Cuts Formed in Kenda Kahn 700x45C Tyres (Contains Image)

[Moksha]

Hi.

This might be a newbish question, but I'm wondering what could potentially have caused cuts like this appear one my tyres (both front and rear have similar cuts, with the cuts stopping and starting roughly the same place)

I'd take a stab that it might have been something I've run over in a cycle lane (being a student town it's common to find glass smashed in them) but it seems more wear and tear as it's in the same place over the entire tyre (for reference, they've done about 1170 miles in all weather with storage in an outside bike shelter)

Thanks for the help, I will be replacing them with some Conti's SportContact 32Cs as I could do with a more road centric tyre.

 

[goody]

Looks like they're starting to perish i.e. the rubbers getting old and starting to tear away from the carcass.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

+1. Those aren't cuts it's the rubber getting old and starting to split of its own accord. The strength of the tyre is in the fabric carcass not the outer rubber so normally I wouldn't worry about small splits unless there were also signs the chords were starting to fray.

With that one I'm not so sure - they are fairly big splits, exposing the carcass and I suspect if left the tread may start to delaminate.

With it being a front tyre I'd be inclined to err on the side of caution and replace it (if it were my bike).

 

[Tanis8472]

That's rubber perishing due to exposure to the elements.
Is it kept in sunshine (I know ) ? Sunlight makes the rubber perish along with other things.
You will see the tyre has similar splits developing along the other tread blocks too which is where there is a weak spot.
Time to change them

 

[tribanjules]

its perished not cut

 

[Deleted member 20519]

Something something something perished.

 

[Moksha]

Thanks for the help guys, learn something new everyday! Ordered some new Conti Sport Contacts today so hopefully should be back on the bike in a couple of days - hopefully should fair a bit better being kept outside (University Residence Management really does not care for concerned cyclists unfortunately!). I would assume to try to prevent the new tyres ending up the same way, covering up the bike when not used for extended periods would be a good idea?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I would assume to try to prevent the new tyres ending up the same way, covering up the bike when not used for extended periods would be a good idea?

Yes, it would certainly help to extend the life of the tyres, and the rest of the bike too.