Cracked Tyres

[RF Lighting]

I have noticed the two front tyres on my car have some small cracks running in the grooves of the tread.

Is this a big concern which needs sorting urgently, or is this normal?

I have noticed the same on my Fathers car too

Thanks for looking!

 

[JonB]

What age are the tyres.
I would be checking with your tyre dealer, they don't look very good.
Dangerous tyres points on licence.

 

[KingboyD]

If them tyres were on a car on my ramp I would change them without a 2nd thought mate

 

[RF Lighting]

Oh well, off to spend £250 tomorrow

At least the rear tyres are ok.

Anyone know what causes this? AFAIK the tyres are around a year old (Could be wrong though)

 

[KingboyD]

Only 1 year? What does the date stamp say on the tyre?? Should give you the week and year of manufacture. The cracks are caused by perishing of the rubber.

 

[RF Lighting]

Can't see a date on the wall of the tyres unless it is written in some sort of code.

They are dunlop sports maxx tyres

 

[KingboyD]

its a 3 didgit code stamped on the wall, will look something like 546 = week 54 2006

 

[RF Lighting]

I'll have a look tomorrow when the sun is shining, but I'd still best start saving up

 

[Ron Gamma]

if the tyres are the same make, model and age as the rears AND this problem only appears on the outside edge of the front tyres then I'd suggest two potential problems.

1. The camber of the front wheels is too great and is putting undue stress on the outer edge of the tyre causing it to be torn away from the carcass. A full geometry check will show up any issues.
In fairness though this would also give higher wear on the outer edge and your wear rate seems to be reasonably even.

2. Try letting the car start moving before applying full lock as it could be that the standard camber angle and full lock are ripping the tyre apart.
Does this car do lots of low speed manouvering?

You could try one of the optional pressure setting to increase the tp slightly, which will help ease the load from power steering at low speed.

 

[RF Lighting]

Having had a better look in the sunshine one of the rear tyres is also cracked, and the fellar at the tyre place today was saying they have seen this a fair bit recently on these tyres.

They are chuffing expensive (getting michellins fitted)

Rear £200 each
front £145 each


Yikes

 

[JohnD]

Michelin Pilot? Excellent tyre.