we finally got past the picture with the fender over the tire ... finally ... I think ... (?)
the (second) issue was the tire appeared to be fairly worn / squared given the low miles (picture was provided above - attached again)
for reference - I have the same tires / same size with approx same miles and they display almost no visible signs of wear
The pattern on the tires is still visible, at least mostly visible. But I'll go with fairly worn as an okay description. Though I don't consider that much wear to be concerned with.
What is more concerning is how much of the pattern is showing wear and where the apparent crease is that makes it looked squared off. I tend to think that the tire pressure isn't monitored and the tire is allowed to go from a more normal inflation where the loops of the pattern barely are in the contact patch to a low inflation where a majority of the loop is part of the contact patch and maybe the tire is bulged out so much while being ridden that the rim is actually making that crease that makes it look squared off.
With a tire bulged out that much on the contact patch the sidewall might easily be damaged or get scuffed by stones or other debris.