Community Forums

Bob (WA0MQE) · 03-23-2007, 01:59 AM

I've noticed cracking in the rubber around the lettering on the tires. Their not cracking anywhere else just along the top part of the lettering. This seems unusual, I've heard and seen tires crack elsewhere but not specifically as mentioned. The tires are only three years old and are kept out of the sun when in storage which is most of the time. I have about 12,000 miles on the tires.

I'm wondering if this might be a defect. I know a lot of folks have had tires cracking due to lack of use and/or exposure to the elements, but not necessarily what I've mentioned here.

Anyone else run into this specific issue?

Bob (WA0MQE) · 03-23-2007, 01:59 AM

I've noticed cracking in the rubber around the lettering on the tires. Their not cracking anywhere else just along the top part of the lettering. This seems unusual, I've heard and seen tires crack elsewhere but not specifically as mentioned. The tires are only three years old and are kept out of the sun when in storage which is most of the time. I have about 12,000 miles on the tires.

I'm wondering if this might be a defect. I know a lot of folks have had tires cracking due to lack of use and/or exposure to the elements, but not necessarily what I've mentioned here.

Anyone else run into this specific issue?

Gary RVRoamer · 03-23-2007, 03:02 AM

It does not sound serious. It is difficult to tell whether "cracking" is a surface imperfection (aka weather checking) or an actual structural crack in the sidewall. Even dismounting the tire and looking from the inside may not show the difference.

Robert Cannell · 03-23-2007, 06:03 AM

We had Michelins that showed some surface cracking. Our motorhome dealer assured us the tires were safe. We went through Canada to Alaska and back to Missouri by way of Washington and Oregon. After over 11,000 miles and some very rough roads, the tires held up well. On Interstate 70 about 60 miles from home, we had one outside dual tire blow. No damage and we were able to get to Columbia, MO. on the inside dual.

dieselclacker · 03-23-2007, 06:05 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wa0mqe:
I've noticed cracking in the rubber around the lettering on the tires. Their not cracking anywhere else just along the top part of the lettering. This seems unusual, I've heard and seen tires crack elsewhere but not specifically as mentioned. The tires are only three years old and are kept out of the sun when in storage which is most of the time. I have about 12,000 miles on the tires.

My 04 Allegro with Michelins are cracked in the same area above lettering you mentioned. It has just under 15K miles, 3 and half years old. Cracking showed up a year agg. Rig is in Calif. Cracks are getting larger. Tires are always covered when not in use. Goodyears anyone?

Dieselclacker

I'm wondering if this might be a defect. I know a lot of folks have had tires cracking due to lack of use and/or exposure to the elements, but not necessarily what I've mentioned here.

Anyone else run into this specific issue? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Skip- Kerrville, TX · 04-04-2007, 05:21 PM

Are you really sure of the tires' age? You have had them for three years, but they may have been a year old when you took ownership of your coach. I advise checking the tire codes to reveal the true age of the tires.

Good luck,

weighit · 04-05-2007, 06:39 PM

So often the cracking we see is minor weather type checking. If you see the cracks as more than fine lines, more like a large, deep splits, have them checked by the tire dealer. Why take a chance if your not sure how bad they could be.

BIGRED1 · 04-06-2007, 02:01 PM

I'd get them checked by a Michelin dealer. Even if it's not a problem now, if you have one later you'll be on record with this documented for a warranty claim.

GaryKD · 04-06-2007, 03:54 PM

Consider calling Michelin and asking for their side wall guage. It's called the MRT Ozone Scale, part number MYT41792 (2/00). MRT stands for Michelin Retread Technologies. It is a 5 step picture scale. One can compare their tire to the pictures and determine what the next step should be. Michelin's truck tire help number is 1-800-847-3435

J Walker · 04-13-2007, 04:44 AM

Cracks on the sidewalls are absolutely serious. The problem is that water can get to the steel radial wires and eventually one will break. This will cause a chain reaction called the zipper blowout. You might get an adjustment from Michelin.

DriVer · 04-13-2007, 05:37 AM

If tires are allowed to sit for extended periods of time and receive little mileage over their service life it is entirely likely that a tire can exhibit cracking in the sidewall.

I had relatively little if any cracking in the sidewall of my tires after some 53,000 miles and the tires were dated "02". I have just replaced my tires with 2006 Michelin XRV tires and I am very pleased to have them.

I saw the cracking gauge mentioned above and it's a great index. All you need to do is call Michelin and request it.

chasfm11 · 04-13-2007, 06:55 AM

We replaced our 2000 model tires (tires were actually dated in 1999) in January, 2004 because of the cracking problem. I knew that our coach has sat for over a year since its last use by the previous owner with only a couple of sporadic, very short trips while it was trying to be re-sold.

I weighed the possible costs related to damage from a zipper blowout against the cost of 6 new tires and decided that, from a risk standpoint, I was far better off to replace the tires too soon. In addition to keeping the tires covered when not in use, I've made a practice of driving the RV enough to heat the tires up at least once a month (and usually more like every two weeks) year around since buying the new tires. I also expect to replace those tires again, probably late next year. Some might call me just plain crazy but I can think of a lot of situations that I'd rather have than sitting along the roadside with a blow out and am willing to make the investment to try to avoid it. Weighing all four corners and keeping the inflation pressure at the manufacturer's recommendations (plus a little) for the weight that they are carrying is part of my regime.

joelsr · 04-13-2007, 08:22 AM

I enjoy reading your posts even though I own a HR Vacationer pusher. All of the replies are useful regardless of what you are driving. Anyway, thanks for the inputs.

Joe Lorenz