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sidewall cracked??

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Old 08-19-2007, 10:33 AM
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SponGer
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Default sidewall cracked??

Was washing my other car and noticed the right front sidewall had two cracks.
I've never had this happen before. The tires are Nitto NT555s - 235/35/19.
Any ideas why this happened? Is it safe?
Old 08-19-2007, 10:34 AM
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Nexx
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do you use armor all on your sidewalls?
Old 08-19-2007, 11:36 AM
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I'm not a fan of Armor All -- won't use it. I only use Meguiar's or Tire Black on a weekly basis.
Old 08-19-2007, 11:55 AM
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This thread needs some photos.
Old 08-19-2007, 11:59 AM
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^^will try and post them later. Until then, one is a hairline crack about 3" long.
Old 08-19-2007, 01:35 PM
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Not good at all.
Old 08-20-2007, 06:58 AM
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Q45tech
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How old are tires [DOT date of manufacture code on sidewall]?

Some tires spend more than half their useable life in warehouses, on boats, and then back in wholesaler and retailers .
Old 08-20-2007, 09:49 AM
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Nitto tires are garbage, so it doesn't suprise me..... Once you start using Armor All these are some of the reasons why you can't stop using it. Same thing with your dashboard overtime, the heat and cold will expand and contract the rubber. If proper lubrication (armor all) isn't applied during this process cracks can form. Just watch out for bubbles starting to form close to or on top of the crack. if this starts to happen you will need a replacement tire, preferrably not Nitto. (good dry traction tire, but poor quality design)
Old 08-20-2007, 09:58 AM
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Ztalker
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Originally Posted by SponGer
I'm not a fan of Armor All -- won't use it. I only use Meguiar's or Tire Black on a weekly basis.

those tire dressings probably ruined your tire prematurely.
Old 08-20-2007, 11:40 AM
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my friend rode with something similar for a few k miles... crazy ***
Old 08-20-2007, 08:44 PM
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Thanks for the responses. Here's the pic, but you can barely see it. The tires have been on the car for about 15k ; I bought them new with the wheels about two years ago. I thought it was only a myth that dressing caused rubber to crack. Anyway, isn't the crack considered a manufacturer's defect?

Old 08-20-2007, 11:17 PM
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Originally Posted by SponGer
Thanks for the responses. Here's the pic, but you can barely see it. The tires have been on the car for about 15k ; I bought them new with the wheels about two years ago. I thought it was only a myth that dressing caused rubber to crack. Anyway, isn't the crack considered a manufacturer's defect?

Difficult to tell from the photo, but the defect may be superficial. Plenty of road debris that will have similar results.

Keep an eye on the crack. See if it get larger.
Keep your speed below 100 MPH.
Old 08-21-2007, 10:17 AM
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It could have also happened due to mounting/dismounting the tire, or driving on it while under-inflated. Time to replace it. Don't risk it...
Old 08-24-2007, 01:23 PM
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Went to Discount Tire this morning and had the manager check it out. He said it was a cosmetic crack and nothing to worry about. The tires were manufactured in 03 (bought them in 11/03) and have almost 30,000 miles on them. Indicated tires tend to crack with age. He was surprised I still had decent tread. I guess I'll swap them out when they hit the wear bar.
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