DallasJhwk

I've got a mystery that I can't figure out on my own.

Symptoms:
Right Front tire has a small groove that's being worn away on the outer wall of the tire.
Right Front inner fender liner is slightly separated from the body panel fender and there is rubber buildup on bottom right front outboard most position of the inner fender and fender.
There is 4-5" of clearance from the tire to the fender and fender liner.
I've turned the wheel and can't get the tire to come close to the area of rubber build up.
I've sat on the fender and can't get the fender to come close to the tire.

Any help would be appreciated.

TrueGS300

Street parking and continually rubbing on the curb?

DallasJhwk

I don’t think the clues match the diagnosis of curbed tires where you would see an even rub over a greater area of the tire sidewall instead of a tiny groove and it doesn’t explain the rubber buildup on the inner fender/wheel well.

firelizard

iTrader: (1)

Your entire sidewall is worn, yo. The lettering is all gone. The groove where it's becoming corded is just the worst part.

Is that rubber powder or plastic shavings?

DallasJhwk

Hmmm, you make a compelling case. Let me ask my daughter if she's been making curbing a habit .

Would the wheel be more chewed up if this was happening or is there enough sidewall overhang that it hits that first?

The buildup is rubber not plastic.

sbagdon

Looks like a bad tire, worst we've ever seen. Replace it.

What's the tire make/model, size, and manufacturing year/week?

First glance, almost looks like the tire is too small, and the sidewall is putting force down, inside the point it should be pressing, wearing the sidewall.

Alphaman19

I’d say it’s not from curb rubbing. If it where the rim would be rashed up pretty badly.

With no way of substantiating, my guess is someone just put an old dry tire on the car. #CaptainObvious

DallasJhwk

Tire is two years old.

Alphaman19

Also, how about the tire was just butt low on air for sometime or has a slow leak? I’d put my money there.

Wait... is there a prize for who guesses the right diagnosis?

sbagdon

So we're up to under-sized and/or under-inflated... any more?

AmyUD06

iTrader: (1)

When the car is stopped, of course the fender liner won't touch the tire. When its in motion, moving air could be pushing it back, causing the contact.

And yes, those tires are horrible and a safety hazard. If they're truly only two years old, whoever's been driving it has been acquainted with curbs quite frequently.

DallasJhwk

Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring http://us.coopertire.com/tires/cs5-ultra-touring.aspx
235/45R17
Date of MFG 4115 (month 41, year 2015)

400DGRZ

iTrader: (2)

Check out this thread..

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/the...e-scraped.html

DallasJhwk

That sounds like the likely culprit. Great thread about under inflated tires and what caused 99% of blowouts.

sbagdon

Week 41, year 15...? That's almost 4yrs since manufacture. Most respected tire stores won't touch a tire over 7yo, so you're about 1/2-way through the life.

Looked at the tire and thought... no way that's a 45/17... then looked at google images, and yup... that's the sidewall design. was thinking it would be something more like the BFGoodrich, with a more-square sidewall.

Still looks like under-inflation. Turn the wheel all the way in one direction, and see if there's a matching ring-of-wear on the inside... if it matches, probably under-inflation.