2 flats in a week, sidewall damage, huh?

[runcyclexcski]

I recently got a new set of Cooper CS4 touring tires for my Outback
Sport which (the tires) got rave reviews. 91H rated. I indeed like
them a lot for handling in the rain and snow, very smooth ride, etc.

Even more recently, I moved to a city (San Fran) which requires a lot
of curbing in everyday parking. A week ago hit a curb at ~10 mph
making a right turn and literally got a piece the size of an orange
ripped off the right front tire's sidewall (the impact was, to the
best of my understanding, minimal, I've had way worse hits at higher
speeds with no consequences). A few days later - another flat, again,
a piece of rubber ripped off from the sidewall, and this time I don't
even recall doing anything wrong, just normal wear and tear during
parallel parking. Before, with old Yokohamas, I've driven off-road in
Seath Valley, got stuck on sharp rocks and gravel with no impact on
tires at all (ruined the tranny, but that's different ).

I already ordered 2 matching Coppers to be shaved to match the thread
OD. But now I am thinking if there is something wrong with that tire
design? Can some tires be more sensitive to curbing? Or that batch
batch of tires is bad?

At this point I am considering just ordering a set of the fattest
rubber tires in 205/55/16, just the heaviest duty set available for
that diameter and width. Handling and smoothness is all good, but
durability is more important at this point.

 

[weelliott]

I recently got a new set of Cooper CS4 touring tires for my Outback
Sport which (the tires) got rave reviews. 91H rated. I indeed like
them a lot for handling in the rain and snow, very smooth ride, etc.

Even more recently, I moved to a city (San Fran) which requires a lot
of curbing in everyday parking. A week ago hit a curb at ~10 mph
making a right turn and literally got a piece the size of an orange
ripped off the  right front tire's sidewall (the impact was, to the
best of my understanding, minimal, I've had way worse hits at higher
speeds with no consequences). A few days later - another flat, again,
a piece of rubber ripped off from the sidewall, and this time I don't
even recall doing anything wrong, just normal wear and tear during
parallel parking. Before, with old Yokohamas, I've driven off-road in
Seath Valley, got stuck on sharp rocks and gravel with no impact on
tires at all (ruined the tranny, but that's different ).

I already ordered 2 matching Coppers to be shaved to match the thread
OD. But now I am thinking if there is something wrong with that tire
design?  Can some tires be more sensitive to curbing? Or that batch
batch of tires is bad?

At this point I am considering just ordering a set of the fattest
rubber tires in 205/55/16, just the heaviest duty set available for
that diameter and width. Handling and smoothness is all good, but
durability is more important at this point.

Maybe things are different on the west coast, but here in DC, when we
parallel park, we don't rub our tires on the curb. 'Curbing', as you
call it, is usually thought of as a sign of bad technique. I know
attitudes are different everywhere, so maybe it is common practice
there to try to squeeze every last inch out of roadway space, whereas
here as long as you are within a foot, you're good.

I'd suggest trying not to hit curbs at any speed. If you're not having
luck with that, then perhaps take a high performance driving course to
learn basic car control.

To me this is like complaining that your car has dents in it because
you keep driving into things, then justifying it by saying that when
you drove into things in your old work truck it didn't dent, so it
must be a defective car.

Bill

 

[weelliott]

I recently got a new set of Cooper CS4 touring tires for my Outback
Sport which (the tires) got rave reviews. 91H rated. I indeed like
them a lot for handling in the rain and snow, very smooth ride, etc.

Even more recently, I moved to a city (San Fran) which requires a lot
of curbing in everyday parking. A week ago hit a curb at ~10 mph
making a right turn and literally got a piece the size of an orange
ripped off the  right front tire's sidewall (the impact was, to the
best of my understanding, minimal, I've had way worse hits at higher
speeds with no consequences). A few days later - another flat, again,
a piece of rubber ripped off from the sidewall, and this time I don't
even recall doing anything wrong, just normal wear and tear during
parallel parking. Before, with old Yokohamas, I've driven off-road in
Seath Valley, got stuck on sharp rocks and gravel with no impact on
tires at all (ruined the tranny, but that's different ).

