This is not really a fuel economy question, but I'm putting it here because this seems to be the place we discuss tires. When I was inflating my tires today, I noticed the anomaly you see in the picture below. These are Continental Pro Contact with EcoPlus tires, OE size on my OE 15" wheels. As you may be able to see, roughly between the O and N in the name "CONTACT", there is a depression that you see as a change in the color of the tire, running from the wheel outward across the sidewall. I noticed this on all the tires, in roughly this place. Problem? Safety issue? Is the thing about to blow up? Or am I just paranoid? Now I have to tell you that I went to the tire shop and the owner said "Oh, yeah, this is normal. They make these things in clamshell molds, and this is the place where the pieces are joined together." But I figured I'd ask the experts on PriusChat. Thanks!
As tires age & are exposed to the elements brown areas appear. I'd be concerned if there is a blister or bubble in the sidewall.
I've had this before. I was always told it is from the tires being strapped down and stored that way for too long. Who knows? The other thing is you bought Continentals. I've only hada them one time on a previous vehicle. I had to replace them after about 20k because the tread was separating and splitting for some reason. I didn't have this problem with the tires before them nor after on the same vehicle, and no my tire pressure wasnt too low. I've shyed away from them since. Just keep an eye on them.
Thanks to both of you. I'm driving and the tires haven't blown up--yet. Jim N--No blister or bubble--the tire store also mentioned bulges as indicating problems. Blu-ray--Yep, I'm keeping an eye on them. Anyone besides me been told this is how tires are made?
No it's not. These are new tires, bought several months and about 5K miles ago. It's also on the sidewall, not a strip across the tread. So far as I can tell, the tread itself looks OK.
I'd expect a ripped belt to cause a bulge--not a depression. I suspect there's some kind of warrantee on the tire. See what the tire store says.
That's the sort of thing I was afraid of when I first saw it. The tire store assures me that it is a normal part of the manufacturing process, and agrees with css28 that it would be a bulge if the sidewall were damaged.
They are correct. It's a result of the manufacturing process and a manufacturer not being overly concerned about the cosmetic appearance of the tires. Other than looking funny, no problem. http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=624 tire irregularity
That's exactly what I wanted to know (and a slightly different explanation from what I got at the tire store).
I have the EXACT same Continental Ec0 Plus tires as the OP - with the exact same radial depressions. After 32,000 miles on them, I've experienced no problems...
Just noticed the same things on a set of brand new Continental Pro Contact with EcoPlus installed a month ago. So this is more of a cosmetic than structural thing?
Seems that way to me. The tires are working well in emergency stops. I'm not quite so sure on mileage--in a month or two I will see how they have done over the full year.
I've had same tire on the front about a year, not seeing the irregularity though. Did not notice much MPG difference between them and GY ComforTred which was similar MPG to OEM GY Intergrity.
