Side wall damage - concerning or not?

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kcjaz

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Location
Olathe, KS
I’m collecting some cuts, scratches, and gouges on my side walls. Anything look potentially troublesome? Is there any way to repairs the cuts?

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Stay close to home, those cuts will probably open up. How did you take a chunk out so close to the rim?
 
Not sure where you got your tires and if you have road hazard, but if it were me, I'd run down to Discount Tire and ask for replacements (assuming you purchased there). I've had similar sidewall damage (deep cuts and or chunks out) and they replaced no questions asked.
 
You been wheeling in the local scrap yard’s iron pile? :)
 
Not sure where you got your tires and if you have road hazard, but if it were me, I'd run down to Discount Tire and ask for replacements (assuming you purchased there). I've had similar sidewall damage (deep cuts and or chunks out) and they replaced no questions asked.
I think claiming road hazard might be a stretch given the scratches, gouges on the rims, sliders, and skids. It’s pretty clear the rig is built to wheel and does. I suppose it doesn’t hurt to ask but I’d be afraid my nose would grow! Lol
 
Unless I can see fabric or it’s already leaking, I’m not worried about it. On my rig anyway.
 
The gouge and the one cut seems normal, that vertical crack I'd just watch. (And keep the spare inflated to the right pressure)
 
Welcome to wheeling Good Years Wranglers
 
Welcome to wheeling Good Years Wranglers
Yes, I’ve told similar things. In my experience, GY tires are “sticky” and provide great traction. Their triple tread design is amazing on KC freezing rain and slush. The down side is they wear fast. I can see that wheeling them aired down is going to be hard on them.
 
Yes, I’ve told similar things. In my experience, GY tires are “sticky” and provide great traction. Their triple tread design is amazing on KC freezing rain and slush. The down side is they wear fast. I can see that wheeling them aired down is going to be hard on them.
The sidewalls on those tires sucks.
They are great on pavement and in the snow, but the sidewall................ 👎👎
 
Because they're Duratracs, yes, be concerned.

I've had chunking and scrapes like that in other tires that didn't bother me, but I've seen multiple Duratrac sidewall failures in person. Poke 'em with a good stick and you're done for :hillbilly:

I had a similar gouge to the one with your finger in the picture (actually, bigger) on my Hankooks and just stuck it back down with rubber cement and bob's your uncle.
 
You get what you pay for….

Duratracs look cool…but it is Goodyear’s bottom end AT tire.
 
I'd probably run them but YMMV.

I'm a Nitto Ridge Grappler fan all the way now. My wife drove over a J anchor bolt that was set in concrete and was sitting upright about 6". I was sure it would've put a giant hole in the tire but nope, just a tiny mark in the tread.
 
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@kcjaz I’ve been running with that for over 3k miles. Initially I was concerned but I’ve driven more than a handful of miles aired down on pavement while between trails in conjunction with over 1k miles at highway speeds. That said, I did manage to find a nearly new set of Ridge Grapplers so I bought them. No hurry to put them on though.
 
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@kcjaz I’ve been running with that for over 3k miles. Initially I was concerned but I’ve driven more than a handful of miles aired down on pavement while between trails in conjunction with over 1k miles at highway speeds. That said, I did manage to find a nearly new set of Ridge Grapplers so I bought them. No hurry to put them on though.
Stupid question…what tire is that in the picture?
 
Stupid question…what tire is that in the picture?

Your beloved KO2. My spare also has slightly less, but similar, damage. Damage was done out in CO on what I'd call normal rocky trails. I can barely wheel my way out of a wet paper bag though 🥴

I poked and grabbed my old Ridge Grapplers on various nasty roots here on the east coast, and never had an issue, hence the return to RGs. That said, I like both tires. I was just able to pick the RGs up somewhat locally for over 30% less than new.
 
I'd probably run them but YMMV.

I'm a Nitto Ridge Grappler fan all the way now. My wife drove over a J anchor bolt that was set in concrete and was sitting upright about 6". I was sure it would've put a giant hole in the tire but nope, just a tiny mark in the tread.
Yeah, I will run these until I destroy them. I did take it in to the tire place I use and they were not concerned about the cuts and scratches causing abrupt catastrophic failure.

What size ridge grappler are you running?
 

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