# Should I worry about this damage on the sidewalk of my tire? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [September 10, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707 "2018-09-10T12:42:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JustaSimpleton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@JustaSimpleton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JustaSimpleton)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/1 "2018-09-10T12:42:47Z")
The picture is attached I just want to know if this is cosmetic or cause for concern I have not been losing psi. ![5150](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/b/b388bd9d65ce239cd1f11a5af5ff286b033014ad.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/2 "2018-09-10T12:47:11Z")
It would be totally wrong for anyone on the web universe to tell you that the tire is safe from a picture that really does not show everything. Frankly sidewall damage means the tire needs replaced . Do you really want to have a tire fail at 60 + MPH in heavy traffic or in an area where it might not be safe to change a tire. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/3 "2018-09-10T13:56:53Z")
The one hole looks fairly deep. But we can’t get a clear view of the inside of it. Have a tire shop check it out. ![b388bd9d65ce239cd1f11a5af5ff286b033014ad](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/e/e923d5046a1b5226c301d5a4056130f91dbf520b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![boilerengtn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/boilerengtn/32/6955_2.png) [@boilerengtn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boilerengtn)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/4 "2018-09-11T01:02:54Z")
A 2D picture is tough to make a judgment - it could be a surface scrape or much deeper - it’s tough to tell. I would tend to be a little more safe than sorry; peace of mind is worth quite a bit, and, for me, would be money well spent. If it was me, I’d kick myself when it did go and I merely wanted to save a few bucks (and for something I will be replacing eventually anyway). ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/5 "2018-09-11T01:17:38Z")
> [@JustaSimpleton](#): > > I have not been losing psi. Maybe not, but when you do it might be all at once, 35 to 0 in 0.01 seconds ---
**Author:** ![JustaSimpleton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@JustaSimpleton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JustaSimpleton)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/6 "2018-09-11T22:19:58Z")
![thumbnail_20180910_194938](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/c/c7039c2b2cf384bbbb2a7fde095ec043acf23aea.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/7 "2018-09-11T22:26:21Z")
Can’t tell any more than the last photo. sorry. Can you measure the depth of the deepest cut? again, take it to a tire store and have them look at it. ![c7039c2b2cf384bbbb2a7fde095ec043acf23aea](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/5/574e46023d5a351c616e5e634e1600d597aa322f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/8 "2018-09-11T22:30:49Z")
It’s the kind of thing nobody wants to take responsibility (liability) for telling you it’s safe. If it were mine I’d probe it with something to find out how deep it is. Then guesstimate by its depth and orientation there are any broken threads. Even then it is up to someone’s judgment. If there are broken threads, it’s likely some distortion of the sidewall would show up. If there is none, I would tell myself not to worry about it. But I would probably still worry, or at least do some watchful waiting… How close are you (years, miles) to needing new tires? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/9 "2018-09-11T22:31:51Z")
That is very minor, I see many tires each day with worse damage. If there are no belts exposed don’t worry about the tire. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-worry-about-this-damage-on-the-sidewalk-of-my-tire/124707/10 "2018-09-12T00:25:43Z")
I tend to agree with @Nevada_545. Look carefully for exposed cords in the deepest part of the tear. If none look carefully at the tire from the side to see if there is any bulging or swelling of the sidewall; not just the torn piece sticking up some but the tire wall actually pushing out some. If you have a road hazard warranty you might be covered. Check it out. Otherwise, if the tire passed the tests you have done about pressure and what I would do, I would continue to use the tire. What you decide to do is up to you.