Over time, tires are exposed to precipitation, brake dust, chemicals, sunlight, and temperature fluctuation from summer to winter. While tires have anti-aging chemicals within the rubber to help protect them, exposure to these elements can cause rubber to lose some of its elasticity, which then causes the surface to age and crack. Under normal circumstances, tires should last around five to seven years, but as they age, they begin to rot, and it’s only a matter of time before the cracks can be dangerous. Here is more information about the aging and cracking in tires, what you can do to prevent this wear, and how to get help.
Also called weather checking, weather cracking, and ozone cracking, cracks in tires are typically small and develop in the sidewalls or at the base of the tread grooves. These are signs the rubber in the tires is starting to break down. While cracks typically start developing on the sidewall, they then move to the outer part of the tire underneath the tread. As the rubber flexibility declines, larger cracks develop, and once this happens, it’s only a matter of time before the tires become dangerous. Cracks aren’t always a bad thing and don’t necessarily mean the tire needs replaced. But as they grow in length, depth, or number, replacing your tires may be necessary.
As the cracks grow, they can wear down quickly. This can turn small cracks into major cracks or other problems that can put you at risk of blowing a tire. If the cracking between treads is visible, the tire’s structural integrity is likely compromised. At this point it’s important to have a professional inspect the tire. If cracks are in a tire that’s only a few years old, this could also be a manufacturing defect that needs addressed and replaced immediately.
The best way to prevent your tires from aging and cracking is by keeping them out of the elements as much as possible:
If you notice signs of aging or cracking on your tires, take it to your local tire shop for inspection. Sometimes, cracked tires can be repaired, but this may only mask the issue instead of fixing it. When cracking is serious, the tires likely need replaced for your safety and the safety of other drivers on the road.
It can be difficult to tell on your own whether the damage is serious enough to be a problem. The experts at Hollenshade’s Auto Service can help inspect and diagnose any problems and do any repairs or replacements you may need. Call 410-828-5750 or request an appointment online today.
NASCAR racing tires operate at an average of 200-260 degrees Fahrenheit. Antarctic tundra tires cruise through snow drifts at negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the typical SUV tire rotates some 42 million times throughout its lifetime.
Tires are one of the most under-appreciated parts of the automobile, laboring in harsh environments. Is it any wonder they break down?
A tire is an alchemist’s dream, a blend of rubber and filler reinforced by steel bands and somehow squeezed, pressed and extruded into a black donut with thick tread. The primary component in any tire is rubber, which could be natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, or butyl rubber.
OxidationTires age the same way as humans. As they age, they lose flexibility. Blame oxygen. Elevated temperatures exacerbate the reaction. Anti-aging chemicals, activated by operating temperature, prevent premature cracking, but most all tires depart for the Happy Hunting Grounds by age 10 no matter the tire protection.
Some tires, particularly summer tires exposed to winter conditions or vice versa, mature by six.
Tires may weather faster in urban areas. They degrade with exposure to ultraviolet radiation and ozone, a lightweight gas found in the atmosphere and caused by the partial breakdown of air from atmospheric electric discharges.
Harsh Chemicals
Harsh solvents and detergents used to detail tires can indirectly cause cracking. Tires are manufactured with anti-oxidation and anti-ozone protective tire protection layers, which are designed to shield from the solvents, salt, oil and fluids on American roads. Harsh cleaning chemicals can strip a tire of its clothing, as it were, and leave it exposed to ozone and sunlight without UV protection.
Bad DrivingFast ‘n’ furious driving can cause tires to age too soon. So can scraping against a concrete curb. Also, under-inflated or overinflated tires place undue stress on tire sidewalls and cause fissures and flaws.
Most manufacturers recommend tires be replaced 10 years from the date of origin. Premature cracking can slice the life of a rubber tire in half.
Thankfully, there are ways to thwart early cracking.
Drive Safely
The simplest solution to prevent tire cracking comes from mom: Drive safely. Skidding around corners raises the temperature of a tire, aggravating current cracks and egging on new ones. High-speed braking does the same.
Vacation Often
Much like bread is kneaded, a tire is “worked” when driven. Unfortunately, many fifth-wheel trailer and RV drivers only take to the streets a few times a year, leaving their tires to rot in the dryness of winter. Driving a trailer every other month can reap dividends over the life of the vehicle. Use covers for tire UV protection during the off-season.
Can 303® Aerospace Protectant Prevent Cracked Tires & Tire Rot?
303 Protectant is a water-based application used to dress rubber, plastics, vinyl and treated leather.
The surface treatment lays down a thin, flexible shield that has tire UV protection.
