Is my typre safe to drive?

[Keedon]

One of my tyres (front wheel, left) has a tear on the side , but the structure of the tyre isnt exposed and there s no bulging. The tear is about 2cm long, 0.5cm wide and about 0.2-0.3cm deep, I've got a photo but can t attach it here.
I don't drive much (less than 5000 miles/y) but when I do it s usually motorway, so I dont want to risk it - but equally given my low mileage I don't want to spend money if I don't need to.

Do I need to get it replaced or not? I went to a tyre place and they said it was OK to drive (although they could have sold me a new one), but I'm still worried about driving it on the motorway.
Thanks

[BlindedByTheLights]

Why risk it? And I’d rather not share the motorway with you. New tyre.

[sherman]

Its only a cut on the side wall.
Side walls are pretty thick.
If no cord is showing and no buldge at worst it would be an MOT advisory but you would have to find a grumpy tester to pick that up.

[Pedro25]

As per the last reply, for a few pounds why take the risk of the tyre possibly becoming worse especially when motorway driving!

[Unreal]

Keedon said:

One of my tyres (front wheel, left) has a tear on the side , but the structure of the tyre isnt exposed and there s no bulging. The tear is about 2cm long, 0.5cm wide and about 0.2-0.3cm deep, I've got a photo but can t attach it here.
I don't drive much (less than 5000 miles/y) but when I do it s usually motorway, so I dont want to risk it - but equally given my low mileage I don't want to spend money if I don't need to.

Do I need to get it replaced or not? I went to a tyre place and they said it was OK to drive (although they could have sold me a new one), but I'm still worried about driving it on the motorway.
Thanks

Take it to two more tyre places and go with the majority view.

[rallycross]

Unreal said:

Take it to two more tyre places and go with the majority view.

Good idea I’d take advice from an independent local tyre shop not a big chain type place for genuine advice - a shallow cut to the side can be perfectly safe once checked a deep cut just not worth the risk for the sake of a few ££.

[sherman]

rallycross said:

Unreal said:

Take it to two more tyre places and go with the majority view.

Good idea I’d take advice from an independent local tyre shop not a big chain type place for genuine advice - a shallow cut to the side can be perfectly safe once checked a deep cut just not worth the risk for the sake of a few ££.

Remember most local tyre shops wont be open until 2nd Jan or possibly even the 6th

[Batfoy]

Don't forget to check the other three typres.

[K87]

Batfoy said:

Don't forget to check the other three typres.

I cannot read typronese.

[Lo-Fi]

K87 said:

Batfoy said:

Don't forget to check the other three typres.

I cannot read typronese.

That's why you need independent places, rather than chains; they can read typronese.

[Henry Cat]

I had a tyre with a similar sounding split . It let go on the M40 at about 60 mph all of a sudden. It was alarming.

[Batfoy]

K87 said:

Batfoy said:

Don't forget to check the other three typres.

I cannot read typronese.

Have you ever been to Typron? It’s lovely at this time of year.

[Pica-Pica]

If you have doubts, change it. Not worth the worry, nor the risk (however small) of a tyre failure.
With low annual mileage, you’ll likely be changing tyres because of age, rather than because they wear out.