I have some Michelin A/T2 tires. They have roughly 45,000 miles with a 60,000 mile warranty. All tires have a lot of small cracking everywhere around the sidewalls. Discount Tire tells me it is from the tire dressing. Michelin told me the same and says they do not recommend any dressing. I always keep the tires/truck clean. The truck is in the garage 70% of the time and is really just a weekend driver anymore. All I have ever used on them is the Optimum tire dressing and most recently the 303 dressing (but cracks started way before the 303). That I recall, I have never noticed cracking like this on any other tires I have owned. What do you guys think?
Tire Dressings Harming Tires?
- Thread starter winboys
- Start date
AZpolisher15
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- Nov 9, 2015
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Ive gotten the small cracks in every set of Michelin's I've had. Seems to show up around the 4 year mark. Imo there's no connection to dressings. My brothers Miches got the cracks at 4 years too. And he never dressed his tires. My current set is holding up better than all previous sets and I always have them dressed with Duragloss 253. Currently 45k miles and almost to 4 years. I should look at the back side and see how they look.
oneheadlite
Well-known member
- Aug 20, 2015
- 1,791
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How old are the tires? That can have a lot more effect in my experience than mileage.
MattPersman
New member
- Apr 27, 2013
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Agreed ive seen many many michelins with cracking that are just several years old dressing or not. It’s a pretty normal problem. Either ride it out or replace with something you see reviewed to your liking and budget.
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FUNX650
New member
- Dec 1, 2010
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Two thoughts of mine:
1.) I favor the “don’t use petroleum-based
tire dressings/cleaners” way of thinking.
2.) C’mon Michelin...make up your mind!!
_____________________________________
Tire Care and Maintenance
Can I use tire cleaners?
”Avoid the use of petroleum based tire
cleaning products as they can exhaust
the tire's oxidation and weathering
agents within the rubber compounds,
resulting in cracking.
Use only non-petroleum based products
or plain soap and water for tire cleaning.”
Source:
FAQs | Tire Problems | Michelin US
___________________________________________
Source:
MICHELIN(R) Premium Shine Tire Coating | GPMI Company
_______________________________________________
Bob
The warranty is it 60k miles or till it reached a certain time? Otherwise they would honour the warrenty. But on the otherhand as Bob wrote about the tire dressing and they have their own. It's a perfect way for them to avoid the warrenty. And when you think about it what environment tires are in when driving. The spill from petroleum and oils and coolants. And the tires would not stand up to that in reasonable time. The tire dressing that are petroleum based use that as carrier solvent to the tire dressing. And would evaporate so quick that the use of it would not be a problem I think. The driving on roads would be more harsh than some tire dressing.
Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
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This is the big question. If the truck is only driven on the weekends and special occasions, it will take a very long time to cover 45K miles, let alone 60K. My guess is time has taken its toll on the rubber, not environment or dressings.
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
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I've seen this question come up a lot in the last 16 years in the forum world so I checked with the head chemist at Meguiar's about this topic and he assured me that they take safety into consideration when creating any formula and especially tires.
I think as long as you use products from a reputable brand, you can trust they have professionals for chemists and the products are safe for their intended use.
Also, somewhere on this forum I have an article about "petroleum distillates" where I explain this is a general term and does not take into consideration all the variations of "distillates" of "petroleum".
I think as long as you use products from a reputable brand, you can trust they have professionals for chemists and the products are safe for their intended use.
Also, somewhere on this forum I have an article about "petroleum distillates" where I explain this is a general term and does not take into consideration all the variations of "distillates" of "petroleum".
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
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Petroleum Distillates or Solvents
Just because a product states that it contains petroleum distillates, or PD's doesn't automatically mean the product is bad or will harm anything. It depends upon the quality of of the petroleum distillates used. Just answered a PM about this and thought I would post the below picture I took years ago to make a point...
Here's an example of how safe petroleum distillates can be...
Chap-Stick, a product you apply to your lips contains 44 percent Petrolatums as well as Isopropyl Myristate and Cetyl Alcohol. All of these ingredients can sound bad for your skin but look how long Chap-Stick has been around, how safe it is for your skin and what a great product it is?
Stick with brands you trust and trust that the chemist behind the product formula is a qualified chemist and has done their homework to create a product that work and is safe for the intended application.
Just because a product states that it contains petroleum distillates, or PD's doesn't automatically mean the product is bad or will harm anything. It depends upon the quality of of the petroleum distillates used. Just answered a PM about this and thought I would post the below picture I took years ago to make a point...
Here's an example of how safe petroleum distillates can be...
Chap-Stick, a product you apply to your lips contains 44 percent Petrolatums as well as Isopropyl Myristate and Cetyl Alcohol. All of these ingredients can sound bad for your skin but look how long Chap-Stick has been around, how safe it is for your skin and what a great product it is?
Stick with brands you trust and trust that the chemist behind the product formula is a qualified chemist and has done their homework to create a product that work and is safe for the intended application.
Boudin
New member
- Mar 29, 2012
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I've had 3 sets of Michilen At2s, they've all had the cracking around the wheel bead regardless of cleaner/dressing.
