How To Prevent Cracking Tires?

[R Gage]

I just replaced my original Bridgestone tires 245/75/16 load E.They had 24K on then and were 6 years old.I try to keep then out of sun,I know tires get weather checks but mine were deep.Any type tire coating help this from happening or is no coating better? Thanks

[Matt_]

From what i remember... most tire dressings actually damage the rubber. No coating is best.

 

Not sure though- just going off memory here... and my memory sucks

[Big black truck]

Matt, I must just say that your truck is really Good Looking. You have managed to create an almost perfect look.

Good job.

[r1byker]

I just read that the life expectancy of tires is 6-8 years. I have tires on my tractor that are over 20 years old but a tire failure at 12 mph is far different than a tire failure at 65 mph. If it were me, and this is just my two cents, I would think about getting new tires in the next couple of years.

[04JJHD]

I think michelin makes a dressing that is supposed to add moisture to the tire check it out

[newdude]

24k and 6 years? You dont drive the truck much do you...? Letting it sit can be a cause of dry rot.

[[email protected]]

I had Michelin Cross- Terrains on my 2000 Yukon XL. Wonderful tire for ride quality, and handling was OK. They developed fairly deep sidewall cracks within two years - took them back to the Dealer and they replaced them under warranty - with a small pro-rate for wear.. Didn't have a problem with the second set after that. Ran them about 50K miles before putting the third set on. Ran the third set about 15K miles before trading the Yukon in. They were relatively expensive, but I'd buy them again for that SUV.

 

Ozone and UV degrade synthetic rubber. So all most any of the current tire dressings will help. Of course proper inflation helps as well.

 

I've used Armor-All since the early 70's and was always happy with the results. I have a 72 240Z that I bought new and it has a crack free dash to this day. Recently switched to Turtle Wax's "ICE" Tire/Rubber dressing for the tires and bumper rubber. It seems to last longer and stands up to water on the exterior better - only time will tell...

 

I don't believe that any of the tire dressings will actually hurt the synthetic rubber in tires. Since I've used a rubber protectant on the outside sidewalls - I'm always amazed at the difference between the outside side walls and the untreated inside sidewalls -when the tires come off for replacement. The outsides always look new compared to the untreated inside sidewalls.

 

I worked for a very busy Firestone Dealer for a couple years - and as my experience with the Michelin's mentioned above bare out - The bottom line is - sometimes you luck out and get a set of tires where everything went right during production - and sometimes you don't.

 

Just make sure that when you are paying for "new" tires - that their production date is a year or less old. DOT requires that information to be displayed on the sidewall. Ask to see the tires your making a deal on - before you agree to buy them and before you pay for them. If the dealer can't roll out four "new" tires - ask him to get them for you - or go elsewhere. Or get a significant discount for the reduced remaining useful life...

 

FWIW,

Carl B.