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kohana's avatar
kohana
Explorer
Jan 21, 2014

Craised side walls

My TV has Michelin LTX AT2 tires about 3 1/2 yrs old. I really like the tires but the sidewalls of all 4 are craised ( small cracks all over the surface but none that show depth. They have about 33000 on them tread is about 40% left.
Does anyone know if the sidewall condition is an issue?

10 Replies

  • I have the same problem. I noticed last year the sidewall was cracking. The tire was only 2 years old (1911- 19 is the week and 11 is the year made) It has gotten worse. I was just told that cracking is not covered. It will need to separate or blowout to be covered. I don't feel safe with these tires and will be buying new tires before next trip. They will not be Michelin.
  • quote from thread: Tire age

    BenK wrote:
    This topic comes up often and enough from varying folks that to me
    confirmation that I'm not the only one out there that went through
    about a dozen sets of LTX's (MS & AT) that initially were fine
    but around the late 90's Michelin changed their formulation to have
    them crack...






    below quote from: Unsafe at any speed....

    BenK wrote:
    Thought to post the Timberline crack








    michelin Tire splitting

    BenK wrote:
    Posted: 03/03/13 11:04pm

    Used to be a fan of Michelin's, but no more...here is a link to why
    below

    Currently have Bridgestone Dueler Revo LT265/75R16E's on Alcoa alloy 16x10's
    and are about 5 years old and don't drive my Sub but on weekends
    to keep things lubed and tires worked. About 12K miles on them
    and they look very close to new.

    Best tires and the below quote
    from that thread

    Nit, but bought a new bike work stand ($350) and it has a digital
    scale...my old alu frame bike is NOT as light as thought...it is
    17.3 lbs...even with that $350 seat and carbon fiber fork...that old
    'precision' fish scale was a bit off... :E

    Moved that seat to the new Madone 6.5 and IT IS 15.7 lbs, based on
    that nifty new scale... :B

    BenK wrote:
    Used to tell everyone who asked to consider Michelin LTX series...fine till Michelin
    changed their rubber formulation. Quote below shows pics of many sets of Michelin
    LTX (MS & AT) and my bicycle tires...they all cracked whereas they did not before
    that reformulation

    Currently have a set of Bridgestone Dueler Revo's that are about 5 years old. Same
    Suburban. Same house, same driveway (not garaged), same city, same ambient, etc and
    they are 'fine' with no signs of cracking whatsoever

    Coopers are on the mini van and looking good. The Michelin's started to crack and
    do not know how long they were on there, as bought the Odyssey used



    http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/post/forum/41/thread/26414210/quote/26420168.cfm
    BenK wrote:
    Also depends on how long you plan to keep your TV

    I plan to keep mine till the wheels fall off, then fix it or decide not to

    I rotate tires on all 4 of my vehicles and even dismount to remount the tires on
    my single speed bicycles to even out the wear

    If you change vehicles every 2-3-4-5 years, then moot point. Do whatever

    If you do keep them longer to need a new set of tires, then decide on what you
    wish to do with the spare.

    Dad didn't believe in rotating the spare and when he gave me the Silverado listed
    in my sig, it had a spare tire that was over 12 years old. It looked 'fine', but
    it had indications of rot all over it. The on the road tires had been replaced
    a few times to boot.

    Here is a thread and pictures of my experience on tires. From spares to on
    the road sets. Also why I no longer recommend my old favorite...Michelin.

    Since I no longer own the boat, I do not tow as much these days. Both my trucks
    had tire rot and the thread linked below shows what happens to tires that do NOT
    get enough usage.


    This image is of a Michelin LTX-MS LT265/75R16E's which list $250/each



    The clicky to that old thread which might help folks decide on their usage of
    their spare tires

    1/3 of tire strength gone after 3 years


    BenK wrote:
    All things age and part of that is degradation of it's strength

    Like all metal will degrade over time. Steel will actually increase in hardness
    and become brittle.

    Organic based materials will degrade faster than coated metal, unless it has been some
    how altered or enhanced. There are reasons for paint, plating, coatings, waxing,
    etc, etc...

