Dry rotting tires

[Rishstev]

I have fire stone destination, MT2’s that I purchased about a year and a half ago they are 50% worn and I noticed that they look like they are dry riding even though I ride on them every day. I took it to fire stone and brought it to their attention and they told me that this is not dry writing. I want your opinion do you think this is a dry rotting tire?

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[bd100]

Maybe. A strong magnifying glass might help to see if these are actually cracks.

Any cracks in the side wall?

 

[charliez]

What’s the date code on the sidewall?

What he said. I'll look at date codes on new tires being installed and I've told the installers to find me better date codes. New tires can be well over a year old before they are installed.

 

[Rubi-Zero]

I was concerned myself about it being manufactured defect when I first seen this about 20yrs ago on some Mickeys, but after seeing it on other MTs over the years with several Nittos, BFG, and currently Maxxis MTs, I don’t worry much about it. I daily my vehicles and they are garage kept so I know it’s not dry rot from being left out in the weather uncared for.
I chalked it up to the climate they are in, plus driver. It has never turned into a larger issue except an eye sore with many many road/offroad miles.

I always check the date codes on my tires before they are installed.
Maybe someone else has had a different experience with what you are seeing but for me, it hasn’t been a real issue.
I’m curious now.

 

[Rishstev]

4771921 is the date code. There is not any cracks on the side wall.

 

[Dougstdig]

The date code is a federal mandate and is only 4 digits long as was noted / circled in azmojave’s post.

I’ve never been a fan of Firestone. The crap they got caught in with rollovers and under inflation through the ‘80’s & 90’s (?) didn’t help. There are just too many superior quality tires out there. Yes I’m aware some model years of the Willy’s came with them stock, but I’ll assure you they wouldn’t have stayed on the rims long if I had gotten one.

Small cracks in the tread…I’m on the fence about. Many things can contribute to these including chemicals and most importantly…UV rays.

 

[charliez]

4771921 <==that's not the date code. Find the number that matches like the picture above in the oval spot. It will always be 4 numbers only

 

[charliez]

This is an older video and a motorcycle tire but that doesn't matter. All tires are dated the same.

 

[Y-Guy]

This is from 2017 but hopefully helpful.

Mickey Thompson - Understanding the Service Life of your M/T Tires
DETERMINING THE AGE OF A TIRE

The manufacturing date of a tire is incorporated into an 11 digit code, called a TIN (Tire Identification Number) located down by the bead of the tire. The only exception would be most Pro Drag Radials, which do not incorporate traditional TIN’s. On street legal tires, the TIN is preceded by the letters “DOT”.


The last four numbers of the TIN represent the week and year of manufacture. In the Example below, this tire was produced the 35th week of 2017.
EXAMPLE: CY1JM5FJ3517 (3517 = date code)

 

[dajudge]

Looks like a typical FL tire. I lived there for 19 years. Not sure what the situation is but some combo of heat and humidity is really hard on them there. I stopped buying tires that were rated to last for a lot of miles because they dry rotted before they ever wore out.
They are probably fine, I never worried about it unless the sidewall started cracking.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Small cracks in the tread…I’m on the fence about. Many things can contribute to these including chemicals and most importantly…UV rays.

As can alignment, stress, fast cornering - how it's driven, and more.

 

[Lunentucker]

4771921 is the date code. There is not any cracks on the side wall.

Week 477, 1921. Seems legit.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Week 477, 1921. Seems legit.

When people ask my wife to verify her birth date (like a pharmacy or anyone looking to verify identity) she always says the full 19xx.
I tell her that's not necessary for another 30-some years.

 

[LiftedrubiconJT]

My nitto ridge grapplers looked worse then that at 10k miles. I have over 58,xxx miles on them now and haven’t had any issues.

 

[DBravo]

I have fire stone destination, MT2’s that I purchased about a year and a half ago they are 50% worn and I noticed that they look like they are dry riding even though I ride on them every day. I took it to fire stone and brought it to their attention and they told me that this is not dry writing. I want your opinion do you think this is a dry rotting tire?

I've actually seen this type of surface stress cracking in 38" Mickey Thompson tires on a Wrangler a few years back. Only had 20k miles on them. Never forgot that.

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