: Shredded
Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Casing damaged beyond the
point where the cause of failure can be
determined.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Tire has been run on for a
considerable distance with little or no air
pressure.


Run To Destruction: Sidewalls Only
Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Center of casing (tread area)
missing or mostly missing, unable to
determine cause of failure.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Tire was run on for a long
distance with no air pressure.


Run To Destruction: Beads Only
Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Center of casing is completely
missing and casing sidewall has been
worn down to near the bead area,
unable to determine cause of failure.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Tire was run on for a very long
distance with no air pressure. In this
extreme case, two tires will almost
always be involved.
Zipper Rupture (Radial Only)

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Zipper type rupture in tire.
(Radial only)

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Tire was run under-inflated over
time and weakened the sidewall cables.


Bias Ply Cords Pulled
Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Strands of cords hanging loose
from inside of casing.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Tire is run on after loss of inflation
causing breakdown of inner liner and
body plies of casing.


Radial Impact Break

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Straight-line break in sidewall
that runs from shoulder toward bead.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Impact with pot hole, curb, object
in road, etc.


Bias Ply Impact Break

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : A break in tire with an X
pattern in a bias ply casing

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Impact with curb or object in
road such as a pothole.



Internal Repair Failure
Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Retread appears to have
peeled, but upon further inspection,
casing has been repaired.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : The repair wasnt done properly
and caused the casing to separate.


Sidewall Cut/Snag
Look for: Look for: Look for: Look for: Cuts or penetrations
in the sidewall preventing the
tire from being put back into
service.

Cause: Cause: Cause: Cause: Contact with foreign
object.



Flap Poor Condition
Look for: Look for: Look for: Look for: Cuts or tears in the flap. This
generally occurs on the edges of older,
brittle flaps.

Cause: Cause: Cause: Cause: Older, brittle flaps tear easily. This
condition in the flap generally occurs as the
flap is pulled from the tire.

Comments Comments Comments Comments: : : : Flaps in this condition cause the
tube to get pinched and eventually fail.
Look for: Look for: Look for: Look for: Holes or splits in the flap. May have to
bend flap to expose a split that has occurred in the
center of the flap.

Cause: Cause: Cause: Cause: This can occur in new and used flaps. Age,
improper mounting practices and manufacturing
defects can all cause this condition.

Comments Comments Comments Comments: : : : Flaps in this condition will cause an
eventual tube failure.
Incorrect Use of Tube
Comments Comments Comments Comments: : : : The metal piece shown in
the picture should be attached to the
valve stem after after after after
the flap has been installed. Installing
the flap over this piece can lead to
the eventual tearing of the flap, ulti-
mately causing the failure of the
tube.
Flap Failure

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : What appears to be a bubble
in the liner.
Cause: Cause: Cause: Cause: Defect in the liner/casing. Can
also be caused by under-inflation.
Comments Comments Comments Comments: : : : This condition may not be
visible from the exterior of the tire
when deflated. The bubble should
feel thin and it should push down eas-
ily. If not, then it is more than likely a
casing separation. Look for punctures
in the tire that would cause an under-
inflated condition.


Liner Separation

Look for Look for Look for Look for: : : : Will appear the same
as a peeled cap on a re-treaded
tire, except the tire has not
been re-treaded.

Cause Cause Cause Cause: : : : Manufacturing defect or
under-inflation.

New/Virgin Tire Separation