Car D.I.Y.

[sevenfourate]

It's feathering rather than cracking, common with modern soft compounds. Wont be an MOT issue.

Cheers. But ‘Feathering’ - do explain ?

***Ive ridden bikes for years / done trackdays before. And am aware how tyres scrub / ball up on the outer edges. Especially on softer compounds.

Whilst that could be argued on these tyres perhaps. What I also see is the same cracking on the outside on the lower troughs between the raised tread blocks.
That’s what really ‘worries’ me - as that might indicate that it’s not just a very outermost point / superficial issue…..

 

[Jameshow]

Cheers. But ‘Feathering’ - do explain ?

***Ive ridden bikes for years / done trackdays before. And am aware how tyres scrub / ball up on the outer edges. Especially on softer compounds.

Whilst that could be argued on these tyres perhaps. What I also see is the same cracking on the outside on the lower troughs between the raised tread blocks.
That’s what really ‘worries’ me - as that might indicate that it’s not just a very outermost point / superficial issue…..

Never had cracking on tyres I drive, maybe I drive too hard!!

 

[sevenfourate]

Never had cracking on tyres I drive, maybe I drive too hard!!

I’d bet money it’s more to with compound, manufacture batch, issues with production, amount of silica, UV it’s been subject to, temperature range used in etc etc

I’d think driving style has very little to do with it.

EDIT: One quick google shows it’s not even worth writing a complaint email. The list of if and buts are many and the chances and choices of get outs huge !

https://www.kwik-fit.com/blog/why-are-my-tyres-cracking

 

[rockyroller]

Was thinking about trading in the current MX-5 and getting a van / estate / something useful (Did ask some questions here) !

One quick call and I’ve been offered £10k for the Mazda as it stands. Looks like this model / specs are at full retail with warranty etc for around £12k. Maybe slightly more with my super-low mileage .

So for no hassle, no MOT’ing, no recourse, no being beaten down on price, potential buyers not turning up - think that’s what I’ll do. **And I’ve already sold a car to this dealer previously so he knows my vehicles; and I know he’s a man of his word…

So unsure on ‘what’s next’. But I’m spending 3/4 of a day today - removing wheels, then cleaning up under the arches and getting some minor paint done on a couple of tiny areas under there; and painting the brake surrounds / dust shields. Just to make it all A1+ and give no-one any reason to moan……

nice little car. getting a van is a big change! I don't understand the wheel removal. are putting other wheels on? why are you concerned about an inspection of tires on a car you are selling? the guy who me my last car didn't care that the tire were cr*p. I must be missing something

 

[sevenfourate]

nice little car. getting a van is a big change! I don't understand the wheel removal. are putting other wheels on? why are you concerned about an inspection of tires on a car you are selling? the guy who me my last car didn't care that the tire were cr*p. I must be missing something

I’m painting a few bits / brake dust shields as I said. Wheels came off to do that. Needs doing if I sell or not.

Tyres are of little concern if selling in some ways. And if i have to stick 4 new on then so be it. As much as anything I’m interested how uncommon the cracking is / if it’s an MOT failure / what anyone else thinks about this on a Premium tyre after 18 months…..🤷‍♂️

 

[Deleted member 26715]

@sevenfourate I'm with @rockyroller if you've agreed a price with a dealer why are you sending any time or effort on it at all, he knows exactly what he's buying, he's made contingencies in the price he's paying along with his margin. Again on the tyres, will you own it at the next MOT time, no, so why worry, TBH if I was selling private, then yes, but to a dealer absolutely not.

 

[rockyroller]

@sevenfourate I'm with @rockyroller if you've agreed a price with a dealer why are you sending any time or effort on it at all, he knows exactly what he's buying, he's made contingencies in the price he's paying along with his margin. Again on the tyres, will you own it at the next MOT time, no, so why worry, TBH if I was selling private, then yes, but to a dealer absolutely not.

I certainly understand a cleanup. when I traded mine, I emptied it, vacuumed all floors & wiped all interior surfaces

 

[rockyroller]

I’m painting a few bits / brake dust shields as I said. Wheels came off to do that. Needs doing if I sell or not.

