The picture is of one of our tyres after experiencing tread separation while driving at 90kph on the expressway. I first noticed the vehicle wandering with a slight pull to the left. Then realised that we were throwing up debris (not mud). So pulled over to have a look.
The tyre in question was a Hercules A/T model. With hindsight, I had never really been happy with these from the get-go. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The vehicle behaved ok but it never felt as stable as others in the fleet. Even after going through the steering and suspension systems and changing any components that were suspect. But still … the tyres looked good and had not been punctured or driven on a flat. It still never felt 100%.
Although I was offered a free replacement tyre, I lost confidence in the others and decided to replace all the tyres on the vehicle.
It’s a different vehicle now. 100%.
Highlights the importance of investing in quality tyres, as not all modern radials are created equal. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.