Tire cracks?!?

[sixdogs]

Tires just aren't holding up that well any more. I put a set of Pirellis on one of my cars thinking they'd be a high durability, long lasting tire for the low amount of driving I do. Though they lasted over 9 years, I think I got less than 20K out of them instead of the 50K+ they were rated for. Part of it was an alignment issue, but not all of it. They just didn't wear well at all.

I rotate truck Michelins every 5000-6000 miles and keep the air pressure where it's supposed to be and now get in excess of mileage estimates. Mileage wasn't so hot until I started the above and now it's great. I rotate front to back one time and then front to back next time but cross them. Works for me.

 

[RSR]

Well, that was quick. I just got an email from Carlisle saying my warranty claim was approved, and I will have a new set of tires in 5-7 days.

Now I have to decide, do I put the new ones on and save the old ones, or just run the old ones until they fail?

 

[Texasmark]

I've ran Korean made Hankook tires on my heavy trailer for years. Currently have a set on one of my Super Duty trucks. I've gotten exceptional service from them.

I noticed the last 4 I bought for my trailer were made in China. I'm nervous about that. Time will tell.

I too just added Hankook after a good deal of searching for quiet running highway tires for my Honda Element. Super quiet and easy running tire. Plus it's slick, apparently lots of plasticizer which I wanted for a low usage vehicle, got a treadwear of like 500, and guarantee. Price was right inline with other tires of the sort.

 

[ultrarunner]

When I needed a higher load range 14" tire Hankook was the only tire available for my box trailer.

That size is made for older VW bus which have a 2000 lb load rating... typical 14" tires come up short.

 

[rScotty]

Well, that was quick. I just got an email from Carlisle saying my warranty claim was approved, and I will have a new set of tires in 5-7 days.

Now I have to decide, do I put the new ones on and save the old ones, or just run the old ones until they fail?

It depends on how curious you are. if you don't run the old ones for at least a few seasons, you don't learn any more than you know now. I'd leave the new tires in their wrappings, store them well, and run the old ones for a couple of years just to see.
Then I'd probably swap them out with the new ones.... - again, just to find out what is to be learned.

rScotty

 

[Fallon]

It depends on how curious you are. if you don't run the old ones for at least a few seasons, you don't learn any more than you know now. I'd leave the new tires in their wrappings, store them well, and run the old ones for a couple of years just to see.
Then I'd probably swap them out with the new ones.... - again, just to find out what is to be learned.

rScotty

The only counter point I can think of there is making sure the new tires dont have the same issues before any warranty runs out. Not sure which way I'd go personally.

 

[jmc]

Since your defective tires are not much older than their replacements, I'd run the replacements and keep the defectives as backups should you ever need them. At least you will have peace of mind with a loader full of dirt severely distorting the tires. (I don't see how the tread can be bad and assume the carcass is ok.)

 

[RSR]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards putting the new tires on right when I get them, to see if they have the same problem.

It is interesting in that the damaged tires had a LOT of flashing around the circumference right at the centerline (where the chunks of tire are breaking out on the lugs) when they were new. I'm wondering if during the vulcanization process the molds weren't joined together cleanly along the centerline of the tire, which caused rubber to ooze out, and didn't properly heat the rubber, introducing thermal stresses right along the centerline of the tire. The cracking would then be due to release of the thermal stresses caused during vulcanization. Just a theory.

If the new tires don't have flashing along the centerline, that should tell a lot.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm looking at 4 new tires on my 2015 Kubota because of cracking. Granted it's always been outside but so has my pickup which also got new tires in 2015, and they don't have any problems.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm looking at 4 new tires on my 2015 Kubota because of cracking. Granted it's always been outside but so has my pickup which also got new tires in 2015, and they don't have any problems.

Something must have changed with tires because tires used to last much longer before cracking. Maybe it's a brand thing?