I bought a set of 350Z 17" staggered wheels with 9/32" tire thread left all around for $300 locally. Ties are Hankook Ventus V4ES 225/50/17 fronts and 235/50/17 rears. Didn't look at them very carefully till I got home when I found out one of the front tires has deep cut in which appeared to be gouges from the fender cutting into the tire. The other 3 were all in really good shape with a slight fender rubbing marks around outer threads. I was mad at myself for not catching this. I guess you never deal in a hurry.

The gouge is pretty deep in one section almost measured 6/32nd from the top of the thread. I think this is trash, but maybe not?

 

As long as the sidewall isn't damaged, I think it would be ok to drive on them. The base rubber in the channels looks like it wasn't touched.

 

Agreed, doesn't look even as deep as the factory channels. Even though your measurement indicates it is slightly deeper, it looks like it may be because the outer tread is more worn. I'd run them.

 

if it doesn't go deeper than the tread molded in to the tire itself then it's fine. looks ok to me.

 

Funny how the gouge almost enhances the uni-directional pattern in the tire, like it was made that way.

I'd run them too.

 

I agree with the sentiment of everyone else. I don't think the gouge compromises the integrity of the tire at all. I'd use it.
I'm not saying this is an issue, but there may be enough rubber gone in that one section that it will create a minor imbalance in the tire. If you feel any vibration from that wheel once mounted, having that one wheel rebalanced should account for it. My gut says there isn't enough material missing that you'll notice.

 

Looks cool to me I wojld roll em also like everyone else has said, and would be worried if the sidewalls were messed up but in this case its not, and 300 good deal tires look Damn near new....

 

I thought the same way too at glance and not untill I looked at the other tires that I realized that was not the case.

 

Might make a noise or vibration (as said above) but I'd run it too

 

I doubt its from rubbing on the fender since it goes further into the tire as it goes around. Fender rub causes a line that goes in a perfect circle around the tire. I have no idea what might cause that though, seems like the guy probably got a good deal on a tire that got screwed up in the mold