[keylime503]

A friend of mine borrowed my car and didn't realize I was backed in and parked so close to the curb when he first started drive. Took the front left wheel right over the curb. Decent amount of curb rash but more concerning is that he ripped a flap of rubber sidewall (see pictures). The rip doesn't go all the way to the contact point between the rubber and the alloy and I don't see any cords or anything.

Normally, I know any sidewall damage is really dangerous to drive on and a blowout waiting to happen. In this case, it does just look cosmetic. Am I being crazy here? Would you guys ignore this (or use some rubber cement to glue it back down) or is the voice in my head correct when it says "you know any sidewall damage is dangerous, don't do it!"?

If these tires were older I wouldn't think twice about replacing them anyways. But the front tires are decently new and I have less than 2 months left on my lease.

Lease is up in July and I'm done with leasing new BMWs after that. I know the curb rash on the wheel is definitely something I'll have to fix or pay up at lease return. What about the tire damage?

[cristo]

That looks pretty deep.
I’d replace it.

[Sportstick]

Hope your friend is better at operating his credit card than a motor vehicle. That's a wheel repair and tire replacement he created for you.

[Climate Changer]

Replace it brotha. I went through 5 tires already. These run flats are horrible. Would you rock shoes with a hole in them. Life is priceless and it could be someone else.

[morphomeman]

Superglue!

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by Climate Changer

Replace it brotha. I went through 5 tires already. These run flats are horrible. Would you rock shoes with a hole in them. Life is priceless and it could be someone else.

These are Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. No runflats here!

[Climate Changer]

Originally Posted by keylime503

These are Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. No runflats here!

Didn't realize that. You most likely not be charged for curb damage. I've leased many and never got hit with a charge. In fact the inspector stated that BMW doesn't charge for it. Nor has it ever been in the report. Good luck.

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by Climate Changer

Didn't realize that. You most likely not be charged for curb damage. I've leased many and never got hit with a charge. In fact the inspector stated that BMW doesn't charge for it. Nor has it ever been in the report. Good luck.

Sounds like you turn around a lease another BMW though, in which case they are more likely to turn a blind eye.

In my case, I am returning this lease and taking a break from driving new cars for awhile. So I fully expect to get nickel and dime'd for every little thing they can find.

[Climate Changer]

Curb rash repair in NYC is between 50-150. 150 for perfect. Just giving you an idea in case you get charged. Ask the inspector. They know the dealership. They are normally independent and inspect other brands as well. They have a trained eye and see everything.

Your friend should pay for it. At least half the amount. Go bang his sister if he has one. lol

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by Climate Changer

Curb rash repair in NYC is between 50-150. 150 for perfect. Just giving you an idea in case you get charged. Ask the inspector. They know the dealership. They are normally independent and inspect other brands as well. They have a trained eye and see everything.

Your friend should pay for it. At least half the amount. Go bang his sister if he has one. lol

Appreciate the suggestion . I'm not that worried about the curb rash since it doesn't compromise the safety of the car right now. The rubber cut/flap is my real concern.

[Winemaker2]

Substantial rubber cut. If you aren't turning the car in tomorrow you'll need to replace it and if you don't BMW will charge you for it. Tire wear is different from tire damage. Good luck young man.

[Shovelman]

Do you need to drive it much in the next 2 months? If it's not into the cords, shoe repair glue should suffice. Don't track it.

So you're going to drive used cars, that brings bigger unknown hazards than this. When it comes to risk, there is no zero. Move on and live life.

[chattanooga240]

As others have said, that's a replacement.

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by Shovelman

Do you need to drive it much in the next 2 months? If it's not into the cords, shoe repair glue should suffice. Don't track it.

So you're going to drive used cars, that brings bigger unknown hazards than this. When it comes to risk, there is no zero. Move on and live life.

Nah, I'm just going to drive the E83 I already have for awhile now. Can't really justify having multiple cars right now while my work is WFH through the end of 2020 at least.

[morphomeman]

There are some great rubber glues out there, many of them stronger than the rubber itself, so I suspect that this was a serious suggestion. The greatest problem is flex, and there may not be much up in that spot. In any case, a tube of glue is not a major investment, so probably worth a try.

[Dylan86]

The integrity of the tire is gone, therefor it "should" be replaced..

[RvR]

I repaired tires for years. Sorry to tell you this type of damage can't be fixed, you'll need to replace the tire. It's a serious safety problem in that condition.

[cristo]

If the dealer notices the “repair”
when you turn in the car in 2 months
you’ll be on the line for a new tire.
(This would be the good outcome).

If not, some unsuspecting individual
will be unknowingly risking a blowout.
If you don’t care about that it definitely
says something about you as a person.
If you do care, then it definitely says
something else about you as a person.

[msej449]

I ignored a nowhere-near-as-bad-looking tear in the sidewall of my previous 3 Series Touring, drove it locally the next day, and it just collapsed while parked that night. Heaven knows what would have happened at 70mph on a freeway. Not worth the risk, however annoying the cost, and usual need to buy 2 new tyres for the same axle, discarding a perfectly good but worn other tyre. All I'd done is to scuff the sidewall sideways-on, on a low brick flower border wall - but like yours, it had a flap pf rubber cut out.

[keylime503]

Thanks for all the replies. I had the exact same concerns about returning the car to BMW as-is - how do I make sure they don't sell the car to a poor soul who doesn't know about the tire and has trouble with it?!

I stopped by two different America's Tire locations on Friday. To my surprise, both of them quickly brushed this damage off and said it was "totally cosmetic" and "not worth fixing or dangerous in anyway". They also don't shave tires down so I'd have to buy two new tires if I wanted to fix this.

Luckily it seems like Tirerack will shave tires for a modest fee. So I am going to buy a single MP4S tire from Tirerack and have them shave it down to 7/32" for me so I only have to replace a single tire.

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by keylime503

I am going to buy a single MP4S tire from Tirerack and have them shave it down to 7/32" for me so I only have to replace a single tire.