Tire cracking dilema (with pictures!)

spoonman · 11-17-2007, 01:38 PM

Hoping someone can give me some advice. My tires have cracks in between the treads. Now ive done my research here and online that those cracks can be natural (weather, exhaust fumes, other natural elements) but i also read that it can become a problem. Ive also seen that it may be covered for the first 4 years. So what im wondering is if this is enough to try to bring it up with discount (where i bought them) or bridgestone. I just wanted to ask here because i don't have that much spare time to go out of my way to discount so i was hoping someone could guide me whether or not i should go in.

Oh and by the way, these tires are the Bridgestone Dueler Revo At's not the stocks so thats why i want to get it taken care of. Ive only had them on for maybe 2 years (since July 06 i think) with around 20k miles so im concerned that it may get worse. The tires have always been inflated to 36 psi and have been rotated every 6k miles. The cracking is present on all 4 tires on the outer edges, but not so much in the middle strip of tread.

So does this look like a problem or am i just being paranoid?

**Arachnid** · 11-17-2007, 01:41 PM

It looks superficial to me, however I've never seen that on any tires that I've owned.

redpickemuptruck · 11-17-2007, 01:45 PM

I would go back to where you got them. Is hard to tell without looking at them in person but tire companies tend get pretty concerned if you start talking about it as a safety issue and not as a cosmetic concern. Report back on what they say and make sure to get an inspection in writing.

54warrior · 11-17-2007, 01:58 PM

Interesting, almost looks as if they're dry rotted!!!

MuskyHunter · 11-17-2007, 02:05 PM

Looking at the scrub lines on the outer block, it looks like these tires are either underinflated or that they prefer a higher pressure. It looks like the tread blocks are flexing towards and away from each other ad the tire rotates and comes in contact with the road.

spoonman · 11-17-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 54warrior

Interesting, almost looks as if they're dry rotted!!!

Thats something a friend told me. But the truck only sits for an extended period of time at most 2 days every week on concrete.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuskyHunter

Looking at the scrub lines on the outer block, it looks like these tires are either underinflated or that they prefer a higher pressure. It looks like the tread blocks are flexing towards and away from each other ad the tire rotates and comes in contact with the road.

I always thought the tires looked like they needed more pressure. I would fill them to 40 psi but when i would take them in to get rotated they would always lower it to 35-36 psi and they told me thats where it should be. I just figured they knew what they were talking about but i still think it might be too low since the tire seems to "round off" where it touches the ground more than my stockers (see picture below). I also had some alignment issues for a while which caused the uneven treadwear on the sides.

Its hard to take close shots because it always blurs out (even with the closeup mode of the camera. I think im going to take them in. I was looking over them once again and i saw a spot where the crack was bigger in one spot. (see second/third new picture) Id rather be safe than sorry.

Thanks guys for the replies. Anyone else with other thoughts?

sudden urge · 11-17-2007, 02:38 PM

I think you're a little too paranoid, don't worry about it unless they get a lot wider than what I see in the pics.

NorCal 4x4 · 11-17-2007, 03:11 PM

Email a pic to Bridgestone and see what they say.

AF-Medic · 11-17-2007, 03:15 PM

I had the same but worst on soem cont's on an exterra. I tried to get some replacments but ws told no dice and it's normal and not to worry. I was also told to bring them back if it got worse. They didn't and my tires were fine.

TYTAIN · 11-19-2007, 07:03 AM

Normal for any tire, most (surface)dry rotting. Until it starts splitting and you see internal cords you are good to go. Same thing Brigestone will tell you.

spoonman · 11-19-2007, 03:22 PM

Well took it in to discount and got some mixed signals. The guy that wrote me up looked at them and said that 2 of them that have some bigger cracks developing "didnt look too good" but then whoever checked them in the bay took them off and looked at them and said they were ok. So im just going to keep monitoring them in case they get worse. I may give Bridgestone a ring but im expecting them to say its normal but i might as well ask them, it wont hurt.

Vyrus · 11-20-2007, 08:09 AM

You think that's bad you should've seen my BFG Rugged Trails. At 38k miles, they had cracks as big as veins, and you COULD see the steel bands inside them!