Consumer complaints include sudden blowouts of new tires, tire separation, sidewall and tread cracks, poor inflation, dry rotting, and early signs of wear. Tire failures involving any of these conditions can lead to serious injury or death. The following Michelin tires have been recalled: Tire Name Tire Description. Apr 19, 2017 Tire cracking, also known as “dry-rot”, happens when the tire's rubber starts to break down due to ozone, UV, road-salt, chemicals, and grime You can slow down sidewall cracking by using an off-the-shelf cleaner once a week. May 24, 2014 Box truck has Michelin tires on front, either Goodrich or Goodyear on rear. All bought at the same time 7 years ago. Only driven maybe 5,000 miles since then so all tire treads appear as new but front tires developing small cracks in sidewalls. Rear tires still appear as new. These tires are horrible for treadwear. They wear out quickly. Michelin offers a 70000 mile warranty but only if you get them rotated every 6-8000 miles. Please reconsider. They can be quite loud.
Tires take a serious beating—constant 'stretching' as they roll along the road, exposure to harsh chemicals (gasoline, oil, acid, etc.), UV rays and heat. That rubber is suffering so that you can travel! Almost all tires will begin to exhibit small cracks in the sidewall after a short period of time. Is it time to worry?
The outer layer of rubber on the sidewall is simply a sealing layer to keep the elements away from the inner (structural) part of the tire—in other words, those unsightly cracks are purely cosmetic. If your tires start to get really deep cracks after 3-5 years, you might consider replacing them for peace of mind. If you haven't worn out a set of tires in 5-8 years, it's worth replacing them for safety's sake, even if there is still good tread left on the tires.
It is important to note that recreational vehicles—like your VW camper, maybe?—are more subject to tire cracking than everyday drivers. Long periods of 'sitting' causes the rubber to dry out, and when you take your camper out for a drive, the rubber 'splits' as it gets worked on the road. Again, this is nothing to worry about unless the cracks are exceptionally deep.
The bottom line is this: In almost every case we've seen, you do not need to worry—you just need to get out and camp!
The outer layer of rubber on the sidewall is simply a sealing layer to keep the elements away from the inner (structural) part of the tire—in other words, those unsightly cracks are purely cosmetic. If your tires start to get really deep cracks after 3-5 years, you might consider replacing them for peace of mind. If you haven't worn out a set of tires in 5-8 years, it's worth replacing them for safety's sake, even if there is still good tread left on the tires.
It is important to note that recreational vehicles—like your VW camper, maybe?—are more subject to tire cracking than everyday drivers. Long periods of 'sitting' causes the rubber to dry out, and when you take your camper out for a drive, the rubber 'splits' as it gets worked on the road. Again, this is nothing to worry about unless the cracks are exceptionally deep.
The bottom line is this: In almost every case we've seen, you do not need to worry—you just need to get out and camp!
Stuart Tyson
Michelin Tires Cracking On Sidewall Roof
My father is notoriously frugal, and I tell him he should replace his old dry-rotted tires even though they still have plenty of tread. Can you please explain why I'm right?
I think our dads might be brothers. Tire replacement is pretty straightforward to the cost-conscious: when the tread wears down or a hole can't be patched. The reality is more nuanced than that. Tires are complex components that undergo amazing stresses during even the most mundane of drives. It took the better part of 50 years and a world war before motorists could depend on reaching a far-away destination without fixing one or two flats. As rubber technology and steel-belting techniques improved, tires became a very reliable part of the carwe just don't expect blowouts and punctures.
Tires do degrade over time, though, and that process is called dry rot. Oils and chemicals in the rubber compound start to evaporate or break down because of UV exposure. The rubber loses its flexibility and begins to crack at the surface, and the structure becomes more and more brittle (think of a really old rubber band), leading to sidewall damage and eventual failure. How to play minecraft online no download. And we're not talking 'Oh, I'll just fill it up and drive on it'; this is a complete loss of function. You might even see tread start to separate. It's good practice to replace tires as soon as you see signs of dry rot, to prevent blowouts and the subsequent loss of vehicle control. Even if there are no signs of rot, the industry standard is to swap out tires before they hit 10 years old, and some tire companies recommend replacement as early as six years after manufacture.