Tyre cracks

[219]

You've never had a blow out have you?

I have .

 

[219]

I use silicon spray on the tires it stop them cracking like these have ,But now i see i have these cracks in the tyre tread not on the sidewalls they are like new .All down to sitting in the hot sun . I also use 4 canvas covers that the paint shop use if they have to spray a car to stop over spray on the wheels .You can purchase these off ebay . Nio more expensive tires for me next time ,,if i have to change them every few years for cracking.

It is UV radiation from the sun that perishes the rubber .

I recently bought a set of wheels that had been stored in a garage , out of the sunlight , for 10 years . There were no visible cracks or perishing , but the tyres were shot , as I discovered when I put them on the car . One tyre developed a bulge within a few days , so they were all replaced .

 

[219]

Tyres which aren't used tend to "dry out" as I understand it. Using them keeps them supple and "lubed" for want of a better phrase. So this doesn't help the cause for longevity.

As for age of tyres, I would only use that as a factor in deciding.

I've seen 10 year old tyres looking very fit and well and 2 year old tyres like the OPs.

Certainly wouldn't blindly-replace after a set time as it's incredibly-wasteful.

Lack of use actually seems worse for tyres , as you say flexing seems to keep the rubber in better condition.

This is particularly relevant with caravan tyres which may only do one journey a year and sit static the rest of the time .

 

[John]

Generally budget tyres being on a car shows the owner has cut corners on maintenance.

The car may have a stamped up service book , but that may mean it has only ever had the basic services done at the dealership, with advisory work , if done at all , being done elsewhere on the cheap .

A new set of budget tyres will certainly be less likely to fail than a set of old tyres , but we all know that some budget tyres can be lethal in terms of very poor grip in the wet etc .

I do have four premium tyres on my car , and a budget tyre on the spare wheel , the reasoning being it will get me home in an emergency, and I’ll get the proper one fixed without delay , but if I couldn’t afford brand new tyres then I’d put part worn decent tyres on from a reputable place , and have done in the past .

My point was don't assume it is the case otherwise you could be passing up a good car.

I've seen more than one example of a good car which happens to have budgets (to get it through an MOT before selling etc.).

Of course if there are other signs, then budgets would only compound that opinion.