Brand new tires are shredding?! (pics included)

[HokieDSM]

I just put on my new 225/45/17 Falken Azenis a couple days ago - I haven't even really driven the car at all since then, since I still need to get new lug studs installed for the wheels.

But I looked at the tires today, and two of them look like they're shredding at the corner?!

Here's what they're supposed to look like:

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

---

and here's what I'm seeing on the other two:

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

Sorry for all the pics, but I wanted to show what I'm dealing with. I'm really worried here, what should I do? Is this a tire defect, or is it something with the car?

 

[TurBoGs-T]

Where did you buy them. If you bought them from somewhere else and they put them on i would go back and get that fixed.

 

[HITNRUN]

Which tires are they? Are they both front? Could they have rubbed the fender? Either that or they are defective.

 

[HokieDSM]

Which tires are they? Are they both front? Could they have rubbed the fender? Either that or they are defective.

Yeah, they are both front. Seems weird that they'd rub the fender... But, if they did -

1) Would setting up my front AGXs to be stiffer prevent them from rubbing on bumps?
and
2) Does anyone think this damage will hurt the tires performance/wear as-is? (i.e., no further damage)

They're 225/45/17s on +43mm offset (actually +48mm +5mm spacers) - I figured if I'd be rubbing anywhere, it'd be on the inside, not the outside - hence my confusion.

 

[HITNRUN]

Yeah, they are both front. Seems weird that they'd rub the fender... But, if they did -

1) Would setting up my front AGXs to be stiffer prevent them from rubbing on bumps?
and
2) Does anyone think this damage will hurt the tires performance/wear as-is? (i.e., no further damage)

They're 225/45/17s on +43mm offset (actually +48mm +5mm spacers) - I figured if I'd be rubbing anywhere, it'd be on the inside, not the outside - hence my confusion.

You'd know better then I would about the possibility of rubbing the fender. So if its not that then I would say defective. Show the place where you bought the tires. Maybe check on the net if anyone with that same brand has had that problem. Its hard to judge without being there, but if there was no further damage I would say the tires would still last. Although some pics look worse than others.

But by looking at that I would say defective for sure.

 

[92awddsm]

It is definantly fender rub and thats what the shop will tell you also. How low is your car? That sounds more like the problem.

 

[jmartinez1228]

ive seen that same thing on my friends car he had it so low that his tires shreaded on the highway his car was way too low and he didnt have a camber kit either

 

[HokieDSM]

I'm on Eibach Prokits with KYB AGXs so the ride is only an inch or so lower than stock... I'm really confused at this point because that isn't much at all, not to be causing this.

I bought the set with the wheels from machiii.net and installed them myself on Wednesday.

 

[miteclgst]

I would definately check for fender rub, I had the same problem with my rear tires, everytime I would hit a bump the body would bounce enough to hit the tires, that is exactly what the tires ended up looking like. Your best bet is to check under the fender to see if there is any rubber marks/shavings on the inner lip. When I would wash my car and wipe along the lip of the wheel opening there would be a load of black crap on the sponge. If it's not fender rub get them to a falken Dealer, you only have so long to report a defect, usually within the first 2/32 of wear.

 

[92awddsm]

Thats strange because Im on pro kits with +43mm offset, gr2, and a 235-40-17. Only time Ive seen a tire like that is when it rubs. Might want to check insie the fenders and make sure something isnt sticking out and hitting the tire when turning and under copression.

 

[HokieDSM]

I'm pretty sure that it is indeed rubbing- but it shouldn't be. Really though my question is how do I fix it?

Can turning my shock stiffness up help?

 

[awd4g63]

The only thing that would really fix it is to either get a different offset, or bring your camber in a little. Both would be a pain in the ass. Hope you get it solved soon

 

[HokieDSM]

Jon, you think my camber might be set too high on those front wheels? Looking at my car I sometimes wonder about that... I can't return the rims so that'll be my only option. I've got camber plates on the frontend I believe - so I should be able to change it. I'll post up my results later this week.

 

[PSiDAWD]

i can confirm that its hitting the fender. its happen to me

solution.. roll the inside fender lip. this only happens when u hit a bump? u usally could smell like a burning rubber. fix this problem asap before the tire go kaboom on you. those "shred" look pretty deep.