Tire Chip And Chunk

NOTE: If the level of chip and chunking is excessive or overall tire condition is poor the tire should be treated as any damaged/punctured tire. Where detrimental damage to the tire is evident, it must be reported to the customer with recommendations to accordingly replace damaged tires.

Symptoms

Typical example of a serviceable tire exhibiting chip and chunk phenomenon

Courtesy of JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Possible Causes:

Tire Chip and Chunk is a phenomenon that may develop on the tire tread when vehicles are driven on rough gravel or aggressive road surfaces. Typically the tread may lose small pieces of tread rubber within and around the periphery of the tread block. This loss of rubber ultimately leads, with extended usage, to an overall rough appearance to the tread area of the tire.

Action:

When a customer contacts a retailer concerning the chip and chunk phenomenon, retailers must:

Conduct a thorough evaluation of the tire condition and, where no detrimental damage has occurred, inform the customer that the chip and chunk condition does not affect the overall tire integrity or significantly affect performance
Inform the customers of the conditions that generate chip and chunk phenomenon

Complaints associated with this phenomenon must initially include a thorough examination of the vehicles tires for the following:

Excessive chip and chunk (tread cuts or loss of tread block section, extending deep into the tread rubber beyond the tread wear indicators or in the shoulder area extending beyond the groove depth)
Cuts and bulges especially within the sidewall
Overall tire condition including tread depth.

Where the tires do not exhibit excessive chip and chunk, cuts, sidewall bulges and are in generally good condition the customer should be advised that the condition does not affect the overall tire integrity or significantly affect performance and as such are serviceable.