Foreign object in tire.

[nancykerrin [OP]]

Has anyone ever seen anything like this in a tire? It is probably not supposed to be there, but we are very curious about what it is. My new 2013 FJ, Trail Team, had this in the passenger side rear tire, up near the top on the side where the tread starts. My husband pried it out, and it looks like a very detailed, machined aluminum peg or plug or rivet or something, but it had to have been inserted with a tool and a good amount of pressure. It is small, only about 1/4 " dia, and 1/4 " deep. It also appears to have a number 3 around the hole on the top. I would really like to know what this is.

[slo4x4]

My guess would be during manufacturing or at the dealership at some point in time your wheel was off the car and it laid on this object and some weight was put on the wheel(possibly the other wheels stacked on top of each other) to push the object into the wheel. Just a guess though.

[lqdchkn]

Elaborate on "in a tire". Stuck in the tread? Trapped between the sidewall and the rim? Where was it? It sounds like it was just in the tread then you could have picked it up anywhere.

And for what it's worth it looks like half of one of those things you snap on your bike wheel spoke to track your distance, mph, etc with one of those little computer deals

[FJNewb]

I've got no idea, but think slo4x4 kind of summed it up.

[57524]

A slightly different type of wheel balancing weight? Just my guess.

[nancykerrin [OP]]

To be clearer about location, no it wasn't run over or anything like that in the tread, it was in the side wall, not the very thin soft side, but above that where it is thicker and the tread starts. Thank to all of you for your observations. At first we thought it was some kind of tracking thing, but it is really too simple for that. Possibly we will never know for sure, but it certainly doesn't look like it belongs there.

[lqdchkn]

Yup I'm with Slo then too

[Chris The Ogre]

Aliens

[nancykerrin [OP]]

Yep, I have to go along with slo - wouldn't have thought of that. My husband wants to believe it is aliens also - he would love to see something from them!!!!
p.s. I know this is the wrong spot for this thread, but I am so new to this forum idea and couldn't find a way to post a question. Sorry!!

[lqdchkn]

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