Tire side wall cracks?

[craigwieck]

I have a question for any tire experts out there. I put a new set a Michelin tires on my excursion last June. I have only put about 5000 miles on them since I have had them. I noticed cracks around the bead this spring. I called Michelin to complain and the lady told me that cracks are not covered under warranty. She said I could file a claim and they would try to gets some assistance on a new set of tires. I just spent $2000 on tires last year and there is no way in heck I'm spending any money on another set of tires. My question is are these cracks normal? They don't look that deep but I always thought any cracks where bad. I have been a mechanic for 16 years but I never paid that much attention to the side wall of the tires over the years.

[fivecodys]

I bought a set of Michelin's 3-1/2 years ago based on the advice of this forum. I must have been lucky and got a good set. Almost 40,000 miles and no sign of cracking.



Is there a certain date range that is failing?

I did a lot of research before spending my hard earned cash.
This really bothers me.
So what tire do we like now and where is it made?

Bill

[Likes_to_tow]

When I bought my 05 truck used in 07 with 23k miles on it I soon noticed cracks in the sidewalls of the Michelin tires. The local NTB told me to bring it in for inspection. They called Michelin and I got 4 new ones at a cost of under $200 including lifetime warranty and rotation. these tires now have 45k miles on them and have been perfect. No cracks either. Judging by the tread depth I anticipate at least another 20k miles.

The reason tire manufacturers have gone to China is two fold. One is cheap labor but also there are no environmental restrictions in China. The EPA is shutting down America one industry at a time. Keep in mind we all live on this planet together and eventually China's polution will effect all of us. America is a nation, not a planet.

[Jarlaxle]

catfishmontana wrote:
BFGoodrich is Michelin, I don't know about uniroyal though.

Same company...when bought by Michelin, it was technically "Uniroyal-Goodrich".

[craigwieck]

I will check the date on the tires when I get home in the morning.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

CKNSLS wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Oh good-eeee, Michelin is building a 1.5 Billion dollar factory in China.

High performance tires to be built in China.

High performance tires to be built in China??????? What the.....???? :h

That's like saying you have a great 5.7 diesel. :S

Or you have a super fast high performance Yugo. :R

There are already major companies whose names you would recognize that are building products in China for export. These factories export quality product the same as products produced elsewhere by these companies. They follow the EXACT SAME QUALITY CONTROLS already put in place elsewhere in the world.

I know there are those on this forum who would find this hard to believe.

Very true. But read this, it may change your mind.
This is what the experts are seeing and saying.

[CKNSLS]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Oh good-eeee, Michelin is building a 1.5 Billion dollar factory in China.

High performance tires to be built in China.

High performance tires to be built in China??????? What the.....???? :h

That's like saying you have a great 5.7 diesel. :S

Or you have a super fast high performance Yugo. :R

There are already major companies whose names you would recognize that are building products in China for export. These factories export quality product the same as products produced elsewhere by these companies. They follow the EXACT SAME QUALITY CONTROLS already put in place elsewhere in the world.

I know there are those on this forum who would find this hard to believe.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Oh good-eeee, Michelin is building a 1.5 Billion dollar factory in China.

High performance tires to be built in China.

High performance tires to be built in China??????? What the.....???? :h

That's like saying you have a great 5.7 diesel. :S

Or you have a super fast high performance Yugo. :R

[kaz442]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Unless I'm reading the article wrong, It's not all Michelin tires.
Looks like BF Goodrich and Uniroyal's line up.

Hopefully they will take are of those affected quickly and fairly.

Bill

Bill, Michelin owns BFG and Uniroyal. Same tire, different name on the tire.

That explains why my BFG Long trails cracked after 2 years. They have since been replaced with Hankooks.
JKaz

[kaz442]

catfishmontana wrote:
Pretty common occurance with the overpriced******that is Michelin. Sorry you got burned by the Michelin hype.

X2

Buy Hankooks

[fla-gypsy]

No way they should be cracking

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Not to be out done by Ben:

Here is a picture of my Michel-blows. My tire crack is a lot deeper than his though. :B

[45Ricochet]

Where is what's his name with the CAD program? I'm sure he can prove you guys wrong as usual :E He did figure out the Prius towing a TT after all.

[maxwell11]

I had two set of Michelin's on my 2500 chevy that cracked.
one set on my van that cracked.

Michelin tires ride and drive good, I have never gotten the high mileage out of them like others.

but when you attach that trailer weight to the back of the truck and the old dodge diesel engine grinding tread off the tires each time you take off.
its going to be hard for any tire to get great mileage.

some said the strong chemicals used to wash the outside of the tires and tire shine takes the oils out of the outer skin of the tire, then they crack.
do not know about that, so I stopped putting any type coating on my tires.

the current set of Michelin tires on my truck have not cracked, but I will be lucky to get 35K out of them, worn almost down to the tread depth marker.
not good for $200+ ea tire.

I may go with firestone TransForce HT next time, some local guys use them and have had good luck, my truck is a 2x4, so I am not out mixing mud.

however, you must have good safe tires out on the road pulling that camper.

[BigToe]

It's getting tough out there on the streets for us RV people.

First, we're told to stay away from Firestone Firebombs. Remember the Steeltex issue 15 years ago? Then the Ford Firestone firefight 10 years ago?

Then, we have the Carlisle Chinabombs. Just when we think we can recognize these IED's, it ends up just about every new trailer tire out there is a foreign bomb of one sort or another. And just when we duck inside the reinforced XPS ribbed bomb shelter... we look around the rim, and find...

The Michelin Crack-0'es.

I suggest staying home folks. It's rough out there in the streets.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Unless I'm reading the article wrong, It's not all Michelin tires.
Looks like BF Goodrich and Uniroyal's line up.

Hopefully they will take are of those affected quickly and fairly.

Bill

Bill, Michelin owns BFG and Uniroyal. Same tire, different name on the tire.