Tyres are of little concern if selling in some ways. And if i have to stick 4 new on then so be it. As much as anything I’m interested how uncommon the cracking is / if it’s an MOT failure / what anyone else thinks about this on a Premium tyre after 18 months…..🤷‍♂️

just the fronts?
what was your rotation schedule?
just the outside edge?
when was the last alignment?
I agree that's not dry-rot cracking

 

[Drago]

Cheers. But ‘Feathering’ - do explain ?

***Ive ridden bikes for years / done trackdays before. And am aware how tyres scrub / ball up on the outer edges. Especially on softer compounds.

Whilst that could be argued on these tyres perhaps. What I also see is the same cracking on the outside on the lower troughs between the raised tread blocks.
That’s what really ‘worries’ me - as that might indicate that it’s not just a very outermost point / superficial issue…..

Cracking is literally cracking, more often than not caused by age as the silica in the compound evaporates out.

Feathering is literally the material being locally stressed beyond it elastic limited and being pulled apart. Heavy cars and soft modern compounds make it fairly common. It's not a fault, does not render the car unsafe in any way.

 

[sevenfourate]

just the fronts?
what was your rotation schedule?
just the outside edge?
when was the last alignment?
I agree that's not dry-rot cracking

All the info is in previous posts:

It’s all 4 tyres. Just on the very outsides, tyres have been rotated numerous times. Wear is absolutely even and flat across all 4 tyres.

Alignment has been immediately after tyres went on and once since; on literally the very best machine available - and after some reasonably serious suspension upgrades (Shocks, springs, top mounts, adjustable drop links and uprated ARB’s and bushes).

 

[sevenfourate]

Cracking is literally cracking, more often than not caused by age as the silica in the compound evaporates out.

Feathering is literally the material being locally stressed beyond it elastic limited and being pulled apart. Heavy cars and soft modern compounds make it fairly common. It's not a fault, does not render the car unsafe in any way.

Ironic then it’s appeared on a 1050kg Mazda 🤣

Cheers for the info though.

 

[Drago]

You miss the point. Thats still 300 or 400 kg more than a small car of decades ago, and the decades old car would have had tyres so hard they were like almost like bakelite. The car is significantly heavier and higher performance than days of yore, even if its all quite modest my modern standards, and the tyre compound are more advanced in performance terms than they have ever been.

Long gone are the days when tyres lasted 40 or 50k miles, but in return we now have cars that go round corners and stop in the wet. But those improvements come at some cost.

 

[rockyroller]

All the info is in previous posts:

It’s all 4 tyres. Just on the very outsides, tyres have been rotated numerous times. Wear is absolutely even and flat across all 4 tyres.

Alignment has been immediately after tyres went on and once since; on literally the very best machine available - and after some reasonably serious suspension upgrades (Shocks, springs, top mounts, adjustable drop links and uprated ARB’s and bushes).

ah ok, sorry I missed that

fwiw - these are some old tires I just swapped out from my 2014 car that I just bought. the outside edges also had "scrubbing"? but that's not what got my attention

 

[sevenfourate]

ah ok, sorry I missed that

fwiw - these are some old tires I just swapped out from my 2014 car that I just bought. the outside edges also had "scrubbing"? but that's not what got my attention
View attachment 684560

View attachment 684561

Oh dear. Looks less superficial and more structural per-se compared to mine. Glad to hear they are no longer……👍

***After Googling “Michelin Pilot Sport cracking’ and looking at a few pictures - it appears likely mine have succumbed to what most would call a ‘cold tear’.

Derived from what is primarily a heavily Sumner based tyre; being used all year round (Supposedly they are prone to this perhaps sub 7 degrees C .But obviously much more pronounced and likely the colder it gets)….and when cold outside: the tyre isn’t able to flex / move / absorb - when subject to load / shear forces: and instead literally tears.

Borne from a wide-ranging U.K. climate and an owner who uses one set of tyres right through (***Car / tyres were really good as such in the snow tbf 😎).

We live and learn…….

 

[rockyroller]

Oh dear. Looks less superficial and more structural per-se compared to mine. Glad to hear they are no longer……👍

***After Googling “Michelin Pilot Sport cracking’ and looking at a few pictures - it appears likely mine have succumbed to what most would call a ‘cold tear’.

.

yeah, was glad they didn't disintegrate on the highway before I replaced them!
& yikes! looks like you nailed (no pun intended) that Michelin tire condition ;-(