Narrative:

Aircraft X arrived from the hangar at gate 20 minutes before scheduled departure. During the walk around it was obvious that the #3 main tire had delaminated. The tire consists of 5 raised tread sections with 4 grooves separating the treads. The 2 outer treads were missing; implying that the rubber from these treads...approximately 4' wide and 1' thick had departed the tire. The remaining treads could be peeled back away from the tire up to 1'.I called maintenance (mx) to replace the tire; and in the meantime looked at the log book. Write ups included. MEL's:74-01; ignition system30-23; over wing heater system32-01; brake temp sensor systemthe sign off for the ignition system read 'engine will not start'. No action was signed off and no inoperative sticker was in the cockpit. I called tech to ask if they could fix the write up; so it at least stated that 'the ignition is inoperative'; and to add an inoperative sticker.when the mx tech arrived; I walked him down and showed the tire. He ran to his truck; so I had to confirm with him 'you will replace it; right'. He said he had to check with management.an individual with a golf shirt showed up about 30 minutes later. All he asked was 'what's going on'. When I told him about the tire delamination; he stated it is not delaminated; no tread was missing...and that is normal; the tire is good'. I walked him down to the ramp and showed that part of the tread was missing. Both he and the tech began to argue that it was not.at that point I indicated that;1. Even if what they said was true; it was not 'normal' to be able to peel an inch of tread back away from the tire.2. I noted to them that; in addition to the tire delamination; the right engine igniters were bad; the right over wing heater was inoperative; and the right tire temp system was also inoperative. I made the point that all of these problems were indicative of tread separation damage to the plane. If the engine had ingested the rubber; it could [damage] the igniters; the temp sensors were at the wheel location; and the hover wing heater was directly above the bad tire.both the 'golf shirt' and the tech began to argue the relevance; so I was forced to simply state that I was not flying the plane with that tire. I notified tech that I felt the plane was screaming tread separation damage.mx denied the possibility.the 'golf shirt' then argued about the ignition write up; that the way it was signed off was 'standard'. I began to wonder what airline he was working for; as in over 27 years I have never seen a sign off that did not state what was wrong with the plane; and only repeated the pilot's write up with no explanation. After arguing in an extremely condescending tone; he had the tech install an inoperative sticker and re-write the placard to describe the problem.I think mx is trying to fly passengers on damaged and unfit aircraft. The fact they attack me in poor tone indicates to me they have a problem that they refuse to address properly. I do not know who the 'golf shirt' was; as he never introduced himself and wore his identification in a non-standard location; but I do not appreciate being talked down to. I treat my fellow employees with the utmost respect; and don't appreciate being talked down to by a person who is obviously lying through his teeth. I did not take the aircraft. Please look into the mx policies and procedures being followed at the ZZZ hangar; resulting in broken/improperly documented aircraft being brought to the line after spending the night in the hangar. (This is not my first similar 'hangar queen' incident.)

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 Captain reported that when accomplishing a pre-flight he found a main tire had tread delamination.

Narrative: Aircraft X arrived from the hangar at gate 20 minutes before scheduled departure. During the walk around it was obvious that the #3 main tire had delaminated. The tire consists of 5 raised tread sections with 4 grooves separating the treads. The 2 outer treads were missing; implying that the rubber from these treads...approximately 4' wide and 1' thick had departed the tire. The remaining treads could be peeled back away from the tire up to 1'.I called maintenance (MX) to replace the tire; and in the meantime looked at the log book. Write ups included. MEL's:74-01; ignition system30-23; over wing heater system32-01; Brake temp sensor systemThe sign off for the ignition system read 'engine will not start'. No action was signed off and no inoperative sticker was in the cockpit. I called tech to ask if they could fix the write up; so it at least stated that 'the ignition is inoperative'; and to add an inoperative sticker.When the MX tech arrived; I walked him down and showed the tire. He ran to his truck; so I had to confirm with him 'you will replace it; right'. He said he had to check with management.An individual with a golf shirt showed up about 30 minutes later. All he asked was 'what's going on'. When I told him about the tire delamination; he stated it is not delaminated; no tread was missing...and that is normal; the tire is good'. I walked him down to the ramp and showed that part of the tread was missing. Both he and the tech began to argue that it was not.At that point I indicated that;1. Even if what they said was true; it was not 'normal' to be able to peel an inch of tread back away from the tire.2. I noted to them that; in addition to the tire delamination; the right engine igniters were bad; the right over wing heater was inoperative; and the right tire temp system was also inoperative. I made the point that ALL of these problems were indicative of tread separation damage to the plane. If the engine had ingested the rubber; it could [damage] the igniters; the temp sensors were at the wheel location; and the hover wing heater was directly above the bad tire.Both the 'golf shirt' and the tech began to argue the relevance; so I was forced to simply state that I was not flying the plane with that tire. I notified tech that I felt the plane was screaming tread separation damage.MX denied the possibility.The 'golf shirt' then argued about the ignition write up; that the way it was signed off was 'standard'. I began to wonder what airline he was working for; as in over 27 years I have never seen a sign off that did not state what was wrong with the plane; and only repeated the pilot's write up with no explanation. After arguing in an extremely condescending tone; he had the tech install an inoperative sticker and re-write the placard to describe the problem.I think MX is trying to fly passengers on damaged and unfit aircraft. The fact they attack me in poor tone indicates to me they have a problem that they refuse to address properly. I do not know who the 'golf shirt' was; as he never introduced himself and wore his ID in a non-standard location; but I do not appreciate being talked down to. I treat my fellow employees with the utmost respect; and don't appreciate being talked down to by a person who is obviously lying through his teeth. I did not take the aircraft. Please look into the MX policies and procedures being followed at the ZZZ hangar; resulting in broken/improperly documented aircraft being brought to the line after spending the night in the hangar. (This is not my first similar 'hangar queen' incident.)

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.