Tire cracks

[krongsak]

Hello folks,

I recently bought a 2015 bike with OEM Conti-sport tires, 4000 miles on them.
Both front and rear tires have what I think is an alarming number of cracks. The kind I have only seen before on much older tires or tires left in the sun for long periods.

Curious to hear what you guys think beside that they need to be replaced asap.

 

[dravnx]

Looks like somebody ran it flat.

 

[SCC Ryder]

I’m thinking that the budget OE tires from 6 years ago have got hard and started to crack prematurely. Those tire probably should have got 5-6k on them w “typical” use, but the fact that they hadn’t seen much use, they got hard. Almost any modern replacement tires will be safer and offer better performance! We have really good deals on Dunlop’s right now with the rebates they are running!

 

[krongsak]

Looks like somebody ran it flat.

That's an interesting theory, the cracks are where you would expect the tire to be stretched the most when flat. From the dust on the bike, I suspect it's been parked for a while which would feed into your theory

I’m thinking that the budget OE tires from 6 years ago have got hard and started to crack prematurely. Those tire probably should have got 5-6k on them w “typical” use, but the fact that they hadn’t seen much use, they got hard.

The tires have definitely gotten hard and it's something I would have only expected from cheap tires. While not super familiar with the Continental tire line, these seem top of the line Conti-attack. I guess I was expecting more from the brand.

Thanks for the offer on Dunlop, after years on Bridgestone I have recently switched to Pirelli in an attempt to address geometry issues on a 990 SuperDuke. They worked wonders, literally transforming the bike handling and I am now sticking with the brand out of gratefulness

 

[seadog]

Yea, new tire time. I thought it was just the shadow until I zoomed in on the pict. Yikes.

Tires are cheap compared to injury, lost time at work, etc. BTW what's the date code on those tires. You should probably get new tires and go to a track day to "break them in". For safety you know.

 

[afm199]

Hello folks,

I recently bought a 2015 bike with OEM Conti-sport tires, 4000 miles on them.
Both front and rear tires have what I think is an alarming number of cracks. The kind I have only seen before on much older tires or tires left in the sun for long periods.

Curious to hear what you guys think beside that they need to be replaced asap.

Five year old moto tires should not be ridden on.

 

[krongsak]

Five year old moto tires should not be ridden on.

We have always had different values Ernie :rofl.
I think, on average, 5y/o moto tires are perfectly fine for what 95% folks do with them, me included. However our unsubstantiated opinions don't really advance our understanding of tire aging an the impact on traction.

Curious to hear what you guys think beside that they need to be replaced asap.

also

 

[DucatiHoney]

What a strange pattern... I'd guess age, went flat and sat like that, and then refilled because seller didn't want to sell a bike with flat tires?

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Another possibility, the bike was stored near a source of ozone? Regardless those tires look done.

 

[ST Guy]

What is the date code on the tires? (A four digit code like 1343.) the first two digits are the year the tire was made in. The second two are the week in the year. In my example, the tires were made in the 43'rd week of 2013.

Report back.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

Underinflation can result in imprecise cornering, higher running temperatures,
irregular tread wear at the edge of the contact patch, fatigue cracking, over
stressing and eventual failure of the tire carcass...

Tire manufactures will warn you... riding on tires with too little or
no air pressure is dangerous because the carcass will build excessive
heat... so the potential of ruining a tire is based on continually
building heat beyond the normal operating temps of 170º to 210º F...
if you stayed below those critical values then you could deem the tire
serviceable...

 

[Slow Goat]

What is the date code on the tires? (A four digit code like 1343.) the first two digits are the year the tire was made in. The second two are the week in the year.

Got that backwards; the first two numbers are the week and the second two are the year.

 

[krongsak]

Got that backwards; the first two numbers are the week and the second two are the year.

4414. So end of 2014.
It makes the tires a little over 6 year old which would certainly not qualify them as "fresh" tires but I would certainly not have expected such a rapid aging

 

[krongsak]

Underinflation can result in imprecise cornering, higher running temperatures,
irregular tread wear at the edge of the contact patch, fatigue cracking, over
stressing and eventual failure of the tire carcass...

Tire manufactures will warn you... riding on tires with too little or
no air pressure is dangerous because the carcass will build excessive
heat... so the potential of ruining a tire is based on continually
building heat beyond the normal operating temps of 170º to 210º F...
if you stayed below those critical values then you could deem the tire
serviceable...

Front tire pressure was a 29PSI when I got the bike and sadly I have no idea what the previous owner did, beside not leaning much given the chicken strips.

To your guys point in addition to the cracks the rubbers feels unusually dry and stiff pointing at some damage either from heat (ran at low PSI), stress (stored flat, or chemical (ozone)

I appreciate all the great hypothesis. That tire will be replaced this week-end :thumbup

 

[motomania2007]

What is the date code on the tires? (A four digit code like 1343.) the first two digits are the year the tire was made in. The second two are the week in the year. In my example, the tires were made in the 43'rd week of 2013.

Report back.

You are reading the date code backwards. First two digits are the week of manufacture second two digits are the year of manufacture

 

[OaklandF4i]

The sidewalls are age cracking that I have seen and or encountered before... but never seen such pronounced cracks in the thread. Its clearly not, but kinda looks like cold tearing you get at the track when your suspension or pressure are off... but not really.

I like the previous hypothesis of ridden with a very low tire pressure or even flat COMBINED with a very old hard tire. But I really have no idea and going to follow to see who comes up with a good cause. :laughing

Nice wheel btw. :thumbup What did you buy Regis?

 

[ST Guy]

Got that backwards; the first two numbers are the week and the second two are the year.

Yea, fucked that one up. :afm199 :teeth

 

[Busy Little Shop]

I appreciate all the great hypothesis. That tire will be replaced this week-end :thumbup

You're welcome... there comes a specific identifiable position where old rubber is more rim protector than rolling tire...

For the freshest rubber seek the most current date code located after the DOT...

 

[ST Guy]

OP: Just for shits and giggles, how old are your tires?

 

[Frisco]

OP: Just for shits and giggles, how old are your tires?

He already told us.

4414. So end of 2014.
It makes the tires a little over 6 year old which would certainly not qualify them as "fresh" tires but I would certainly not have expected such a rapid aging
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