Cracked Tyre !?

[Dilbert]

I'm just guessing now, but I assume my front tyre isn't supposed to look like this.............

there are lots of these splits along the inside edges of the outer tread blocks, to the right of the crack you can see some crazing, this could be aging of the rubber as I think the bike was stood for some time before I bought it.
The tyre is a Dunlop Trailmax and feels a little insecure on slow tight bends (e.g. roundabouts) I wonder why?
Since the back is just about worn out (another Trailmax) and my tax runs out end of October I was going to strip it down and new tyres were already at the top of the list.
Is this a common occurance with knobblies and block type tyres? or have I just got a crap one?

[Maverick]

I have seen those cracks before on old tyres or like you said if it was standing deflated a bit and when you pump the wheels again these cracks occur. What is strange though it has always been on Dunlop tyres I have never replaced any tyres with dunlop's and can't really comment on their durability etc as they have been around a much longer time than I have

Personally would replace them before the whole thing disintegrate between your legs

[Slimie]

S'knackered, get a new one!

-Simon

[Lord Stig]

Mine always do that, and because I generally kill tyres off pretty quickly (i.e., build mileage quickly) it certainly isn't down to age as such. I wouldn't worry. It's always the front that gets it - not sure why. I am a little worried about my front at the moment - there's a piece of glass deep inside one of the central tread blocks. No time to take the tyre off and push it through from the other side so I hope it last's 'til the weekend.

If you're really worried though, do get it changed. They're all that's between you and the greasy stuff they call tarmac.....

Stig

[Whealie]

My rear looked like that too. Had about eight or nine cracks in it. New tyre and tube required no doubt about it. You will get a flat soon.
Whealie

[Dilbert]

Thanks guy's
The answer was fairly obvious I just wanted to know how common it was, being an old fart who doesn't do "off-road" I will go for "road" tyres next time anyway (Distanzia's?), so this shouldn't happen.
And as for Maverick, yeah great except I'm older than Dunlop bike tyres, they used to be the top choice in the seventies.......cheaky young whippersnapper.

[Lord Stig]

I'm kind of surprised at the response you got there, but maybe I'm thinking of a slightly different kind of cracking. Yours looks the same as what I get, except it occurs over the whole tyre on mine. The splits on mine don't look like they go through to the carcass (that would be worrying!), but I didn't think yours did either. My theory is that the front gets a lot of stress from heavy braking and just eventually starts to craze up. I do upwards of 3,500 miles a month so you can imagine how often I have to change tyres and why I don't think it's the result of age or exposure to UV. By the way, I recommend Pirelli Scorpion MT90 STs - definitely the best road tyre I've had on and dual sport bike. That said, I fancy trying the MT60s next time.

Stig

[robelst]

I have also seen these cracks in my Bridgestone front tyres, not just on one place but all over the tyre, usually around the same spot alongside a "block". The Avon front did this as well, but only slightly. I never had a problem with it and just used the tyre until the profile was worn down. It looks worrying though, I agree, but it does not seem as structural as it may look. If it is just in one place, I'd personally replace the tyre though.

[Dilbert]

I think this is the most responses I've ever had to a topic and all useful stuff (mostly).

Just to clear one point up, yes the cracks are all the way round and on both sides, but probably only every other block, like I said I'll be retiring for the winter soon and replacing the tyres anyway.

Thanks for the recomendation Stig, I was looking at a tyre pattern without blocks and had narrowed it down to Distanzia's, Tourance or Anakee's, now I'll have to consider the Scorpions too and of course Pirelli still has a certian amount of kudos for us calender remembering older dudes

[Lord Stig]

Ha! Pirelli calendars!! I still have a 1990 cover of You Magazine that featured the shoot for the calender of that (or 1991?) year. It was British history that year - I kept it because of the model who 'played' Boudicca, and because I was never able to get hold of a copy of the calendar. Those privileged souls who had access to them do not part easily with them!

Seriously, the MT90 STs have lasted better than any I've used (not sure of the mileage, but it has to be well over 10,000 on the rear) AND feel good in the wet and dry. Useless off road though. They feel better than Tourances and have lasted longer. I haven't used Anakees, but the T66Xs did last well (but awful in the wet). I'll be doing a search of the site in a minute to find out what experience there is of the MT60s. I figure being cross plies they should warm up quicker than radials, and that could be an advantage in the coming months, although they won't equal the life of an MT90....

Stig