I already ordered 2 matching Coppers to be shaved to match the thread
OD. But now I am thinking if there is something wrong with that tire
design?  Can some tires be more sensitive to curbing? Or that batch
batch of tires is bad?

At this point I am considering just ordering a set of the fattest
rubber tires in 205/55/16, just the heaviest duty set available for
that diameter and width. Handling and smoothness is all good, but
durability is more important at this point.

I just realized what you mean by curbing when I realized that you said
San Fran and not San Diego, which is much much flatter. You must mean
when you turn your wheels, then let the front wheels roll into the
curb in order to hold the car on a steep hill. When you do that, turn
the wheel all the way so it is more the tread than the sidewall
hitting, and ease the car into the curb instead of letting it hit with
force. I do this by getting the car close, then stopping completely,
then letting off the brake slightly to let the car slowly crawl into
the curb. Don't use the rear wheels since you will be forced to use
the sidewalls. Only use the tread of the front wheels.

 

[runcyclexcski]

To me this is like complaining that your car has dents in it because
you keep driving into things, then justifying it by saying that when
you drove into things in your old work truck it didn't dent, so it
must be a defective car.

Well, I see you point. I thought I was an OK driver, at least with
parking. I certainly have seen worse... and I never expected that
everyday parallel parking can ruin one's tires in a matter of weeks.
In SF parking is indeed more involved than on flatland, like, parallel
parking at a 25% hill which I have to do every other day,

 

[nobody >]

Well, I see you point. I thought I was an OK driver, at least with
parking. I certainly have seen worse... and I never expected that
everyday parallel parking can ruin one's tires in a matter of weeks.
In SF parking is indeed more involved than on flatland, like, parallel
parking at a 25% hill which I have to do every other day,

I do hit curbs from time to time with my own car ('00 OB full-size).
I've owned this car for 4 years, and "my butt hasn't grown out to the
fenders" like it did with the little Bronco II it replaced.

Wanna have fun? Park a Hummer H1 or HMMV. I've done that on both
civilian and military versions. It's like you are sitting in an 8-foot
wide bathtub.

But I can agree with the hill-parking and such. Seattle isn't as hilly
as SanFran, but we do have some fun places to park.

I drive a Chev full-size van at work. They "unofficially" let us park
"unconventionally", so I jump-park over the curb all the time if needed
to get to a jobsite. That saves on sidewall blowouts.

But the fubared sidewalls shouldn't be happening that fast. I can't
remember the brand/model tires I've seen with heavy "curb guards", but I
know they exist.

What's your tire size now? If you could put up with the limitations,
there may be a "LT" (light truck) answer. There's a fairly decent
selection of 15" and 16" sizes, but height may be a problem. You might
have to "drop an inch" in rim size to stay in the outside diameter for
clearance.

 

[Big Jim]

The CS4's are great- I have 20k miles and love them. You need to stop
hitting curbs- Thats what the parking brake is for!!!!!!!!!!Forget the
driver's ed crap. Hitting curbs at 10mph has got to wreak havoc with
your alignment as well.. Honestly I'd suggest driver's ed before
buying new tires. Why shave tread off new tires? Put the new ones on
the front and two old ones on the rear.

 

[weelliott]

The CS4's are great- I have 20k miles and love them.  You need to stop
hitting curbs- Thats what the parking brake is for!!!!!!!!!!Forget the
driver's ed crap.  Hitting curbs at 10mph has got to wreak havoc with
your alignment as well.. Honestly I'd suggest driver's ed before
buying new tires.  Why shave tread off new tires? Put the new ones on
the front and two old ones on the rear.






- Show quoted text -

I'm assuming they are shaving them to get all four tires to the same
diameter, which is helpful in preserving the center differential.

 

[runcyclexcski]

I'm assuming they are shaving them to get all four tires to the same

diameter, which is helpful in preserving the center differential.

Yes. But at this point I doubt if it makes that big of a difference.