Aging/Cracked Tyres

paddydriver

Hello All,

Looking for an opinion re the tyres on the GTI. We have it two years and there are just over 11k miles on it - not mine, the wifes, so I don't drive it much hence the low mileage:o

Anyway, it has the 18" with bridgestone potenza's and they are starting to look a little cracked in the top edge of the thread on the face of the tyre. Tyre walls are fine etc. Would anyone know if this is just aging and nothing to worry about or do tyres have a lifetime as well as a wear limit - I would expect not?

They would have had a few coats of Meguiars tyre gel over the years but this should not affect them I hope as it is generally applied only on the wall and any bits on the thread are driven off soon after.

Wear wise these is a few thousand miles yet as I have not even rotated back to front yet or anything like that.

Any thoughts - should I be concerned with these cracks or is it just in the surface.

Thanks
Paddy

Captain Slow IRL

You should go get some new tyres is the safe answer, but if your wife isn't doing a lot of mileage, they should be fine for the time being.

It is natural wear, speeded up by the fact that they were being used so little.

Bring it along to a local, trusted, tyre fitter and they should be able to advise you better.

Esel

If the tyres are only two years old, have no visible damage, and sufficient thread, they should be perfectly safe.

Avns1s

Most tyres that age will have tiny superficial cracks in the rubber which are no problem. If they're really noticible, and deep, then change the tyres but if they're just superficial, you should be fine.

stratos

I'm not a safety nut quite the reverse, However tyres are serious stuff. Cracked tyres are dangerous uv light corrodes rubber (conflicting 80's images). The tyres must be fairly old to have cracked. European legislation is coming soon about stamping dates on tyres. I wouldn't drive myself with with cracked tyres, no way anyone belonging to me.

Andrewf20

I have Bridgestone Potenza RE720s on the front of my yoke. They have minor cracking across the surface. I have them nearly 2 years also. I dont think they are anything to worry about. Sounds like you have fairly normal symptoms.

stratos

This is odd I have 4 year old potenzas on my car. No sign of cracks I was associating tyre cracking with old tyres.

JHMEG

After 8 years I replaced my original tyres as they had hardened and grip was poor, esp in the wet.

I'd have my doubts that after such a short time that your tyres would have expired.

Oilrig

Don't rotate your tyres, they wear specifically to each wheel, moving them around results in reduced grip as the tyre beds in to its new position.

Rotating tyres is an old car thing.

artanevilla

If a car isn't used the tyres tend to crack.