Cause of two flat tyres at rear

Russinating

Russinating

Russinating

Soldato
Joined
27 Dec 2005
Posts
17,315
Location
Bristol
Had all 4 tyres replaced a few weeks ago, have done about 1,700 miles since (we did the NC500!). Traveled to see some friends an hour away yesterday, all fine, drove to a Chinese takeaway (30 min round-trip). No issues just quite a bit of flood water down country lanes. Went to head home this morning and we've got two flats at the back. Checked the tyre pressure and the last update (Tesla Model 3) was 14 hours ago (so 7/8pm yesterday) and they show as 32-35 rather than 42 like the fronts, so they weren't completely flat a few hours after I drove last.

Driver's side has a very visible large gash on the side wall. Can't see anything on the passengers side. Photos below.

Seems so odd to get two flats, and both at the back (ie opposite sides). Their village is safe and we were parked on their driveway, just wondering if something else happened whilst collecting the Chinese or popping to the shop. What does the gash look like to you guys? I'm a total novice here - never even had a flat!

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That looks like some toe rag nobba has stuck a knife in the sidewall of the tyres. If you'd done that while driving I'd expect it to have scrape marks or be horizontal, as apposed to vertical. Although it does look like some scrape marks exist, maybe you hit the edge of a sharp pavement. Did you turn around and drive the same way back and hit the other side in the same place?!

Edit: Do your friends really like you? :p
 
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That is very unusual damage to not have been intentionally knifed.

I suspect you'll find another similarly sized gash somewhere on the other tyre.

Did sentry mode catch anything?
 
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Nemiyen said:
That looks like some toe rag nobba has stuck a knife in the sidewall of the tyres. If you'd done that while driving I'd expect it to have scrape marks or be horizontal, as apposed to vertical. Although it does look like some scrape marks exist, maybe you hit the edge of a sharp pavement. Did you turn around and drive the same way back and hit the other side in the same place?!

Edit: Do your friends really like you? :p
Click to expand...

Was pretty much entirely Somerset country lanes on all the journeys we did, so no curbs just big puddles with the rain. I've also lost the front drivers side aero hub cover...

The first time the car shows an air pressure alert in the notification history is at 19:47 and we got back at 19:52.
 
how can you explain the scrubbing on both sidewalls ? that's not vandalism - what does the interior sidewall look like ?

I'd say you've driven through a particularly nasty pot-hole or piece of road debris in both directions ,
any narrow roads negotiated with a single carriageway, where both wheels passed over same road area.

e: or sidewall damage was a result of subsequent driving
 
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The wheel is kerbed where the gash is. The sidewalls are also marked from where it has been driven flat so doesn't look like someone has knifed them as you would feel a flat tyre straight away. Unless you didn't see the flats before you got in.

Those wheels are pretty scraped too. Someone gave the keys to Stevie wonder?
 
Those alloys are kerbed galore!! Is that recent, or has the missus been trying to park it? That may have done enough damage to one of the tyres to lose pressure.

I'd have thought if it was targeted you'd have got a pretty quick flat rather than taking all night to deflate.
 
Car is almost 4 years old, the alloy damage is well old/over time.

Didn't feel anything at all on the drives and also didn't come back the same way. Did the drives with the friend we're staying with and he didn't notice anything either.

I use Teslamate but can only access it locally but will be interesting to see if it tracks tyre pressure frequently, might be able to see exactly where they first dropped.

Anyway, currently awaiting a tow and ordered two new tyres for fitting on Weds. Another £400 in 3 weeks!
 
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To me those tyres look like they have been driven on while at low pressure. So the problem might have started before you parked.

Jesus, 400 for two tyres.
 
Hades said:
To me those tyres look like they have been driven on while at low pressure. So the problem might have started before you parked.

Jesus, 400 for two tyres.
Click to expand...

I mean that would make more sense. It's highly unlikely they would have got slashed on my friends drive (tiny village, set back from the road, etc). If it was malicious it's more likely when I was parked at the shop or Chinese.

Also not saying it is at all, I have no idea, just seems so odd for both back ones to go after such a short, uneventful drive.
 
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