Hey community,
Looking for some input. I'll try to keep my story short.
Basically I acquired another set of stock wheels and wanted to get another set of tires for use just on the track. I had the parts department at my dealership order me a set of Hankook RS3's from TireRack. We installed the tires and I put them on the car to drive them and get a feel for them on the street before actually putting them on the track. I drove with them on for a weekend (less than 200 miles) and noticed that the tread didn't look quite right. Attached are some pictures showing what appears to be the rubber blistering and flaking and in some spots at the edges of the tread blocks chunks of rubber are coming off. This is happening across the entirety of all 4 tires.
Tires were immediately removed. I tried reaching out to Hankook for approximately 3 weeks with no response. I then reached out to TireRack and have sent many, MANY pictures trying to detail what is happening. After almost 3 weeks of calls and emails I am now being told that this is a non-warrantable condition and they are not willing to provide any assistance or replacement.
HOWEVER, in my conversation no one will say whether these tires are still safe or not and that is my biggest concern. I have not seen a tire wear like this, at least not when brand new. Are these tires junk or am I overanalyzing? I'm assuming no one is going to be willing to actually step up and help me out with these, but I'd at least like to know if I should just cut my losses and get another set.
Thanks in advance!

 

Is that the outside of the tire? Looks like you're over heating them. Possibly an alignment issue, or overdriving them.


They're still safe, it's just some minor tread chunking.

 

That's what my Dunlops look like after an entire season of autocross.

 

Abnormal tire wear is most always the result of other issues (tires are tires & most always not an issue w/the build or materials used)

Better pics showing the full width of the tread would help us (possible toe issue)

 

Alignment is good. We did the alignment the same day we mounted the tires. Here's some pictures showing more of the tread, but the wear is uniform across the whole tire.
Don't think they were overheated. Had them at a pretty moderate pressure, 80 degree air temp on the street. And I definitely wasn't driving to the max, just wanted to get a feel for them before putting them on the track.

 

Whats the alignment specs? That tire looks like it's being overdriven. That's what mine would look like after an autocross if the pavement was super abrasive..

 

I forget the exact specs, would have to pull the alignment sheet, but I remember everything was within factory specs and then we just flipped the camber bolt for -2 up front and then adjusted rear camber to -.8-1.0

 

camber wouldn't matter, it would be the toe that's the issue. i've only seen tires like that after getting really hot.
if you have been driving normally, i'd say either bad alignment or you are driving on 200* asphalt LOL.

i can't think of any reason for tires looking anything like that with a proper alignment and normal driving.

 

The front RS3's on my dads cooper s looked like that. But that's what you get from a 250whp fwd car and 110* track temps at willow springs...lol

 

LOL. i can imagine. i chunked a set of Nittos because i didn't let them warm up properly before beating the crap out of them LOL.

 

My old set of tires didn't even look this beat up after 2 years. I wouldn't be as concerned if this happened after a few track days, but at this rate I'm worried about the safety of them on a track and even if I did take them to a track day they look like they would only last 1 event.

 

i can see the reason for your concern.

mine looked like that after a hard day at the track. they were still fine. in fact, a guy i know just finished them up after a season of autox. they lasted one or two track days for me and a few autox events, then a full season of autox for him (and he is NOT nice on tires LOL).

i'm not worried about how the tires look. my only concern is that they look like that after normal driving. unless your "normal driving" is more like my "spirited driving" LOL.

remember: they are really soft and will react to abuse different than a regular tire.

 

Sorry if I'm being an idiot but what are we looking at here, is it where the little blister like mark is on the tire, there's several of them in a row on the tread. Isn't that just the mark from the little fire pattern that Hankook mold into the tread?

 

the pitting and evidence of the rubber peeling away. normally only happens after over cooking them but OP is getting that after normal driving (which none of us have ever seen before).
quite the mystery.

 

Yes the blisters. Evidence of over-heating the tires and forming a blister under the skin of the tread block, which then peels upon driving more. Tread squirm in the blocks under less than optimal slip angle ( way over driving ). Probably squealing like a pig too LOL

i have done this before on Falken tires during an autocross.