Was looking at my Wranglers today and noticed on the outer couple of rows of tread on both front tyres, there are lots of little flaps of rubber, some of which are large enough to lift with a finger (still only 2-3mm long).

The rears don't have this at all. Tyres may well be original so almost 5 years old over 40k miles.

Are little cuts and nick's like that normal or is it a sign of tyre issues? I am in the process of deciding what to do winter Tyre wise and it becomes easy if I NEED to replace my current tyres, not so if they are actually fine. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

Does you local council 'top dress' roads and have they done it recently?
Those tiny sharp stones are stupid in my eyes, Lancashire CC are doing this all over the place at present.

Also, do you tend to turn the wheel whilst stationary? this will cut the tyres.

Have you any images of the tread problem?

Not that I'm aware of, but have just moved into a house where access is via a hardcore / gravel road, on an incline.

I do at points have to turn the wheel when stationary yes. I know it shouldn't be done but sometimes it is the only way to get out.

Will take a photo tomorrow. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

I need to see a pic.
Blocky patterns are vulnerable to damage if if off-roading often.
Should only be concerned if you can see underlying tyre construction material. MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

Last edited by Stuartc on 23rd Aug 2015 2:56 pm. Edited 2 times in total

Here you go. They aren't big but there are quite a few.






 Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

Nothing to worry about  MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

Last edited by Stuartc on 23rd Aug 2015 3:06 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Cheers. Half hoping they were a problem to force me into making a decision about my winter tyres! Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

A few people have mentioned this problem with Wranglers. It may contribute to the known noise problem with these tyres. I've seen it happen in the past, usually when the tyres are starting to get a bit low - say around the 4mm mark, when I would be looking to change them. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Mine are likely around the 4mm mark now. Need to go out and measure them. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

4mm is legal, but Wranglers start getting noisy about then. Performance drops steeply below 4mm. LR dealers won't sell a used car with less than 4mm. I've bought wheels from a guy who had run every tyre down to the tread indicators, but I wouldn't go there myself. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Noise doesn't bother me, but safety does. Will measure them tomorrow. Learned to drive in 2011.
Bought a Micra - great little car
"Upgraded" to Kia Sportage - hated it
Proper upgrade to FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - tailgate paint issues, fuel gauge rewire, transfer box failure at 36k miles, clutch at 60k
Reconditioned diff at 70k ish
Sold at 84k and now on a DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental

There's a good info sheet at http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/ve...-weather/. Their graph shows performance starting to drop off between 4 and 3mm.
4mm is generally regarded as the minimum for winter tyres, as snow performance deteriorates sharply at that point. Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Hmm strange why company car fleet groups wont change a tyre until its down to 2mm when the majority do high speed motorway driving too??
Below 4mm on the motorway in the rain you are at risk from aquaplaning in only moderate rain fall too due to the speed youre going at.
Tell them that but no we dont renew until 2mm is reached yet the high street tyre fitting companies tell ordinary folk their tyres are knackered at 3mm and ought to be replaced pronto.
A tale of double standards of there ever was one.