Topic: How bad does damage have to be?

[Plekto]

I recently got a large gouge in my sidewall of one of my MTs.  It's really more of a cut but it isn't leaking - just looks ugly and penetrates the first ply(of three, so sayeth the manufacturer)

Obviously the tire shops want to sell me new tires.  Exactly how tore up do MTs have to be to actually warrant replacement?

[emsvitil]

Get a cheap steel rim and have a full size spare.........

[85yotabox]

well it depends if you got certificates on your tires or not.  and if you got full or tread depth certs, if you got full replacement certs any road hazare i.e. hole in side wall or two hole too close together or somthing like that, then you get a whole new tire for free, if you have tread depth certs you get credit on a new tire for howmuch of yours is left. if you dont huave certs your pretty much s.o.l. and if your asking if the tire is still good, it should be good unless you can see cords or wires in the hole.   Oh, i work at americas tire by the way.

[KYOTA]

x2 on keeping it as a trail spare. I sure as hell wouldnt want to have that gash on my mind while doing 75 down the highway 

[Plekto [OP]]

I decided to get a replacement since they have a price match guarantee(thanks, tire rack!)  and pro-rated my damaged tire at about $110.(heh).

$40 "fix".  The spare is a normal BFG AT/off-road "doughnut" as it were. 
The gouge grew a bit yesterday and stopped - but it's about 1/2 inch from the bead - too close to deal with, imo.

[alwayzbroken]

How much damage before I would warrant getting new tires?

The answer is directly related to how you value your life and the lives of those that may happen to be in the vehicle with you.

[Plekto [OP]]

I did a quick in my head calculation of my weight and center of gravity and 75mph and came up with way more body damage from rolling over than the cost of the tire...

[boobap]

The answer is directly related to how you value your life and the lives of those that may happen to be in the vehicle with you.

...and the other drivers on the road. kinda like a drunk driver...if you want to drink and drive, then go take your self out and don't endanger the other drivers on the road...