Uses for the 303 Automotive Protectant are endless. Enthusiasts dab the non-oily spray on rubber, plastic, and metal, While professional fishermen use it to protect their boats from premature damage and wear.
But most importantly, the product prevents cracked tires. A quick coating, reapplied every 4-8 weeks, is a quick blast of tire UV protection. The water-based tire protectant douses the sidewalls in moisture, protecting them against dry rot and giving the rubber a rich, waxy gleam.
Be it a NASCAR, Arctic or commuter tire, everyone deserves the best in tire protection: 303 Automotive Protectant.
Car tires are designed to last for a certain period of time. But under the influence of various factors, this period can be significantly reduced. This is mainly due to the quality of tires, their operating conditions, as well as compliance with the rules of seasonal storage.
Quite often, motorists are faced with the problem of cracks in rubber. This phenomenon has its reasons. But most of all, drivers are interested in the question of what to do with cracked tires and whether it is possible to continue to operate them.
To make the right decision, you need to understand the causes of cracks, their varieties and the degree of danger.
Every motorist must know why tires suddenly crack on his car and what leads to such a situation.
There are several potential causes. They can appear singly or act as a fusion of several factors at the same time.
During installation, the tire cord can stretch or even tear. Therefore, to change shoes on a car, it is better to choose proven tire services.
As you can see, there is nothing supernatural here. The reasons are quite banal and obvious. But even this does not solve the problem of cracking. Many motorists stubbornly continue to violate all the rules and recommendations. Hence the corresponding consequences.
The cracks themselves on car tires can appear directly in the tread area, or on the side. It is about lateral cracking that is most often discussed.
Before deciding how to proceed, it is necessary to determine what kind of side cracks on the tires the motorist encountered. They are divided into 2 categories.
Driving is possible, but not recommended. It is important to answer the question of whether you can continue to drive a car if a crack has developed on the side of the tire.
To understand whether it is possible to continue driving a car if cracks appear on the side of the rubber, it is necessary to start from specific circumstances.
First, consider how serious the damage is. With small and shallow defects, operation is allowed.
Even with small cracks, driving on such wheels is allowed within the city and at low speeds.
It is strongly not recommended to travel outside the city, move along highways and reach speeds over 60-80 km/h. This can lead to further propagation of cracks with their subsequent rupture at speed.
This will already entail a loss of control with all the ensuing dangerous consequences.
If these are small cracks, then severe restrictions are imposed on subsequent operation:
All this allows you to ride on old tires for some time, until the first opportunity to replace them appears.
Strictly restricted operation with side cracks only. If the tread is damaged, even a small defect precludes further driving.
Since the tread is damaged, on subsequent trips the crack will actively spread and increase in size. Even under the condition that the motorist drives extremely carefully, does not exceed the speed of more than 60 km / h and turns smoothly.
As for whether you can continue to ride on rubber if there are more serious cracks.
About deep cracks can be said unambiguously. Operation is prohibited. It's too dangerous even to drive to the nearest service station or tire shop.
Deep damage can lead to the destruction of the cord, moreover, suddenly, at low speed. As a result, the tire will literally fall apart on the go. Trying to accelerate, an explosion is not ruled out. It is not difficult to guess the consequences.
Particularly frugal drivers who are trying to save every penny and not spend extra money on their car are wondering if tires can be repaired if they develop cracks.
The answer to this question again depends on the specific circumstances.
There are craftsmen who are ready to do anything the client asks for money. At the same time, they are silent about the consequences that repairs of this kind can lead to.
You should figure out what to do in such a situation and how you can treat your tires so that they do not crack further.
In this regard, it is worth making some recommendations.
They work pretty well. But it is better to use them even before the first cracks appear, purely for the prevention and extension of the life of the rubber set.
The most correct solution in such a situation, when the rubber has been in use for quite a long time, and this manifests itself in the form of defects, will be a complete replacement of the entire set.
Motorists naturally do not want a repetition of such situations. Cracks do create problems and require additional financial costs. And it is unlikely that someone will voluntarily want to change the wheel every season. Quality tires are not cheap.
In order to prevent such problems, it is necessary to adhere to the elementary rules of operation, as well as to engage in the prevention of rubber.
This involves following a few simple guidelines:
Good tires provide confident cornering, strong grip, and are not characterized by problems such as cracking. 
Silicone anti-aging lubricants have proven their effectiveness in practice. And remember that natural aging cracks cannot be avoided. This is a signal that the tire life is running out and it's time to buy a new set.
Small cracks, if you do not pay attention to them, will soon turn into deep ones. Therefore, try to always monitor the condition of the wheels. This will avoid serious problems.
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