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ibulib
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2008
Posts: 78
Location: The SLC
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 Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 11:39 am Post subject: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Many of my vehicles get their tires replaced due to age and not mileage / wear. I was a Nokian fan boy until today.
Has anyone experienced tire cracking under 10 years old?
The Nokian tires on my 2wd Westy were installed in 2017 and have visible cracks. I have less than 1k miles on the tires. It's kept in a car port out of the sun and gets driven a few times a month. I've been purchasing tires for decades and this has never happened to me before. Nokian responded to my inquiry and stated warranty is 5 years period. I have other vehicles with Nokian tires installed older than my Westy tires with no cracking. I'm guessing most Vanagon's are not driven daily.
I'm curious to see if this is common issue with others  |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4066
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 11:42 am Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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read the date code, some times old tires are sold as new.
environmental factors may be at play, exposure to solvents, heat, sun, over speed, incorrect inflation, long term storage etc can effect the aging, |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6344
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Off topic - If you've only driven the van 1000 miles in eight years, why own it? That's like 10 miles per month. I would think the tires would get flat spots too with that little activity.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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brickster
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Joined: January 05, 2004
Posts: 603
Location: CO, USA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Does it look like this?
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1984 Campmobile Automatic |
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74 Thing
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Joined: September 02, 2004
Posts: 7662
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dobryan 
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 17292
Location: Brookeville, MD
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jimf909
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Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 8245
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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| ibulib wrote: |
Has anyone experienced tire cracking under 10 years old?
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Yes. I don't expect tires used on highways to be used past 7 years of life or so.
Nokian doesn't warranty them past 6 years from the date of mfr. so they set the expectation at time of purchase.
I did get warranty replacement tires from Nokian on entyres that were failing in the 2-3 year range. I never liked the entyres (poor wet traction) and replaced them with WRG4s on a passenger car and like them a lot.
They moved production out of Russia and into the US a few years ago which may improve the quality. I still buy Nokians, esp. where snow traction is needed but recognize that folks have been disappointed with quality issues.
https://www.nokiantyres.com/company/news-article/n...om-russia/
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- Jim
| Butcher wrote: |
| This is the main fault with DIY'ers, they get together on these forums and pat themselves on their backs spreading bad information. |
Guilty as charged.
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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ibulib
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2008
Posts: 78
Location: The SLC
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| Off topic - If you've only driven the van 1000 miles in eight years, why own it? That's like 10 miles per month. I would think the tires would get flat spots too with that little activity. |
Excellent point! My 2wd was not road worthy until 6 months ago but was driven once a month under 35MPH. I should have waited to purchase the tires. The 14" wheels / tires were in poor condition when I purchased the Westy. On the bright side, I would drive my 2wd anywhere in North America after replacing the tires 
Last edited by ibulib on Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:44 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ibulib
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2008
Posts: 78
Location: The SLC
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:38 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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| brickster wrote: |
| Does it look like this? |
Yes!!! But not as bad. I had no idea this was an issue with Nokian Tires. They lost me as a future tire customer. |
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do.dah
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2015
Posts: 856
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Does yours say made in Russia?
If so, that's probably your problem... |
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ibulib
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2008
Posts: 78
Location: The SLC
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Here is the official NHTSA verbiage on tire safety should anyone want to review:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/tires
My case in point is I have never had this happen to tires before. I will be purchasing new tires but they will not be Nokian. |
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ibulib
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2008
Posts: 78
Location: The SLC
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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| do.dah wrote: |
Does yours say made in Russia?
If so, that's probably your problem... |
I will go and look now...
OMG!!! My tires were made in Russia 
Last edited by ibulib on Fri Sep 06, 2024 1:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 19056
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Actually the Russian grift put tires from China on their military vehicles. 10 years in Florida is a long time for a tire. Probably climate is a variable. Personally, would not head out on a cross country trip on any tire that was 10 years old, but that's me.
My Goodyear racing tires are good for one day and a set is $1500 last time I checked. 10 years seems reasonable.  |
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ibulib
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2008
Posts: 78
Location: The SLC
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| Personally, would not head out on a cross country trip on any tire that was 10 years old, but that's me. |
I completely agree. I have a hard limit of using tires older than 10yrs on public roads. Its not worth the risk. |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8644
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Tires lose flexibility unless used.
I have that same issue when swapping “tires” for “brains.”
| MarkWard wrote: |
| My Goodyear racing tires are good for one day and a set is $1500 last time I checked. 10 years seems reasonable. |
With a little luck, we’ll have that problem soon enough.
‘Cept they’ll be Hoosiers.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8587
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Rubber quality isn't what it used to be. Here in the desert SW, I'm lucky if I get 6 years out of a set of tires.
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"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 8644
Location: Westfalia, Earth
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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The burnouts and donies have finally caught up.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s
AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans |
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Nitramrebrab72
Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2018
Posts: 971
Location: France
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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| Storing tyres in a welding shop or a garage where regular welding occurs will dry out the tyres and considerably reduce the time a tyre takes before it starts cracking. |
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do.dah
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2015
Posts: 856
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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Every time I rotate my tires, and sometimes even without rotating them, I like to 303 them.
Both sides. Not the tread. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 4066
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| Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2024 6:04 pm Post subject: Re: Tires cracking under 10yrs old? |
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I have driven on a 60 year old tire, it was an interesting experience.
I have no issue using tire 12 or even 15 years old, if they are of a good quality that is not cracked, other I have seen fail in very few years. Wide range of quality out there.
Of course by the time a tire gains a good reputation of lasting ten or more years, that tire formulation, even the country of origin may well have changed.
Roll the dice I suppose, avoid the dirt cheapest brands is my advice, but who knows what you buy today will last.
Some new tires sold maybe 1, 2 ,3 or more years old already, so always read the date code.
Same for batteries, read the date code, avoid buying a new six month old battery, I have seen new batteries a year old, run away!!!!
I once bought a Pork Roast, it was one month past expiration date for a camping trip, discovered the past date as i was opening the package to cook, That screwed up dinner. i returned it when i got home. I bought a frozen pizza that had a mail in super bowl contest offer on the box that had a dead line for entry one year past! I returned that too after I cooked it and took one bite, yuck. I spit it out . I now always read labels for the dates prior to purchase. |
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