Tire Dry Rot?

[JeffandLori]

About three years and 6,500 miles ago, I put new Maxxis 8008 tires on our travel trailer. Upgraded from C to E as when I went through the CAT scales, they told me we were right at or slightly over max for C when fully loaded and full fresh water. I kept them clean and treated with 303 at least every three months.

Well, this winter we knew we weren't going to be able to go much, so I put covers on them in December. Yeah, probably should have ALWAYS had covers, but I didn't.

We got ready to take a big (1,700 mile) trip, pulled the covers off, inflated and everything looked fine- but they were still pretty shiny from the 303 from before and I didn't look THAT close.

We get home and I go to clean them with normal tire cleaner and a brush and once I rinse them off, I see the beginnings of cracking like in the photo. I think the photo might show them worse than they look like in real life.

Most of our trips are within about 75 miles with one big one per year.

My overly cautious nature says better safe than sorry. My wallet is hoping I'm overreacting.

Thoughts based on photos?





Thank you in advance.

I'm having trouble embedding photos. Here's the links:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WQDosM6ewZvLSa1M9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/iMUm9Kok4ENAsg8V6

[Fluffywhitedogs]

What are the date codes on them?

[spock123]

Maybe you should try another brand of tires. My G614 are never covered and the tires are five years old

[JeffandLori]

Fluffy: Good question. I'll check when I get back home. My guess will be 2015, but I'm not sure.

Spock: I was thinking about Endurance if I have to replace them. What makes this Goodyear tire you referenced worth almost double the price? I'm generally a fan of "buy once, cry once"- which is what I thought I was doing when I got ride of the tires the camper came with and upgraded to the Maxxis.

thx

[Fluffywhitedogs]

You’d be surprised. I just (this month) went through a tire change fiasco. The first set that was put on was 0417. Turns out, they weren’t the load rating I had ordered anyhow so they special ordered the correct ones from Carlisle and they are 0119

[Oaklevel]

Personally I would not get overly excited about your light cracks. Yes I would probably replace them before a 1300 mile trip ( As they are probably over 4 years old) but not necessarily before a 95 mile trip(s).

Yes I will agree it is better to be safe that sorry.

This is telling me though that covering the tires and using a treatment on them makes no difference. OR maybe it does more harm than good ?

[JohnD10]

I personally think that most of these so called 'protectants' cause more harm than good.

I don't like putting that shiny stuff on my tires...

[JeffandLori]

Ok. Just checked the date codes and they were all made in the second or third quarter of 2015.

Also, now that they have set with the Aero 303 on them, the cracking is barely visible. Like only a couple small cracks.

Odd

[Riverdude]

I have a set of (4) Maxxis made in the 28 week of 2015. E load rating, I don’t remember the size. I was just over there yesterday pumping them up to there Max. PSI 80 pounds. I looked at the outer walls and I didn’t see any cracks. I better look at them a lot closer. They have had covers on them and haven’t moved since the 1st of the year. I will report back to you the next time I am over there.

[babock]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about hose cracks at all. Keep an eye on them though and start covering them.

[CincyGus]

While I agree, those cracks are about as minor as I've ever seen anyone post being concerned about and you very well might make it to 5 years on them without any issues, here's my perspective.

I bought a ultralight 23' TT in 2011. Came with cheap china bomb tires before I knew the meaning of the word. 2012 I had two sidewall blow-outs. I read up about tires on RV forums and learned about the above phrase and went out and bought some highly recommended tires. 2017, I had another blow out on one of those 5 year old tires on the way to my week long family vacation. Tore the coroplast off under the fender, knocked a water line loose that I had to bungee and cable tie up and we did without running water for the week as we were lucky enough to have bathroom and shower facilities and a couple of 5 gallon water jugs for around the campsite.

So I bought a new camper this past September that came with Castle Rock tires, Load range: D, Maximum load: 2,540 lbs at 65 psi. I will be calling this weekend to get an appointment and order some GoodYear Endurance in ST225/75/15, Load Range E, Maximum load: 2830 at 80 psi.

The $600 it's going to cost me (Less if I can sell the Castle Rock that have 200 miles on them to someone that wants them for a smaller trailer) is like insurance that I won't be as likely to have a blow out and tear up the bottom of this trailer. They will be replaced at the end of the fourth year of camping also. Road hazards can happen but me making good decisions to put good tires on, check air pressures before every trip and the return leg home and replace them every 5 years is everything I can do to protect our camper and my family as much as I can.

[Anderson15]

The cracks are nothing. I would keep an eye on the tires and roll on.

The date code is more important. I would be replacing them based on the age.

That's just me...

[jadatis]

In the first picture you could think it where scratches , more in the left below.
But the spots ar in the same ring as those of second picture.

Mayby its because this " pigheaded Dutch selfdeclared tirepressure specialist" is to much focussed on it, but my conclusion is that they are crackes bij overheating, only have to happen once long enaugh, then every next bending of rubbes do the rest, until mayby only after 3 years that much damage- buildup that tire blows.
A higher loadrange needs higher pressure for the same load, to give the same heatproduction .
In American lists, all the loadranges of one sise , are placed in same pressure/loadcapacity list, and that is wrong, I dare to state.

So give me as much data of old and "new" tires, and of vehicle, then I will calc a safe lowest pressure, and one with max reserve, with still acceptable comfort and gripp.
So then also give the used pressure.

If that prooves the pressure to be to low, you should contact the tiremaker.
2 ways possible:
The hard way in wich bad review on sociall media.
The best way to my opinion, is to do it the soft way, in wich you write mail with your experiënces, and suggest a solution, then some psichological massage, can make that they give you as coulance, a higher discount on new tires, then warranty would give.
Then use for the new tires from the beginning, my higher advice. If you do that from now for the old with crackes, the damage buildup will go faster.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by JeffandLori

Ok. Just checked the date codes and they were all made in the second or third quarter of 2015.

Also, now that they have set with the Aero 303 on them, the cracking is barely visible. Like only a couple small cracks.

Odd

The 303 doesn't make cracks disappear . personally i think it's a waste of 303 . if you want shiny tires just use the correct product . I would not drive across country with those tires just my opinion . better safe then sorry sitting on the side of the hwy with a flat

[D W]

Originally Posted by JeffandLori

Ok. Just checked the date codes and they were all made in the second or third quarter of 2015.

Also, now that they have set with the Aero 303 on them, the cracking is barely visible. Like only a couple small cracks.

Odd

So, about 4 years old. The first photo doesn't concern me as much as the second. In that photo the cracking is prevalent at the tread capping. If these were my tires, they'd be coming off. Not worth the risk at highway speeds. 4 years is max for my trailer tires. There's enough working against these ST tires already, without pushing the envelope.

[Chief T]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

I personally think that most of these so called 'protectants' cause more harm than good.

I don't like putting that shiny stuff on my tires...

I concur. Last TV I always put on "tire bling" and only got 4 years and 35k before I had to replace all 4 due dry rot. Current TV tires are 3 years old and I haven't put any bling on them and they look great. Living in the desert southwest doesn't help either.