Look on the backside of the tire, which is almost never clean or dressed and compare, if it's cracked as well they can't blame product usage.
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Look on the backside of the tire, which is almost never clean or dressed and compare, if it's cracked as well they can't blame product usage.
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Don M
Active member
- Jan 8, 2010
- 2,254
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I've talked to several different tire dealers and they all said that Michelin tires are notorious for cracking. My brother's truck had Michelins and they developed actual CREVICES in the sidewall, and he NEVER cares for his truck ... it doesn't even get washed, let alone waxed or the tires dressed.
DaveT435
Active member
- Jun 23, 2012
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They're Michelins. I worked for Discount for 28 years. Michelin won't replace the tires for this unless the cracks get down to the cords. Discount surely can't afford to replace 80% of the Michelins they sell for this problem. It's not a safety hazard unless they get really deep, down to cords. I've got a set of them that came on my wife's truck that are like that. I'm getting ready to replace them because they're almost 4 years old, definitely not going back with the Michelins. Yokohama used to have the same cracking problem but they've got it taken care of now apparently. I'm replacing the Michelins with Yokohama or Bridgestone. Leaning toward Bridgestone because they have always built one of the truest running, best balancing tires on the market.
Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
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I'm currently running Michelin's LTX's on my wife's SUV and some PSS's as my summer tires on my car. For their class of tire, they have out performed anything I've used of similar brands in both grip and durability. Fortunaly, I hit sales/rebates to bring down the prices. I'm hooked.
Every tire, regardless of brand, if it's old enough will start to develop some small cracks either on the sidewalls, between the tread blocks, or along the sides of tread blocks.
FUNX650
New member
- Dec 1, 2010
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^^^:iagree:
I really enjoy my Michelins.
It almost seems that some people are
destined to become Michelin owners.
Here’s me at ~6 months:
Bob
Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
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I just blew water all over my monitor and my co-workers think I've lost it....
Thanks, Bob.
Thanks, Bob.
AZpolisher15
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- Nov 9, 2015
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One of the reasons the cracking is so "pronounced" in Michelin's is that they last and last. All tires are gonna crack eventually. But most other brands are off the vehicle before the cracking ramps up. Another of my theories regarding Miches.
I still love them. 90k isn't unheard of. My current set looks brand new at 45k and ~4 years. And they're the best performing tire I've ever run. (MS2's and Defenders)
I still love them. 90k isn't unheard of. My current set looks brand new at 45k and ~4 years. And they're the best performing tire I've ever run. (MS2's and Defenders)
UncleDavy
Active member
- Aug 22, 2017
- 1,609
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Good, bad or indifferent, I change tires after 60,000 miles. At that point tires are on borrowed time. I recently changed out some Michelin Primacy MXM4s on my wife's Buick. I only use water based dressings on tires and there were no cracks in the sidewalls. There were some small cracks in between the treads. A new set of Michelins would have been $1100. I went with Nexxen and they were half the price and they are the only tire company that offers roadside assistance. I waited a couple of weeks and cleaned them with Meguiars D143 and dressed them with 303 Tire Balm.
PurpleTowel
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- Jul 12, 2015
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Tire degradation has a lot to do with UV exposure, and not much to do with tire dressings, unless they are heavily silicone based, like Armor All. I have a set of Michelins that are cracked like crazy, but that's a really old tire. They aren't meant to last forever, and they don't wear out just based on tread remaining.
Little known fact, many tire dealers will try to sell you old tires like early expiration milk from the front of the cooler shelf. They are aged even before you get them on your car. Tires on sale or clearance are often old stock they are trying to rid themselves of. Ask to see the tires BEFORE they mount them on the wheels. There is a born-on date on every tire sidewall, in a little pill-shaped button. There will be 4 numbers to tell you when the tire was made.
They will read something like this: (2211)
That number tells me that the tire was made between May 30th to June 5th (the 22nd week of the year) of 2011. That's a 7+ year old tire, and well past it's usable life span, I don't care how deep the tread is. If you get that much out of a tire, consider yourself lucky. Don't buy old tires, even at a discounted rate. You're better off with a fresh tire for a few more bucks than an old tire that a dealer is trying to get rid of.
If I can get 3-4 years or 30k-40k miles out of a set of tires, I consider that a product win.
Little known fact, many tire dealers will try to sell you old tires like early expiration milk from the front of the cooler shelf. They are aged even before you get them on your car. Tires on sale or clearance are often old stock they are trying to rid themselves of. Ask to see the tires BEFORE they mount them on the wheels. There is a born-on date on every tire sidewall, in a little pill-shaped button. There will be 4 numbers to tell you when the tire was made.
They will read something like this: (2211)
That number tells me that the tire was made between May 30th to June 5th (the 22nd week of the year) of 2011. That's a 7+ year old tire, and well past it's usable life span, I don't care how deep the tread is. If you get that much out of a tire, consider yourself lucky. Don't buy old tires, even at a discounted rate. You're better off with a fresh tire for a few more bucks than an old tire that a dealer is trying to get rid of.
If I can get 3-4 years or 30k-40k miles out of a set of tires, I consider that a product win.