Cracking Sidewalls

[TheArchitect]

Hi Guys,

Whilst at a garage today they highlighted the sidewalls to me. Below are the photos I took tonight, would you be concerned or just carry on and wear them out?

Cheers

Cracked Tyre Sidewalls by rbaldry86, on Flickr

Cracked Tyre Sidewalls by rbaldry86, on Flickr

Cracked Tyre Sidewalls by rbaldry86, on Flickr

Cracked Tyre Sidewalls by rbaldry86, on Flickr

Cracked Tyre Sidewalls by rbaldry86, on Flickr

[helix402]

I would advise changing them with some haste. I suppose you could chance it if you are just pottering locally. However sometimes people have "unexpected " blowouts. I wouldn't trust these at speed.

[CraigyMc]

They don't look all that bad to me, to be honest.

You can usually tell what week of which year tyres were made - they are usually moulded on. Look for something like "DOT 3405". That would be week 34 (ie August) of 2005.

It'd be good to know how old they actually are.

[Dbest92]

I've had tyres do this, interestingly it was also michelins. I changed them for peace of mind as had a substantial motorway drive looming. As mentioned local trips should be fine, but anymore I wouldn't risk it

[zcacogp]

How deep are the cracks? If you can see the carcass through them then it's time to change them. If they are light and superficial then don't worry.


Oli.

[TheArchitect]

Replacements ordered just incase, new PS3s been fitted on the 24th.

[danjama]

Take my word for it, change them.

I had a set cracking like this, but otherwise looked ok. Took them off still on the rim, left in back garden, few days later had completely cracked to reveal wire etc with no provocation.

Never again.

[Riley Blue]

They 'look' old but what is the date on them? Interestingly, I bought a classic car three years ago that had brand new tyres on it, dated April 2004, but never driven on and completely without any signs of aging.

[Claudia Skies]

Riley Blue said:

what is the date on them?

^^^ +1

[TheArchitect]

Looks like either 2009 or 2004 more likely to be 2009 as that followed the DOT marking after a few other characters.

[Fox-]

TheArchitect said:

Looks like either 2009 or 2004 more likely to be 2009 as that followed the DOT marking after a few other characters.

Looks like Week 10 of 2004.

[rallycross]

Legal but scrap.
You'd be better off going and buying some decent part worn premium brand tyres ( 4 for £100?) than risking those old things, lack of use or old age causes cracking of sidewallls.

[Sheepshanks]

Fox- said:

TheArchitect said:

Looks like either 2009 or 2004 more likely to be 2009 as that followed the DOT marking after a few other characters.

Looks like Week 10 of 2004.

Certainly looks like there's a 1004 number in the last picture.

I dumped some half-worn Michelin's last year when they got to 6yrs old - that's old enough for me.

[PhillipM]

Dbest92 said:

I've had tyres do this, interestingly it was also michelins. I changed them for peace of mind as had a substantial motorway drive looming. As mentioned local trips should be fine, but anymore I wouldn't risk it

I also had Michelin pilot's crack right there a few years back:~



However, some of the issue with long-lasting tyres is they age before they wear out.

[vanordinaire]

Oh, I thought this was going to be a Wallace and Grommit thread.