BajaNomad

Wiry Whiskers

MrBillM - 3-16-2011 at 05:46 PM

A new (and Strange) first for me.

Airing up the tires on one of my Samurais that has been sitting for a few weeks now, I saw what "looked" like a piece of spindly brush stuck to the tread on one.

It turned out to be about 6 WIRES (obviously steel-cord) that had "Apparently" worked out of the sidewall where it joins the tread. The wires were about 6-8 inches long. No other indications anywhere. No apparent damage to the tire in that area.

I cut them off, drove around for a few miles. Everything appears fine.

WTF ??????????????

desertcpl - 3-16-2011 at 06:51 PM

I think you need a new tire, your tire has seperated. i wouldnt take it on the HWY

Weird

MrBillM - 3-17-2011 at 08:35 AM

Obviuosly, there is a broken cord, but its "Odd" the way its shown up. No "apparent" damage anywhere except the pinpoint hole that the wires emanated from, tires have low miles although aged (6 years) and look otherwise perfect with no cracks. So far, no further wire growth and no pressure loss.

I've never seen it before.

No worries, though. THAT Samurai RARELY goes out on the highway anymore. Too much time on the beach. Saltwater has taken its toll. I'll use the tire for as long as it holds up.

desertcpl - 3-17-2011 at 12:35 PM

then you should be good to go with just short local runs,

durrelllrobert - 3-18-2011 at 11:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM

No worries, though. THAT Samurai RARELY goes out on the highway anymore. Too much time on the beach. .

nothing worse then seeing one go down on a samurai on the beach :lol:

The Mysterious Whiskery Tire

MrBillM - 3-20-2011 at 09:44 AM

Gone Down on the Beach Nipmobile.

After Four days of driving on it, we made a trip hauling trash to the dump ayer and the wife kept saying "that tire is making a STRANGE flapping noise". Got out twice and looked. No "apparent" problem. Aired all the way up.

DEAD FLAT this a.m.

I'm "assuming" the noise was the broken cord inside.

That's life.

desertcpl - 3-20-2011 at 10:10 AM

YUP.... now arent you glad you didnt get out on the highway

monoloco - 3-20-2011 at 11:05 AM

You should take it up to 100mph on a curvy road to test it, before you allow passengers.

rhintransit - 3-20-2011 at 11:35 AM

I don't know the heat factor where you live in Baja Norte but I'm in Sur, and also in Phoenix, AZ where tires simply don't survive well for six years regardless of mileage. deterioration from hot weather sets in, cracking sidewalls, etc. even tires that look good can be bad. I don't know the technical details, nor why your whiskers showed up, but sounds like the tire was at the end of it's lifespan. I'd replace all four, or confine my driving to beach, etc.

Highway No Way

MrBillM - 3-20-2011 at 03:20 PM

Yeah, the Hot weather does bad things to Rubber Tires. Even when they're kept covered, but this is the first one I've ever seen that popped cord like that.

THAT Samurai hasn't seen the highway in (probably) four years. AND, never will again. My second Samurai won't ever see the beach (at least the wet part) until the other one rusts through or craps out. When number two hits the Beach, I'll buy number three. They're so cheap that they're almost throwaways.

For that matter, number one hasn't been out of 4-wheel drive for about as long since the selector rod jumped out of position on the shaft leaving the transfer case in neutral. A friend showed me how to put it back in place. A real pain in the Butt. For me, anyway. He was a master at it having done so on two different ones he owned. Apparently, a weak point on the model.

I just picked up another spare wheel from someone who also has had a number of them, giving me two spare wheels to take back to the E.U. and Walmart.

Speaking of aged rubber, I'm reminded of years ago down in Indio when I purchased a set of Mag Wheels with "Perfect" tires on them for my '73 Gran Torino. The tires had been stored in a guy's garage for (?) years. Super price. Drove to Sacramento a few weeks later and, getting gas along the way, I saw that the tires were Covered with Weather-Cracks. Made me wonder if they'd survive the Round-Trip. They did so the price was still right. The mags alone were worth what I paid.

fishabductor - 3-20-2011 at 03:51 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
Obviuosly, there is a broken cord, but its "Odd" the way its shown up. No "apparent" damage anywhere except the pinpoint hole that the wires emanated from, tires have low miles although aged (6 years) and look otherwise perfect with no cracks. So far, no further wire growth and no pressure loss.

I've never seen it before.

No worries, though. THAT Samurai RARELY goes out on the highway anymore. Too much time on the beach. Saltwater has taken its toll. I'll use the tire for as long as it holds up.


it has happened to me on 2 occasions. It is due from driving with too low air pressure on pavement. The tires i had only had about 10k on them and they were about 85%.

fishabductor - 3-20-2011 at 03:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM

Speaking of aged rubber,


Don't use aged rubbers and don't carry them in your wallet:lol: