Strange Wear Pattern on 5th Gen ORP

It very well could be that. When I first noticed them that was my assumption.

I'm stock height, wheels, and tire size so it's odd that they would rub though.

 

In case I missed it, has anyone gone to a tire shop and examined brand new ones for evidence of a 'seam'?

 

I have a 120,000 mile set and a 20,000 mile set and a 30,000 mile set of General ATx sitting in my driveway and none of them have those lines and none of them have ever had those lines.
Well, i looked thru pictures and i have pictures of these Generals on 6 different vehicles at all different states of mileage. Zero lines on any of them.

 

Here are photos on lock. No rubbing, but even if there was it wouldn’t be in the center and so perfect like that.

I think the seam is not wearing like the rest of the tire. And may be a warranty item. I’ll find out today.

 

The rub would most likely happen under suspension compression.

It's probably been asked already, but the rears are also like this?

 

My tire retailer called Falken and confirmed verbatim that this is called “Base Pen” technology and the rubber in that area is expected to wear at a different rate than the rest of the tire and it’s perfectly expected. It can happen in a straight line like mine and in other tires it can happen in a wave form. It’s a technology designed to discharge the buildup of static electricity. It’s a “reinforced carbon black strip of rubber” and because the compound is different it wears at a different rate than the rest of the tire.

TIL and the shop learned.

 

never heard that one before

 

Very interesting, thanks for the follow up.

 

Huh, interesting.