Tire cracks usually appear on the sidewall or between the tread blocks after 4-5 yrs of normal wear and tear driving, so you'll probably wear out your tires before tire-cracking and dry-rot become a problem.
Most of the problems I see with tire cracking is on vehicles that don’t get driven that much, like trailers, motor homes, classic, collector & performance cars, Grandma’s Buick and the church van. That's because tire rubber contains Antiozonant, a tire additive, that acts as a "sunscreen" protecting tires from UV rays and ground-level ozone caused by pollution and smog.
But the problem is Antiozonant only reaches the outer rubber while the tires are being driven (It's the same reason your tires may be blooming too).
So if your tires are sitting in the sun, exposed to the elements and not regularly going through their normal heating/cooling drive cycles, you should check for tire cracking before you hit the road.
If you're concerned about your tires, need an opinion or tire recommendation email me a picture of your tire [email protected] and I'll do my best to help you.
Most tire cracking is normal wear and tear and cosmetic -- I've seen bad cracking on two year-old tires and six-year-old tires looking great! Every tire and driver is different, and that's why tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every 6 years.
When someone asks me about a warranty, I'll often use Michelin’s "Ozone or Weather Cracking Visual Tool" chart to help determine if tire cracking is cosmetic or severe --
You can't reverse tire cracking and dry-rot, but can slow it down by cleaning the grime and protecting your tire's outer rubber.
I use Adam's Polishes Tire and Rubber Cleaner for tires because it's citrus based and human-friendly. And Adam's Polishes Wheel Cleaner for the grime and brake dust on wheels because it’s acid-free, safe for any painted and plated surface. (It works great for bugs on windshields and to clean gutters and RVs.)
At the shop, we spray it on, leave for a few minutes before agitating with a brush and hosing it off. See how it works on the brake dust of this Mercedes GLK350 —
For tire protection, I'm currently using Wizards Tire & Vinyl Shine because it's NOT silicone or petroleum-based (silicone looks great, but actually accelerates the tire cracking process and can void your tire's warranty). Also check out any of the Adam's Cleaners and Tire Dressings (Amazon link).
Take a look at the pictures of cracked tires people send me in the attachments --
At Kenwood Tire we're here to get you back on the road with a minimum of fuss -- We're an independent tire specialist with your best interests in mind.
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