Tire damage isn’t always visible at first glance. Belt and belt edge separations can be caused by manufacturing, but in most cases they result from heat buildup in the tire.

"Running agricultural tires underinflated, overloaded and for too long at high speeds can cause this," says Dave Paulk, manager, field technical services, BKT USA Inc. "The tires can’t dissipate the heat fast enough and the rubber on the inside will start to melt. With belt separations, bulges will appear in the tread area or upper sidewall. With belt edge separations, the edge of the tread near the shoulder will start lifting.

"Ply gap separation in radial agricultural tires is caused by underinflation and overloading. This will eventually appear as circumferential grooves or cracks above the bead area.

"Impact breaks are not visible on the outside of the tire but will appear as a crack in the tire's inner liner," says Paulk. "This allows air to enter the belt package.

Some damage is visible. Cuts, cracks and stubble damage can be visible as soon as they occur, according to Paulk. "If the cuts and cracks are superficial, they don’t affect the tire’s performance. It’s best to take a few moments to visually inspect the tires before use to minimize the risk of being stopped in the field."