If you have ever driven down a motorway and seen what appears to be a large part of a truck tyre by the side of the road, this is actually separated tread. It is a significant problem for heavy-goods vehicles for various reasons, but it can also affect your family car if you're not careful. What can cause this type of separation, and what should you be on the lookout for if you are to avoid encountering a problem like this yourself?

How Tyres Are Made

When tyres are made, they are formed of various layers. These layers are attached to a steel wire frame that gives the tyre its inherent shape and a surface to begin the bonding process. Manufacturers will use a specific type of glue to join these various layers of rubber to the frame, but occasionally, defects can occur during that process.

Manufacturer Defects

If the tyre is defective, it will not perform as intended and invariably fail. When fully inflated, this will put too much pressure on the bonded rubber, and it will begin to separate. When the vehicle travels at speed, the outer layer may completely separate, also known as delamination. As you can imagine, this would not be a very pleasant experience for the driver.

Avoidable Problems

While the vast majority of tyres are perfectly fine and are highly unlikely to fail due to manufacturing defects, other issues can still arise.

Under-inflation

For example, driving your vehicle at high speed with underinflated tyres will lead to significantly elevated temperatures, which may also cause the bonding materials to degrade. However, this will usually happen over a longer period, and if you keep a close eye on your tyres, you will start to notice some tell-tale signs. Usually, a bulge or bubble will appear on the sidewall near the tread. This indicates that the tyre is starting to fail inside, and you should call a tyre fitter immediately if you ever see such a sign.

Excessive Use

Also, do not overuse your tyres. They are only designed to last for a certain number of kilometres before they have to be replaced. If you go too far, they are more susceptible to this type of tread separation.

Being Alert

If you suspect that you have any issues with your tyres or that they are coming to the end of their life, don't delay. Talk with a tyre fitter to see if you need a replacement.

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