echong112

I saw these strange rips on my tires on the tapered edge. Granted, I was driving below 45 F. Is this why you should not drive in cold weather on summer tires? The tires just cracked?

https://imgur.com/a/icQXwQ7

Do I have to replace this ASAP?

groovzilla

Are you sure that crack not from hitting curb?

echong112

def haven't hit a curb. should i replace it?

jll1011

ogun228

You most definitely kissed a curb. Happens often enough.

groovzilla

I don't think that warrants a replacement - But I'm not a tire expert.
I'd leave them if it were mine - Thats also the beefier part of the sidewall - I'd suggest cutting off the piece that is hanging so it won't snag and become a bigger tear

DesmoSD

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=273&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIxpbK7qTs4AIVDCCtBh36RA_AEAAYAS AAEgLucfD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!304470776802!b!!g!!&affiliate=HM5

Summer performance tires feature tread compounds engineered to provide traction in warm to hot ambient temperatures. They were never intended to experience near- and below-freezing temperatures, nor the wintry driving conditions that often accompany them.

As ambient temperatures get colder, typically in the 40-45° Fahrenheit range, summer performance tires lose a noticeable percentage of traction as their tread compound rubber properties change from a pliable elastic to inflexible plastic. The tire industry uses the term "glass transition" to describe the temperature where a summer performance tire's grip/slip performance changes dramatically. This means the summer performance tires that provide predictable traction in warm to hot conditions will be found to be very challenging to drive in cold to freezing temperatures. This is especially true when the tires first begin to be driven or if the driver aggressively applies gas pedal pressure with today's turbocharged fours or high-torque sixes and eights. Fortunately, glass transition is a reversible condition that allows the tires' normal traction to return as the ambient temperatures climb.

If ambient temperatures drop to near- or below-freezing, driving or rolling a vehicle equipped with summer performance tires risks the possibility of tread compound cracking. Tread compound cracking is a permanent condition that requires the tires to be replaced. The other condition that can be caused by running summer performance tires in cold temperatures is the possibility of chipping away the edges of the tread blocks.

Iceter

echong112

Also, thanks for the rapid replies. you guys are serious.

groovzilla

Always here to help unless it is more negative whining, end of world Bore Scoring crap.
Those 1%'ers just can't let it go.

V999

V999

echong112

@V999 what did you do? ride or die?

V999

In my case, I had the problem on more than a single tire, although it was only really bad on one of them. I had no choice but to replace the one because it was so torn up. But I wound up replacing all four tires. I tend to drive quickly on empty highways and the risk seemed greater than the cost savings. I also always store my summer performance tires in my basement over the winters now. Was only lazy that one time. I've never experienced that problem again.

I can't be certain it was the long-term exposure to freezing and sub-freezing temps. Perhaps there was some flaw with that specific set of tires that developed tears. Or perhaps the cold exacerbated a preexisting flaw. No way for me to know.

If you just have one torn tire, maybe just replace that one and keep an eye on the others?

nwGTS

I had the exact same tear on one of my rear tires when I bought the car. Emailed a Michelin rep about replacing it since the car was CPO. He said that tear is in the rim protector and that area is THICK. The tire would still hold the warranty with something like that. He suggested it was either from hitting a curb, pothole or road debris. It is a very common occurrence and nothing to worry about. I'm actually still running on that same tire now four years and 15k miles later. No problems.