Slight tear in sidewall - safe to drive or replace tires?

[Dr.AK]

So, when I was putting on my BBS today, I noticed that one of my rear's has got a slight tear in the sidewall.



The tire is a Dunlop SP 9000 in 225/35/17 stretched on a 9.5x17. The tear seems a bit on the deep side.

Would it be safe to drive on this or would I be better of replacing my rear tires? Wouldn't be a problem as I've got a pair of Hankooks in the shed in the same size.

I'm not sure about this, my first instinct is to replace it because the sidewall is the part that moves and flexes in corners and such, and I don't want to risk a blowout. But a friend of mine claims it's probably fine and he would just keep driving on it.

Better to err on the side of caution and replace em?

[P78]

hmm, i woulnd't wanna risk a blow out

sidewall dmg is bad

[The Riddler]

happened to me also on a pair of tires. didn't think it was a problem so i sort of forgot about it. two weeks later a friend drove the car a bit on the hard side and is lucky to be alive. the tire blew, the car spun and stopped in the ditch. he wouldn't have died because of that, the road was empty and beyond it was a field, but those were the first wheels i had bought with my own money and he ruined one beyond repair, the asshole

[DeleriousZ]

Definitely replace it. With the sidewall already under a ton of stress from being stretched I'd definitely not risk it, especially being on the inner part of the wheel where all the weight is (assuming camber)

[OrangeBlue]

Many of our customer drive wheels with a damage like that..,
if the inner layers or carcass isn't exposed, i think its fine.

But, as mentioned before, the camber could kill the tire.
If you have the tires in the shed swap them.

[Hella_RICH]

I would replace, seeing that you also have tires to mount. It may be ok for now, but one big pot hole or anything that will cause an increase in pressure will blow the sidewall. Don't ruin your wheel because of a tire, cheap insurance!