My Michelin LTX-MS tires are at 60K miles. I'm noticing surface spider cracking on the sidewalls only. Tread still has about 20K left.

Do I need to replace the tires before I tow again? They held air just fine this weekend on a 150mile tow where I first noticed the cracking. Seems more like sun damage on the surface. Any advice?

 

I would tow. I replaced mine at 46k because I tore one tire apart (don't know what I ran over) and Discount couldn't fix it. But I would have kept them for another several thousand miles.

Have you checked with a tire shop to see what they say? I know they're in the business to make money, but they might offer free advice too. Good luck

 

How old are the tires? Age can have as much to do with replaceing as tread sometimes

 

From what I've read the Michelin LTX's are well know to spider crack like that.. but get them checked out nonetheless...

 

They are only 3.5 years old. Unfortunately the truck isn't garaged, so it seems to be superficial sun/UV damage. I'm thinking I can go another 10-15K or so, unless they start looking like they get deeper.

 

Check the manufacturer date code. MICHELIN writes that tires are good for five years and that tires never mounted are good for ten years. Wouldn't hurt to have them dismounted, inspected, re-balanced, rotated.

See their site for more in-depth answers to your questions.

I'd also consider some photo's sent to them for their comments.

Good luck

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Age is the biggest consideration on trailer tires. I had to replace all four of mine this year; not because of mileage but because of age. I had one tire throw the thread and did not know it until I began to block tires while setting up for the night. I suspect the thread separated just as I slowed down to exit the interstate and it held air to the RV park. An inspection of the others revealed crowning and separating of the thread. All tires were dated 2005 and had less than 20K actual use. Five years is about the limit on most trailer tires or LTs and any sign of cracking is a good indicator that tire is failing.

Tony

 

My Michelin LTX-MS tires did the same thing so I gave them to a friend he ran them till there was nothing left and even towed his RV from N cal. to AZ, then Yellowstone and back .I should of kept them Michelin's are great tires

 

I am uncertain whether the tires you speak of are on the trailer or the tow vehicle.

Michelin tires, regardless of whether LT or Passenger, are notorious for evidence of dry-rot at an early age.

Look carefully and critically along the tread shoulder, where the tread and sidewall meet; are there noticable little cracks appearing there ??

Same for the grooves between the treads, right at the right-angle juncture of the groove and tread, are there little cracks there ??


Any evidence of checking/cracking is caused by the casing stretching and the outer rubber not keeping up with it.


Although it is hard to actually say whether the tires will soon fail or not, what you describe leads me to believe that failure is eminent.



I have far better luck with good old BIAS tires; they can get all cracked and rotten-looking and just keep on going.