Minor but Weird Tire Problem

[stevetone]

Well, I just did the first tire rotation on my newly acquired '03 Forester X (96k miles). It has a set of Goodyear Regatta 2 tires on it, with a good amount of tread left on them.

 

The weird, and hopefully minor, thing is that there is a thin white line on each of tires around the entire circumference. It's in the tread, not the sidewall. The line is actually embedded in the rubber and not centered but about 2/3 of the way to one side. You can't see the lines looking at the tires from the side but only if you stick your head inside the wheel well or take them off and look at the tread.

 

This is the first time I ever saw something like this, but then again I'm not a tire person. I'm guessing that it's some kind of directional cue for mounting the tires, but my first reaction was that it was a wear indicator. There is plenty of tread left, so maybe not.

 

Anybody see anything like this and should I be concerned? Thanks for your insight!

 

Steve

[gbhrps]

Within the last year or so you can buy tires that have all kinds of rubber colours running like bands through the tread. Ocassionally you'll see some tuner kid with them on in yellows, reds and even blues. It doesn't make a great deal of sense to me, but then again I'm over the hill and have been for several years. You don't have anything to worry about. Its just a design in the rubber and won't affect the tire in any way.

[porcupine73]

I think the band might be a wear indicator or something.

 

Those colored tires g mentioned emit colored smoke when spinning the tires.

[stevetone]

p73,

 

That was my first hunch as well. So I got off the couch and measured the tread depth. It's 6/32". That seems to be a little soon for a wear indicator, but maybe it gets exposed more as it wears more?

 

I'm still clueless, but will monitor for change.

 

Steve

 

I think the band might be a wear indicator or something.

 

Those colored tires g mentioned emit colored smoke when spinning the tires.