So I have This New Theory On Why New Tires Are ALL JUNK, and What Might Help

[Dr_Zinj]

I was talking to a maintenance manager and he was saying that most of the tire manufacturers today have formulated their tires for maximum road traction and control, not for longevity of the tire. They tend to be softer material with a slicky/sticky feel to them. That does two things: one, it gives you greater safety during the lifetime of the tire (stopping, cornering, acceleration, towing) and two, it sells more tires because you have to replace them more often.

 

[Ram4x4]

150K has to be a world record. You should contact Michellin. Im sure they didnt mean to make em last that far. Do they have any traction at all?

I'm a firm believer in Michelin tires. When I bought my Dodge Ram 2500 diesel new in 2004 it came with Michelin tires from the factory. I finally wore them out at 95,000 miles...on any car that's pretty good, but on a 7,000lb truck that's **** good.

I use their X-Ice tires in winter and love them. In fact, they ride well enough (and last) that the set we had on the Rav4 stayed on over the summer too and they didn't wear out. Traded the Rav in on a Grand Cherokee (and yes, it's got a Hemi ) with the X-Ice's still on it.

Bought new X-Ice for the Grand Cherokee, but did put the factory Michelins back on it this summer.

31,000 miles on those so far and no appreciable wear.

I've had a set of tires on various vehicles over the years from practically every major brand and have never had tires last like the Michelins do....and I've never had any cracks on any Michelins.


p.s. I don't work for or have any affiliation with Michelin other than a being a happy customer.

 

[toomanymachines]

I was talking to a maintenance manager and he was saying that most of the tire manufacturers today have formulated their tires for maximum road traction and control, not for longevity of the tire. They tend to be softer material with a slicky/sticky feel to them. That does two things: one, it gives you greater safety during the lifetime of the tire (stopping, cornering, acceleration, towing) and two, it sells more tires because you have to replace them more often.

I grew up in a tire shop, and I remember people putting on two new sets a year. grips every fall for the winter and smooths for the summer again. people can easily get 100 000kms out of a set of tires or higher. they definitely last much longer than they used to.

 

[3930dave]

I remember the bias-ply tires circa 1970, they weren't that great a tire. Thump/thump/thump for some miles in our winter weather, till the tire warmed up enough to smooth out..... don't miss that at all....

There's a lot of products in the market that have progressed from short to long-life, but are now back to short(er). IMO, these prematurely cracking tires are one of these products, with ST tires being a special case...

I think these "optimizations" are mostly business driven, but sometimes environmental (regulation) factors come into play....

I'd really like to buy a grey-haired tire engineer some beverages, and find out what the real story today is...

Rgds, D.

 

[drizler]

I remember the bias-ply tires circa 1970, they weren't that great a tire. Thump/thump/thump for some miles in our winter weather, till the tire warmed up enough to smooth out..... don't miss that at all....

There's a lot of products in the market that have progressed from short to long-life, but are now back to short(er). IMO, these prematurely cracking tires are one of these products, with ST tires being a special case...

I think these "optimizations" are mostly business driven, but sometimes environmental (regulation) factors come into play....

I'd really like to buy a grey-haired tire engineer some beverages, and find out what the real story today is...

Rgds, D.

Naw, I can't buy the Thump THump bias thing. That was for one particular type , the ones with NYLON cords. Those were legendary in the Northcountry. We had those at the Prison where I used to work in Denver. I had this con who had some sort of gall stone attack so he had to be taken to the hospital downtown at it was about -20. I though the poor schmuck was gonna die back there in the back seat while those tires warmed up. It was like driving on square tires. That was 82 and also the last I ever saw of those damned things. The regular bias never gave any trouble at all in any respect.
As for the maintenance managers comments on safety I just call ********. It's all about price point not safety. Softer grippy high performance tires wear out much faster as a result of that soft tread and not much more. Also, if it's for safety how come wheelbarrow and tractor tires crack? There is no concern for road traction there at all. Notice that that article states that "high end" manufacturers use a higher content of natural rubber. It's all about a few cents per unit not safety but it makes a great excuse.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I'm a firm believer in Michelin tires. When I bought my Dodge Ram 2500 diesel new in 2004 it came with Michelin tires from the factory. I finally wore them out at 95,000 miles...on any car that's pretty good, but on a 7,000lb truck that's **** good.

