Sounds like a suspect fer yah but what do you think is causing the feathering of the tire? Guess that si what puzzles me. Can't hep it, working in the nuclear biz this root cause analysis thingy keeps creeping into my nogging! So, he-he gotta ask, eh the feathering bit leaves me puzzled. I don't have any experience with a tire defects but have seen outside problems attribute to other tire wear issues, like shocks, balance, alignment, etc.hmmm the puzzle continues fer me.....thanks for the insight, I'm ah listening......LH