Tires cracking is a sign of aging, a warning sign that they don’t have much life left in them. Also called weather cracking, weather checking, and ozone cracking, the formation of cracks in your vehicle’s tires indicate that the rubber in them is breaking down. If left unattended, cracks in your vehicle’s tires can become extremely dangerous.
These aberrations in a tire’s uniformity increase the risk of the tire splitting apart or splitting away from the rims altogether while the vehicle is in motion. Cracks also serve as entry points for dirt, gravel, and other debris to get inside the tire, causing more damage from the inside. If you discover your tires cracking, now is the time to get them checked out.
Why Are My Tires Cracking?
Tires are made of rubber, along with a number of pigments and other additives designed to increase durability or flexibility. Tires need to be flexible to properly perform under uncertain road conditions and to provide traction for the vehicle. As a tire’s flexibility starts to wane, a side effect of the rubber breaking down, cracks often form in the tire.
The rubber that tires are made from will deteriorate naturally under the many conditions tires typically have to face, i.e. frequent UV exposure, contact with chemicals and oils from the road, and mechanical impact that is just part of driving. The degradation process can be quickened if rot develops within tire treads. If a newer vehicle’s tires start to crack, the cause may be a fault on the manufacturer’s part.
How Long Do Tires Last Before Cracking?
You may notice that your tires come with a birthdate—the day they were manufactured. Manufacturers will also list an expiration date six years from the date of manufacture. This six-year window, while by no means a hard line, is a good estimate for a tire’s safe lifetime. While that timeline can sometimes be extended to seven or even eight years, the longer you push it, the more you’re playing with fire when it comes to your safety.
Is a Little Cracking on Tires Okay?
A hairline crack is not usually enough reason to immediately stop driving on that tire, especially if the crack is the tire’s sidewalls. Most cracks form in the sidewalls of tires, which is good because such cracks are less dangerous than cracks in the tread. Tires cracking in the treads are more likely to blow off the rims, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Even though superficial cracking is not usually cause for immediate alarm, it should serve as a warning to drivers that it is time to have a professional look over the tires. Cracks will only lengthen and deepen in a snowball effect, and as they do, the tire becomes more and more unsafe. A professional tire inspection will help drivers determine just how quickly they should replace cracking tires.
Can Cracking Tires Be Fixed?
Sometimes the process of tires cracking can be halted, but usually attempts to repair cracks only serve to mask the problem instead of reversing it. Commercially, there are several creams and sealants on the market which claim to repair cracked tires, but for your own safety, be sure to consult with a professional mechanic before relying on these tentative methods.
How Do You Protect Rubber Tires?
The best way to prevent your tires cracking is to shield them from the elements that cause the rubber to crack. This is only possible to an extent of course because using your tires at all will expose them to the sun’s rays and to water, ice, and salt. However, regularly cleaning off your tires and especially storing your vehicle away from those elements will preserve their longevity.
If you want to avoid your tires cracking, it is also important to keep the rubber flexible. This can be done by keeping them in motion. Do not let your tires stand idle for too long, especially in wet areas. If you do not plan to use your vehicle for extended periods, perhaps because you work from home or are leaving on vacation, take the vehicle out for short drives or have someone else do so. This will keep the rubber in your tires pliable as they should be to avoid cracking.
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