After noticing a split in one of my 18” PZeros fitted to my P1 (only visible on a ramp or when the wheel is off the car) I took the car to the dealers to check it out.
They took the car to the local tyre dealers they use, who stuck it on the ramp to have a look.
When the tyre was under load on the ramp the split I had seen, (looked like a cut made with a craft knife) had opened up to a split with a 4-5mm gap between the edges & their were lots of them around the edge of the tyre, some several inch’s long and EVERY tyre had them. The tyre dealer told me the car WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
I would advise all 18” PZero users to check their tyres.
The spit is on the inside of the wheel just below where the tread ends on the side wall, and cannot be seen unless the car is on a ramp or the wheel has been removed.
The tyres have only done approx. 7K miles and no track days and have no visible problems on the outside edge of the tyre.
Badger.

 

Badger,

So what did they/you do about it?

Ian

 

Ian,
I’ve currently got a set of wheels & tyres provided by the dealers (Thankyou Listers) and I’m waiting for a new set of PZeros to be supplied under warranty by Pirelli.
Badger

 

Badger, to ask a really obvious question but how do you know this is a tyre defect and not a "traditional" knife attack???

I've got a M8 who's had two sets of tyres attacked in two weeks

Matt.

 

Badger,

Well spotted before they went pop.

Ian

 

Matt,
The tyre fitters said it was tread separation, and as it is on the inside of the tyre it would be very difficult to do with a knife without taking the wheels off the car.
Bager

 

A full investigation is happening with Pirelli on this at the moment.

All that can be said at the moment is that this does not appear to be 'tread separation' but a visual defect on the outer rubber surface where the sidewall meets the tread.

Safety is obviously of primary importance but there have been NO reported cases of tyre failure or even tread lifting.

It would be useful to check your tyres, but remember this ONLY applies to 225/35ZR18PZero

Mike

 

Well done Mike/Prodrive

Nice prompt action to a potentially serious situation.

 

One of my last tyres, Avon ZZ1s had a similar split on the inside sidewall of one of the rear tyres. The other had a huge egg in it

Luckly I noticed and promptly changed them.

Bren