after seeing this thread my first thought was related to the avatar LOL
but, Since we are quite interested in the performance driving enthusiasts get from their tires, thanks for making us aware of the Michelin Pilot Sport tire that experienced a partial tread separation in the UK.
This is the first we have heard about any tire damage of this type on a Viper. We know that Michelin monitors Viper Day events in the U.S. and we get some feedback from participants in the open road races (like the Silver State Challenge) in Nevada.
While the pictures alone can¹t provide enough information to fully analyze the cause, I can offer some observations.
If the cause of the separation was due to defects in materials or workmanship during the manufacturing process, it would have shown up very early in the tire¹s life (especially at the speeds it sounds like you can run in the UK). Since the tire appears to have some miles on it, I believe that at some point in its life, the tire encountered something that caused the bond between the tread and the spirally wound nylon belt reinforcement to be weakened. It could have occurred climbing over corner curbing at a racetrack, flatspotting the tire by momentarily locking the brakes, drifting wide off the edge of the track into a depression, or even running over an unavoidable pothole or road hazard on the ride home.
Since a Viper's tires roll about 800 times every mile, I believe that the area of the damage eventually weakened over time to the point where it could no longer hold onto the tread at the high speeds you were traveling. Because of your vehicle¹s negative camber, its not unusual that it occurred on the inside half of the tire.
The fact that it held together for your trip home "at + 140 mph" is a testament to the tire¹s quality. At 140 miles per hour, your tires are making about 31 revolutions per second.
And while you "didn't think good quality tires were supposed to shed bits of tread like that", a lesser quality tire under the same circumstances might have tried to take your Viper's fender off, or failed completely taking you and your Viper with it!
We have referred your posting to our Michelin contacts in the U.S. so they can arrange to have a UK representative contact you and/or make arrangements to take a look at your tire.
I am really glad you stopped when "something didn't feel 'right'." Thoroughly checking the wheels, tires and suspension components anytime things don't feel 'right' is an important lesson for everyone to remember.
Luke Pavlick
The Tire Rack
