Tire became "out of round"?

[aquariuscsm]

Tire in question is a 3 1/2 year old Kumho Ecsta. I got home from a three hour highway drive and noticed a slight wobble in the left front wheel. I jacked it up when I got home from work yesterday and started spinnng the wheel. The tire looks to have gotten "out of round" in the very middle of the tread. I didn't hit a single bump or pothole during the entire drive,and tires are always kept at 33 psi per Nissan. Does this kind've thing commonly happen?

I'll be replacing the front tires asap. What's a good replacement for these? I don't need or want a high dollar performance tire,just an every day daily driver highway touring type plain Jane tire.

 

[Rand]

Need more information such as car model, tire size, budget etc.

 

[zzyzzx]

It's a cheap Chinese (or Korean) tire. You got what you paid for. That, and if you can upload a picture, that would be great.

Does it look like this:

 

[mcrn]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
It's a cheap Chinese (or Korean) tire. You got what you paid for. That, and if you can upload a picture, that would be great.

Does it look like this:

LOL is that real?

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: mcrn
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
It's a cheap Chinese (or Korean) tire. You got what you paid for. That, and if you can upload a picture, that would be great.

Does it look like this:

LOL is that real?


Wow, I guess that would lead to more than a little wobble.

 

[Kestas]

Does the tire industry have standards for max out-of-round?

 

[mightymousetech]

A belt in the tire may have broken due to water getting into the belts and corroding them. Has the tire ever been repaired?

And wow at tire pick!

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Need more information such as car model, tire size, budget etc.

1996 Nissan 300ZX 5-speed,Arctic Pearl(#175 of 300)
Syntec 10W40/Fram Ultra
Amsoil MTG(transmission)
Amsoil 80W90 GL5(rear diff)
Mobil 1 ATF
Redline Water Wetter

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
It's a cheap Chinese (or Korean) tire. You got what you paid for. That, and if you can upload a picture, that would be great.

Does it look like this:

Oh please stop it with that "you get what you pay for mentality". We have a global economy now and you are not going to find that argument holds water like it used to.

For example, there are lots of high end tire mfrs (Michelin, Pirelli) who make a lot of their tires in Brazil or China now.

The OP probably just has a defective tire..Something that could happen with an overpriced made in USA Goodyear tire.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: Rand
Need more information such as car model, tire size, budget etc.

1996 Nissan 300ZX 5-speed,Arctic Pearl(#175 of 300)
Syntec 10W40/Fram Ultra
Amsoil MTG(transmission)
Amsoil 80W90 GL5(rear diff)
Mobil 1 ATF
Redline Water Wetter


Thanks Nick

 

[aquariuscsm]

Haha it's not anything like that picture You can just see it as you rotate the tire by hand. I'd think tires should have an impeccable rotating circumference.

 

[Lyman]

IMHO Kumho tires are junk. I have seen many of them fail in the past few years. Most of them on coworkers cars. Cheap tires with all the problems of cheap tires. I don't belong to the "It's a global economy" crowd.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: Reddy45
The OP probably just has a defective tire..Something that could happen with an overpriced made in USA Goodyear tire.


I've never had issues with even the cheapest made in USA or Canada Goodyear tires.

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: Blkstanger
IMHO Kumho tires are junk. I have seen many of them fail in the past few years. Most of them on coworkers cars. Cheap tires with all the problems of cheap tires. I don't belong to the "It's a global economy" crowd.


I have to agree.

Years ago I purchased a brand new set of Kumho Supra Exsta (sp?) 205/50/16's for the BMW in the sig. From day one I had terrible noise. I attributed it to the car being noisy from teh shorter sidewall from the factory 14's. Only once my mechanic drove the car and put blame on the tires did I start to see things differently.

I eventually sold those tires and refused cheap tires since. Never had noisey tires, bulges or any irregularities with reputable tires like higher end Michelin MXV4, Conti DWS etc. Heck, I even have a set of 14 inch Michelin tires on the BMW currently from about 2001. They NEVER leak a pound of air, have any bulges or lose grip (even in heavy rain). I bought the set of BMW factory steel wheels with hubcaps and tires for $100 off CL 3 years ago when I just needed a cheap set of "rollers" when I sold my Borbet Type C's. Best and cheapest investment I've ever made!

If that's not a testament to quality tires, I don't know what is!!

 

[aquariuscsm]

How is Yokohama these days? I always ran those on my 3000GT and never had a single problem,maybe 15 or so years ago. I'm thinking about Michelin too. A 300ZX I almost bought one time had some kind've Michelins and that car drove smooth as a luxury car.

 

[Tomioka]

I'm guessing your tire has developed a lump. I had that occur to 70-ratio truck tires and you think there would be plenty of sidewall or flex to absorb pothole impact.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I'll be replacing the front tires asap. What's a good replacement for these? I don't need or want a high dollar performance tire,just an every day daily driver highway touring type plain Jane tire.


I'd go with a Cooper or General tire. Both are well regarded on here for their price and performance.

 

[SirTanon]

Originally Posted By: Wolf359
Originally Posted By: mcrn
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
It's a cheap Chinese (or Korean) tire. You got what you paid for. That, and if you can upload a picture, that would be great.

Does it look like this:

LOL is that real?


Wow, I guess that would lead to more than a little wobble.


just maybe.. although better or worse than this?:

 

[dlundblad]

We need some photos of the ZX before we can proceed..

 

[Mr Nice]

Yokohama are very good tires.

How often did you rotate your tires?