cracks in my tires
Published by Crystal September 10th, 2007 in repairs, safety.I was checking my tires this morning and found cracks all over my Continetal Zippys. I only just got them less than maybe 1,200 to 1,500 miles or so ago - sometime early last year. I love these tires, but obviously they need to be replaced soon (my mechanic agrees). I was really shocked, since nearly all I’ve ever read/heard about Zippy 1s are good things, that’s why I got them. I’ve posted on a couple forums and written to Continental to find out if others have had this happen, and if there is a warranty that I can take advantage of. Scary!
Was there talk a year or two ago about tire companies selling out-of-date or test-failing stock to middlemen who then sold the theoretically bad tires at a huge discount and maybe some US dealers were buying substandard/out-of-date tires? Or did I dream that? I seriously remember some sort of story about that but I have no idea where I read it.
It happens to all tires eventually, and driving with incorrectly-inflated tires or leaving your bike in the sun all the time can speed up the process, but still, to see it within that time frame and not all that much mileage makes me wonder if the tires had been sitting on the shelf for several years before you bought them.
http://www.amadirectlink.com/roadride/Riderresc/tires.asp
Looking at that photo, your tire was manufactured in the 17th week of 1959, but I’m sure that’s wrong. Four digits should mean it’s made after 2000, but the number doesn’t follow that convention.
Crystal- I was thinking along the same lines as illnoise–that even though you had the tires installed 1500 miles ago, they could have been sitting around some warehouse for a very long time subject to varying degrees of hot & cold temps & began developing cracks before you even got them.
I talked to Chelsea at Scoot Richmond, and she recommended that I try either the Michelin Boppers, or a Maxxis tire. Hopefully they’ll be here soon.