    Do not delude thinking that seat belts last forever. There is a lot more safety
    margin dialed in that it may seem to last forever...but how do you truly know
    unless you either crash test it or have it tested in a lab...OBTW...
    a childs seat belts are how wide/thick compared to the OEM seat belts
    that hold it to the vehicle seat? Anyone ever look closely at any
    child seat to see if there are juice spills, milk/poo-pee/spit/etc that
    has an acidic component to it? Yes poo n pee, as diapers do leak, or
    at least my kids did...

    My bicycle helmet is only good for a few years. My car and bicycle tires are
    also only good for so long. The tire on my wheel barrows and hand carts are
    way old, has cracks on them and know they need replacement...but their service
    is at how many MPH ? Life and death duty placed on them? Nope, so they are okay
    for my usage, but have purchased several new ones recently as I'm tired of having
    to pump them up each time I use them...they lose PSI quickly

    Okay, can see some self serving opportunistic marketing, but why
    test it with a potential condition that might/will harm your child
    or yourself? How much would be saved by not updating it vs the
    potential of harm to your child?

    Of the three classes of tires in this discussion, which is the cheapest? Which
    costs more? Why do you think they have such a cost difference?

    Check out this thread on tires...
    http://forums.woodalls.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25105483/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1

    And a quote on my opinions and experience on that topic...

    BenK wrote:
    Update on another set that replaced the Silverado's Michelin shown
    below...Think ALL of the tire OEM's have changed their formulation
    on 'P' and 'LT' tires

    Timberline 33/12.5R15LT load range C on the same alloy wheels as
    the Michelin's. They have now cracked on the tread area. Here are
    some pic's. Only drive the Silverado weekends and errands. Don't
    tow anything other than an occasional utility trailer. Haul tons
    of stuff...gravel, dirt, fertilizer, wood pellets, wood, etc They
    are aired up to 30 PSI. Max sidewall PSI is 35
















    Ancillary...my road bicycle tires...Michelin 700C/23 $79/ea. Less than
    a year old and about 500 miles (have 4.5 bicycles, so the mileage
    is spread out over them all). Air them up to 110 PSI. Sidewall
    says 119PSI max. Do run up to 50MPH-60MPH going downhill, but
    after checking and finding this...am going to check the more often

    Got doored last week and after the EMT's, Ambulance, and cops
    were through with me (not hurt bad, just a bruise about 8" dia
    on the chest)...destroyed the road bike (got it down to just a hair
    above 15lbs)....min $700 estimate from the bike shop...going to fix
    as my daily and buy a new road bike...jinxed it...last month finished
    some mod's, weighed it in at 15.7lbs and said out loud...this is almost perfect









    BenK wrote:
    I'm very loyal to what I've checked out, tested (empirical) and low on my list...what
    buddies/friends/etc recommend (really factored by how much they know, or what
    I think they know)

    Was a huge Michelin fan, till about 6-10 years ago when my sets started to crack
    on the sidewalls

    Took them in and the Michelin rep accused me of using ArmorAll. Told him no way
    as the previous rep told me not to and would void the warranty. Named him and
    described the discussion at Costco. He retracted and said they were out of warranty (time)

    Used to recommend Michelin truck tires to anyone asking. NO more. This
    is "MY" experience and know some who still have no problems, but again
    this is MY experience and recommendation on Michelin 'TRUCK' tires. I
    still recommend their 'car' tires for 'cars'...not trucks.

    Here are some pictures of several sets of LTX-AT (LT265R16C) and LTX-MS (LT265R16E...$250 ea list)
    4 sets of 5 tires for my 1980 Silverado and 1996 Suburban















    Woke up one morning to find this on my Suburban









    Aired them back up several times and they leaked down in less than 10 minutes
    from the sidewall cracks.


    Here are some more of different sets...yes, "WAS" very loyal on Michelin till
    this experience








    And this LT265/75R16E's (first set, second set above pics). Too many sipes for
    my type of driving...HARD braking testing buddies proto brake pads on one +80
    mile session. The tread blocks folded over to feather the sipe edges.

  • I will no longer buy Michelins because of this. No other tire I've owned has done this.

    Mark
  • If the crazing does not go past the first layer they are OK. Seems I read that on Michelins site.
  • Sidewall cracking is like walking on a slippery slope. I would have the store who sold the tires to you inspect them and see if Michelin will pro rate them towards a new set.
  • kohana wrote:
    They were all 6 mo or less old when installed


    So you are saying the DOT date on the tires is around 0110. Correct?