I use their X-Ice tires in winter and love them. In fact, they ride well enough (and last) that the set we had on the Rav4 stayed on over the summer too and they didn't wear out. Traded the Rav in on a Grand Cherokee (and yes, it's got a Hemi ) with the X-Ice's still on it.

Bought new X-Ice for the Grand Cherokee, but did put the factory Michelins back on it this summer.

31,000 miles on those so far and no appreciable wear.

I've had a set of tires on various vehicles over the years from practically every major brand and have never had tires last like the Michelins do....and I've never had any cracks on any Michelins.


p.s. I don't work for or have any affiliation with Michelin other than a being a happy customer.

Around my part of the country the newer michelin are having problems. A lot of guys in my area of Cape Breton n.s. switched to kelly.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I'm a firm believer in Michelin tires. When I bought my Dodge Ram 2500 diesel new in 2004 it came with Michelin tires from the factory. I finally wore them out at 95,000 miles...on any car that's pretty good, but on a 7,000lb truck that's **** good.

I use their X-Ice tires in winter and love them. In fact, they ride well enough (and last) that the set we had on the Rav4 stayed on over the summer too and they didn't wear out. Traded the Rav in on a Grand Cherokee (and yes, it's got a Hemi ) with the X-Ice's still on it.

Bought new X-Ice for the Grand Cherokee, but did put the factory Michelins back on it this summer.

31,000 miles on those so far and no appreciable wear.

I've had a set of tires on various vehicles over the years from practically every major brand and have never had tires last like the Michelins do....and I've never had any cracks on any Michelins.


p.s. I don't work for or have any affiliation with Michelin other than a being a happy customer.

Around my part of the country the newer michelin are having problems. A lot of guys in my area of Cape Breton n.s. switched to kelly.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I here all kinds of excuses all are B.S. Tractors sat in the sun and mud and winter conditions for 30 years and the tires did not crack. If your tires crack within 5 years go back and demand your money back or a free new set of tires. In Canada by law, products have to last a reasonable amount of time and if not the company has to go good for it. Once a company gets hit with a few thousand small claims, court action and bad media they will stop their b.s. and put a decent product on the market. So help make thing better for everybody and stick up for your rights and hard earned $$$$.

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

I replaced the original Goodyears on my Fergie TO30, from 1952. The sides dried and split finally after all these years. As far as I know, they were original as I had them 25 years and they looked pretty ragged when i got them. I replaced them with tires made in India. Still to new to determine if they'll self destruct. I doubt they'll last 50+ years though.

The tires that I put on my Model T Ford are Firestones, made in Vietnam.

The last several sets I've had lasted about 8 years and about 5,000 miles before they wore out and the sidewalls cracked all to pieces, simultaneously. How they timed the complete self destruct so well, I can't figure out.

If they can time the wear that well they can make good tires if they so wish but they would sooner try to screw people out of there money for short term gain. It is to the point that consumers think it is ok that their tires crack after 5 years and wear out with 2500 hours. I say demand your money back and they will get the message.

 

[3930dave]

Around my part of the country the newer michelin are having problems. A lot of guys in my area of Cape Breton n.s. switched to kelly.

Careful..... otherwise guys in dark suits and glasses, driving Michelin blue SUVs may pull up at your door !

(Michelin is important enough in NS that various "Michelin bills" have become legislation).

Seen some really bad cracking on Michelins here, Class C RVs. Probably accelerated by constant ArmorAll use.

Rgds, D.