What Causes Tires Cracking?
Tire cracking, also known as tire dry rot, can be cracking for a few different reasons. Are Cracks in Tire Treads Dangerous? Understand the Symptoms of Tires Cracking, Learn How to Check Tires Expiration Date, and what can be used to prevent dry rot before it begins!
Tires usually begin cracking due to old age, weather/climate, or the tire has been sitting in one spot for a while with low tire pressure.
Additionally, if your tire is six years old or more, you need a new tire, especially if you have excessive tire cracking. Dry rot, on any part of the tire, is a safety issue.
Certain chemicals or cleaners you use on your tires can also cause cracked tires. Depending on the type of cleaner, the product can actually dry out the rubber in your tires.
So, be careful which products you choose for tire care. Listed below is a quality tire care product.
DID YOU KNOW: Your tires expire after a certain amount of time. Learn how long your tires are good for and how to tell in the video below!
Don’t worry about getting old, unless we are talking about tires… then you need to worry.
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Once your tire(s) has dry rot/tires cracking there is no going back. When it’s really bad you will have to replace your tires. But, don’t worry if your tires have not begun to crack, or at least not cracking badly, they have special tire shine made to PREVENT cracking/dry rot.
PLEASE NOTE: excessive tire cracking, at early stages in the tire life, can be caused from a factory defect. Be sure to drive safe and be a smart tire owner.
Symptoms of Tires Cracking:
Cracking appears in your tires sidewall when the polymers in the rubber start to break apart.
Symptoms of cracked tires are usually very easily noticeable. Cracking tire symptoms include cracking of the tire. In small cases, you might have to look really closely at your tires to see tiny cracks. Even tiny cracks should be addressed.
Another symptom could be your tire falling apart and is very dry to the touch. Your tires could have a little bit more of a rough ride or tire noise with cracked tires.
Old tires can also be a very good tell tale sign that your tire might be experience some tire cracking. Make sure your tires are six years and under when it comes to tire date or tire DOT. The tire date is located on the sidewall of your tire.
Be sure to inspect your tires frequently you may have tire cracking or other issues and not even know that there is a problem. Keep healthy tires on your car at all times and be a safe smart driver.
- Cracked tires
- Tires are “dry” to the touch
- Small cracks, tire dry rot on tire tread
- Small cracks, tire dry rot on tire sidewall
- Large cracks, tire dry rot on tire tread
- Large cracks, tire dry rot on tire sidewall
- Tire DOT/tire date, tires are six years or older
- Tires riding rough or noisy tires
Tires Cracking Due to Age or…
Tire cracking or tire dry rot can be due to old age. As the tire ages, the rubber starts to split apart which makes your tire less durable and more prone to going flat or having a tire blow out.
Also, under inflated tires can cause cracking, so be sure to keep your tires aired up. Pretty much what I’m saying is, if your tires are old or cracking, you better be praying your tire doesn’t explode.
Tire dry rot can also be due to weather conditions such as: sun damage, rain, and/or cold weather. Your climate plays a big effect when it comes to tire dry rot, so don’t let your vehicle sit in one place too long. Get the most out of your tires and drive.
PLEASE NOTE: Excessive cracking in the early stages of your tires life could also mean that your tire is defective from the factory. Make sure to replace it as soon as you can for you and your passengers safety. Thank you for helping to keep the roads safe.
Tires Cracking? Time to Say Bye?
The point is, after six years, you need a tire. While there are tire shines that help protect your tire from aging/dry rotting, they do not fix dry rot. These shines can not keep you from replacing a tire, it is inevitable. Tire shine’s should be used to prevent dry rot before it begins.
It doesn’t matter how good the condition of your tire looks, because if it’s 6 years or older, you have a bad tire. You need a new one ASAP. Learn how to check your tires expiration date below!
Keep the roads safe and be a good car owner. If you take care of your car it will take care of you. Tires are like anything else you have in life, you need to take care of them in order to get the most out of them.
Drive safely and be a smart tire owner, it could mean your life.
How to Check Tires Expiration Date
Time needed: 1 minute.
How to check tires expiration date.
- Locate the Tire In Question
Does your tire look old, are your tires cracking? Bad tire dry rot means that your tire is probably old. Whether your tires are worn or not, after 6 years it’s time for a new set of tires.
- Look at Tires Sidewall
On the sidewall of your tire, there will be the letters DOT. The “DOT” symbol certifies that the tire manufacturer is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tire safety standards.
- Find the Numbers
After letters DOT, there will be a bunch of letters and numbers. The only ones you need to worry about are the last two numbers. These numbers are the year your tires were made. For example, 20 means 2020, 15 means 2015, and 10 means 2010, which I pray for your safety. If you’re driving on a 10 year old tire, stay away from me when you’re on the road, cause your tire could fail at any moment.
WARNING: Make sure that your tires are not expired, they should never be over six years old. If your tires are older than six years, you never know when your tire is going to go out.
Are Cracks in Tire Treads Dangerous?
If your tires are cracking, this means your tire is physically starting to fall apart and loses its strength and structure. Your tire is literally breaking down and falling apart slowly. Don’t worry there are types of tire shine that help prevent cracking. However, these shines can NOT reverse the damage.
What’s done is done. Move on.
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Tires that are cracking can make you have a rough ride. When your tires are cracking, they are not as durable as a new tire. Your tire is weak and more prone to having a tire blowout or flat tire.
This makes your tire unsafe and highly dangerous. Your tire will not be able to handle excessive tire stress or weight as it once could. Nor will they be able to handle highway speeds or long distance traveling.
Things to AVOID if driving when you have cracked tires are: Rough roads, bumps, potholes, railroad tracks, long highway travel, hot days, speed bumps, speed humps, and oh yeah driving.
Dry Rot Affects Your Safety.
Your tires are a safety feature and should not be overlooked. Tires are more than just a piece of rubber that’s round and rolls. Tires are a piece of advanced engineering that supports the weight of your vehicle, and help stop your car.
What good are your brakes, if your tires don’t even have the traction to stop your car?
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Cracking tires are dangerous for you, your passengers, and others driving on the road. You can not predict exactly when a tire will blowout.
Having a tire blowout can be catastrophic at high speeds. Your car could flip, hit another car, run off the road, I’m not trying to scare you, but I am trying to knock some sense into you. I don’t want your tire to blow up next to me while I’m driving. That would scare me half to death.
PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to always inspect your tires thoroughly making sure they are safe to drive on. Keep your car safe while traveling on the road, tires save lives.
When are Cracks in Tire Sidewalls Unsafe?
Are tire sidewall cracks safe? It’s never safe to have tire sidewall cracking this means your tire is starting to fall apart. So, when a tire is in the early stages of tire cracking , it is a tell tale sign that you need to start looking for new tires.
In extreme cases, when you have sidewall cracks all over the sidewall, you should be scared to even drive your car. Going over rough terrain is definitely not a good idea while having cracked tires.
Avoid long road trips especially on hot summer days. Tires are made to last for a long period of time, but knowing how to prevent or detect tire cracking is key to your safety and well being.
Pro Tip: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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Tire cracking can also be a factory defect or a sign of cheap tires. Make sure to look over your tires well for anything that doesn’t seem right to you. You don’t want your car to end up on jack stands on the side of the road or worse in a car collision due to bad tires.
Protect you, your loved ones, and your car by making sure your tires are healthy. Do your own due diligence to understand preventative measures and how to fix your own tires.