Cooper Tire Issues

**mikep4457** · 03-05-2023, 08:58 AM

Good morning all,

While inspecting the Cooper tires on my Solitude yesterday, I noticed two potential issues. The two tires on the driver's side had pockmarked areas on the side of the tread. One was on the inside of the tire and the other was on the outside. The second issue was areas with what looks like cracks on the face of the tires on the outside tread. This was on the tires on the passenger (door) side. The tires were made 03/2021 and we've had the trailer new since 06/2021. The tires have about 10K miles on them.

Can anyone tell me what might cause such issues and if I should be concerned? Could this lead to tread separation? I plan to contact Lionshead to see if this might be a warranty issue. I don't know much about tire issues, so I don't want to take it to the local tire shop until I know a little more about the cause.

**Hoopy Frood** · 03-05-2023, 09:46 AM

No idea what you're referring to as "pockmarked areas". Circling the area you're referring to would be good. I don't see anything out of the ordinary in the first photo, the second photo could be scuffing due to curb scrubbing. Does it go all the way around the tire, or just in a relatively small arc?

Do you do much traveling off the pavement?

**ajg617** · 03-05-2023, 10:25 AM

I'm going to have a look once I get it back from dealership. Ours was built Dec 2021 Tire codes say late Aug/early Sep 2021 and we have about 12K on the tires - nothing stood out from a tread perspective but I snapped a picture in December of one tire and zooming in there is some cracking on the sidewall near the letters which is troubling.

**mikep4457** · 03-05-2023, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Hoopy Frood

No idea what you're referring to as "pockmarked areas". Circling the area you're referring to would be good. I don't see anything out of the ordinary in the first photo, the second photo could be scuffing due to curb scrubbing. Does it go all the way around the tire, or just in a relatively small arc?

Do you do much traveling off the pavement?

Howard,

In the fist photo I was traying to show little cuts or cracks in the face of the tread on the outside of the tire. Hard to see in the photo. The second photo shows the "pockmarks" It looks like little pieces of rubber missing from the side of the tread. The area is only about 6" long and I also found a second area like this on the side of a separate tire. This area was only about 2" long.
No, we do not travel too much on gravel roads. Mostly going in and out of campground roads.

**Gronk1** · 03-05-2023, 12:12 PM

The second pic looks like tire scrub from a sharp turn(s) on asphalt where the tire rolled under a tad. Backing into a tight campsite? JMO

**traveldawg** · 03-05-2023, 02:28 PM

I'll suggest my usual advice toward worn tires with a bit of a twist. Usually I just say got to a good trailer alignment shop and let them do an alignment. In this case I would just remove the tire(s) in question and take them to a tire specialist and/or trailer alignment shop. Those folks will know what is going on; the rest of us will just guess.

**Hoopy Frood** · 03-05-2023, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by mikep4457

Howard,

In the fist photo I was traying to show little cuts or cracks in the face of the tread on the outside of the tire. Hard to see in the photo. The second photo shows the "pockmarks" It looks like little pieces of rubber missing from the side of the tread. The area is only about 6" long and I also found a second area like this on the side of a separate tire. This area was only about 2" long.
No, we do not travel too much on gravel roads. Mostly going in and out of campground roads.

With that small of an area with the "pockmarks", I'd lean toward curbing, especially if there's some on the other tire. It can happen when you're not even aware of it. Or scrubbing on a large rock or concrete in a RV park. Just a guess of course.

**LanerC** · 03-05-2023, 05:00 PM

Youve probably checked this but underinflated could possibly cause something like this.

**huntr70** · 03-06-2023, 05:34 AM

All I see is drag marks from the twisting of the tires on payment or in stone.

**geotex1** · 03-06-2023, 09:14 AM

I agree with others who are indicating those are scrub scars. Either curbing or tabletop spins. I have to tabletop our Solitude to get into our driveway due to narrowness of our road and boulder-lined driveway. To break the friction and ease the scrub, the cheapest kitty litter (bentonite) is your friend. Sand works too.