Appeals from consumers to the Forensic expert kollegium for conducting expertise of pneumatic vehicle tires are among the most frequent requests.
During tire expertise, two main questions are addressed:
- determine the cause of failure (breakdown) of the tire;
- establish the nature of defect formation (operational or manufacturing).
Most often, tires submitted for expertise exhibit the following defects:
- formation of local bulges;
- through-type structural damage;
- excessive tire runout (radial or axial).
Defects of tires in the form of local bulges may be of either operational or manufacturing origin.
Operational defects arise due to violations by the user of tire operation rules, which leads to the formation of various types of defects.
Manufacturing defects arise due to violations of technological processes during tire production, which may subsequently lead to delamination of tire layers.
In some cases, it is possible to determine the cause of tire bulging without destructive testing methods; however, there are cases where localized destruction of the tire is required to definitively establish the cause of the defect. The customer is informed in writing about the method of examination, and without their consent, the expert has no right to destroy the object of study.
Through-type tire failures are generally linear or explosive in nature. During inspection of the object, the expert determines the scope of necessary work to definitively identify the cause of the defect.
Tire runout is a complex deviation from the ideal circular shape and is a contributing factor to overall wheel imbalance. Regarding tire runout, GOST 4754 currently applies in the CIS countries, regulating requirements for tire imbalance and runout indicators. Accordingly, this standard does not apply to tires manufactured outside the CIS countries. Therefore, when examining such tires, only operational defects can be established, while manufacturing defects in the form of improper runout cannot be identified.
Quite often, when claims arise, users contact the tire seller directly, who in turn provides its own specialist for expertise. As a rule, large selling companies have their own specialists who hold tire expert certificates issued by the Research Center of the Tire Industry of the Russian Federation or by tire manufacturers. Such experts may issue conclusions regarding the causes of tire failure, and users often agree with these conclusions. If the seller does not have such specialists, it may contact the tire manufacturer directly, which also conducts expertise using its own personnel. However, in such cases, the expertise is not independent; moreover, the manufacturer or seller is not authorized to conduct it in this form.
If the user does not agree with the conclusion issued by the seller or manufacturer, they additionally apply to the court or to the Forensic expert kollegium.
During repeated expertise, it is found that conclusions made by manufacturer experts or other experts do not comply with the Regulation on the Procedure for Conducting Expertise of Goods (results of performed works, services), and reliability of information about goods (works, services), approved by Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated 14.01.2009 № 26, which regulates the procedure for conducting expertise and defines such issues as:
in which cases expertise is conducted;
who is authorized to conduct expertise;
how the expertise must be documented.
Experts of the Forensic expert kollegium, conducting tire expertise, already at early stages of investigation can, based on a number of characteristic signs and features of tire condition, determine the causes of defect formation. However, the presence of a prior incorrect expert conclusion requires more in-depth investigation, which leads to an increase in the cost of the expertise (in some cases even exceeding the cost of the object itself).
Therefore, when a consumer has a claim, it is important that they immediately contact an organization that is authorized to conduct such expertise.
The Forensic expert kollegium is authorized to carry out forensic expert activities and has a staff of qualified specialists with appropriate training and experience in conducting automotive technical expertise, including tire expertise.
You can consult on a tire expertise at the Forensic expert kollegium at: Minsk, st. Zhukovskogo st., 11 A, 4th floor
or by phone +375 (17) 317 04 71; +375 (17) 317 04 72; +375 (17) 317 04 73; +375 (17) 317 04 74; +375 (17) 317 04 76; +375 (44) 588 60 11; +375 (29) 109 60 11