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[Ironhorse]

While cleaning the tires on my Ultra the other day, I noticed what appears to be small cracks in the sidewall. I'm not sure if this is dry rot, or the beginnings of separation here. I got the tire in August of last year and it has about 4K on it.





Whaddya guys think?

[SPIDERMAN]

Someone else might pick this up with some different advice, but mine is to not worry about it. If what I'm seeing in the pics is correct, I've seen this on every set of wide whitewalls I've ever bought. I think it is related to the mfgr process. I have worn tires that looked like the ones in your photos down to the cords without any problems from the sidewalls  

[jdracing]

You know, one hates to be anything but conservative as hell when it comes to tire/safety questions, but I'm with Spidey on this one.  It probably is related to the big white sidewalls, although I've seen in on non-wsw's as well.  I wouldn't worry about the light crazing--if it gets deeper, then it's probably time to change them out.  Is there a date code you read on the tires?  I suspect they'd been sitting around the dealer a while.

[Ironhorse]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I'd be with you on this except for one thing. My rear WWW Metlzer is a year older and pretty worn down. I'll be replacing it soon. However it does not have any cracks in it. So why would the "newer" WWW have little cracks in it, and the "older", and bald one not? I'm not really worried about separation, but rapid air loss due to the cracks.

I think I'm going to go with Avons next.

[05Rider]

  [highlight]  I agree with SPIDERMAN & jdracing![/highlight]  It looks like normal tire ware and markings to me.  If you are not sure just take your bike into any HD dealership and have the service advisers check it out.  That might ease your concerns if you still are having any.  Plus it's a good excuse to go buy something for your bike that you won't know what it is until you see it.

Ride Safe  [smiley=helmet.gif]

[jeffj]

IMHO If it was my tire, I would remove it, and request Metlzer to adjust the tire, you pay the difference of price.

Actually where you are seeing the cracking is where two different rubbers are flowing together and either one rubber cured to fast or to slow and that's why the flow cracks have began. My believe is the flow cracks will become larger and more pronounced over the next year or so. I would think Metlzer would warranty the tire as they don't want liability issues, as liability is what drives up the cost of a motorcycle tire vs. a passenger car tire.

On the sidewall of the tire you will find the serial #
The last four digits of the # will define the week and year the tire was manufactured.
So example 1105 would mean the 11th week of 2005 tire was manufactured.

Preventive maintance is one of the biggest keys to Safe Riding

jeffj

[hd-dude]

I would contact Metzler and send them the photos. See what they say. They may replace the tire to eliminate a potential problem.

[Ironhorse]

Well the rear tire that is older and worn down, and has no cracking has a stamped date of May 2003, I bought it in April of 2004. I guess it was sitting on the shelves at Ron Ayers for a year before I bought it. The newer tire that has the cracking is stamped November of 2005. I bought it in August of 2005. So I bought it before it was made?

I sent Metzler an e-mail, with thread links to those pictures. We'll see what they have to say, if they respond. In the mean time, I will take it to a local dealer and see what they say. I'm sure they will say replace it, and hope to make another sale.

[jeffj]

Well the rear tire that is older and worn down, and has no cracking has a stamped date of May 2003, I bought it in April of 2004. I guess it was sitting on the shelves at Ron Ayers for a year before I bought it. The newer tire that has the cracking is stamped November of 2005. I bought it in August of 2005. So I bought it before it was made?

I sent Metzler an e-mail, with thread links to those pictures. We'll see what they have to say, if they respond. In the mean time, I will take it to a local dealer and see what they say. I'm sure they will say replace it, and hope to make another sale.

What is the complete serial # of front tire? or at least post the last 4 digits


jeffj

[jdracing]

Ironhorse, on the date codes, the first two digits would be the week, not the month, which might explain the discrepancy.  Instead of November '05 it's probably the 11th week of 2005, or about the 2nd or 3rd week of March.

[Ironhorse]

Ironhorse, on the date codes, the first two digits would be the week, not the month, which might explain the discrepancy.  Instead of November '05 it's probably the 11th week of 2005, or about the 2nd or 3rd week of March.

That makes more sense now. The front tire was made in the 11th week of 2005, and the rear tire was made in the 5th week of 2003. Still, does that mean the older tire that sat on the shelf for one year, is constructed better than the new tire?

[jdracing]

The older tire might have gone through a more controlled curing process, resulting in less/no cracking.  Probably never know for sure.  I worked a summer recapping tires many years ago and learned a lot about leaving the tires in the molds the correct amount of time to minimize the likelihood of tread separation.  Get it wrong and it greatly increases the likelihood you end up with those tread pieces you see on the highway all the time.

[Nasty Habit]

God, for what they charge us for ONE tire (can do a whole auto) I would complain to Metzler too. The guys here are right, take a stand, and get some form of a credit. They aren't gonna' help out with the labor, and every bit helps...
NH

[RJ749]

Here's the Metzeler warranty info.  Kind of Greek, imagine they do a one off on a condition like you show.  http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/media/metzeler_2006.pdf

But it might help to see what I found on Goodyear's policy too.

Here's a site that explains Goodyear's position on weathering and cracking.

http://www.goodyear.com/rv/tirecare/tire_age.html

Also, the explanation, and the way they adjust tires on warranty maybe Metxler's is similar or should be:

Weather cracking, picture attached, is a naturally occurring condition that results from exposure to heat and sunlight. Goodyear's warranty for weather cracking is four years from purchase date (or four years from manufacture date if proof of purchase is not available).
Weather cracking is common in RV tires from all manufacturers.

Appears as crazing and or cracking in the flex area of the sidewall
Probable causes of tire weathering
Long periods of inactivity or storage
Direct exposure to air and sunlight
Tire age
Exposure to high levels of ozone (smog, electrical generators)
Excessive washing or dressing using alcohol or petroleum based cleaners

When should the tire be replaced?

Cracks > 2/32" deep
Internal components of tire (steel or fabric body plies) are visible

Without evidence of weather cracking, use the following as a gauge:

Usage per year --More frequent usage will result in longer life
Vehicle storage practices (6 months loaded with little or no rotation is not good!)
Casing quality --Absence of repairs, liner wrinkles, weather cracking, sidewall scuffs or cuts

[RJ749]

Here's an excerpt from a tire article:

Manufacturers include in their chemistry a special anti-cracking/sun checking polymer wax blend. This blend of waxes and polymers retard the ozone from attacking the double bonds of molecules present in the rubber and postpones the surface crazing and checking over a long period of time and a wide range of temperatures.

As the tire moves down the road, it flexes. This flexing action causes the added waxes and polymers to migrate to the surface and form a physical barrier between the ozone and oxygen, which are both oxidizers, and the polymer components of the tire.

This process is referred to as "blooming." The heat generated by the flexing of the tire continually moves minute amounts of the wax to the surface to protect the tire.

When a vehicle is not driven, blooming does not occur; the ozone attacks the protective waxes and then the polymer components. The result is the tire becomes dry, check and given enough time, dry rots. At this point, the sidewall is cracked and unstable. This is a serious safety concern since sidewall failure of the tire is highly probable.

Copied from this article:  http://www.autoint.com/magazine/basics_of_protection.html