Tire condition

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WA1DH

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Rhode Island
I have a pickup truck that sits parked most of the time, getting driven maybe 10 mi a week unless I otherwise need it. The tires have 2009 and 2010 date stamps. I recently noticed what appears to be small cracks between the tread which I assume is dry rot. The truck sits in a driveway and I don't have any way of protecting it from the elements. The tires have about 2/3 tread left on them.

I'm looking for opinions on how they look, as well as any suggestions to prevent further/future dry rot. I've noticed that spare tires kept garaged don't rot, but ones I've left outside are done within a year. Is there any spray or treatment safe for the tread grooves as well as sidewall?


http://s11.postimg.org/g2bi64vz7/IMG_2013.jpg
http://s28.postimg.org/xtamqcclp/IMG_2014.jpg

Cracks in the second image are about 1" long each. The tires don't seem to lose much air over time.
 
The cracks in the second picture look more severe than simple weather checking. I think I'd have those inspected by a Michelin/BFGoodrich dealer (they look like BFG Long Trail T/As).
 
With these cracks, you are potentially going to have problems with the steel belts rusting and delaminating, with exposure to road salt...

Regardless, I agree that you need to have the manufacturer look at the tires.
 
MY '96 Dakota had tires that were 13 years old and, although great tread, were severely dry-rotted with cracks all over. One of them had begun to leak down....presumably the air was starting to show through one of the cracks.

I planned on replacing them the following weekend after getting the truck back (gave it to her during the divorce and then got it back) but a thief helped me out and stole the truck....it was found with all fours tires slashed so insurance replaced the tires at a cost to me of $100....dumbutt did me a favor and didn't even realize it. No other damge other than a cig burn on the headliner and a 1/2" Snap-On wrench missing that I had used to replace the battery.

Anyway, the old tires were dangerous!
 
Yeah, I would have that second pic's tire replaced. The first is a bit concerning, too. I usually see alot of the small cracks on the sidewall or corner blocks. Then again, I'm no expert.

I had a car with cracks like in the second pic. It took about two weeks of city driving to make the rubber delaminate badly enought from the carcass that tire had a big blister. keep an eye on it.
 
Originally Posted By: WA1DH
I have a pickup truck that sits parked most of the time, getting driven maybe 10 mi a week unless I otherwise need it. The tires have 2009 and 2010 date stamps. I recently noticed what appears to be small cracks between the tread which I assume is dry rot. The truck sits in a driveway and I don't have any way of protecting it from the elements. The tires have about 2/3 tread left on them.

I'm looking for opinions on how they look, as well as any suggestions to prevent further/future dry rot. I've noticed that spare tires kept garaged don't rot, but ones I've left outside are done within a year. Is there any spray or treatment safe for the tread grooves as well as sidewall?


http://s11.postimg.org/g2bi64vz7/IMG_2013.jpg
http://s28.postimg.org/xtamqcclp/IMG_2014.jpg

Cracks in the second image are about 1" long each. The tires don't seem to lose much air over time.


You may be just within the window of being covered by the warranty. Find your recpeuit (tire warranties start the day of purchase) and trot on down to the dealer that sold you the tires. See what he will do.

And for those folks who want to learn a bit more: Those cracks are only partially related to tire age. I don't use the term "dry rot", because it conjures up images of rotten wood, and that is not what is going on - completely different mechanism. Besides, these cracks aren't strictly aging cracks (which would have a more crazed look).

Those cracks are because the shape of the groove isn't optimal and there is more stress in one location than another. To fix this problem, a tire engineer would either change the tread compound to something more crack resistant (not really a fix. More of a "push it further down the road" kind of thing.) or re-shape the groove.

And to some extent, the lack of use on the vehicle is contributing. The anti-oxidants are not being allowed to migrate to the surface fast enough to prevent oxygen from attacking the rubber.
 
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Thanks for the responses. These will not be covered under warranty as one pair came with the truck when I bought it a year ago and the other I got from a garage (used tires). I've been looking at the price of new tires and will probably pick up a set of Discoverer AT3s to replace them at some point this summer.

My concern is how long I can expect a new set to last me given the infrequent driving. Is there a way to slow down the dry rot process, such as sprays or wheel covers? I use the truck more often in the winter but most of the summer it's just baking in the driveway until I need to haul something. I'd hate to spend $400 on tires and have them go bad in another year or two.

Edit: The tires had no cracks last fall so I'm leaning more toward weather/UV issues than structural with the tire, but who knows.
 
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If those are your two worst, how about just rotating in your full sized spare with the tire in the 2nd picture? I would consider that, by all means keep and eye on them too.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr_Joe
If those are your two worst, how about just rotating in your full sized spare with the tire in the 2nd picture? I would consider that, by all means keep and eye on them too.


You don't want to see the spare. I think it's from 1995
eek.gif


I will keep an eye on them and replace them all when I'm able to.
 
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