The problem of cracked tyres on vehicles is fairly common. In most cases this problem goes unnoticed unit something devastating happens. If you have noticed cracks on your tyres then you maybe have a few questions starting with what could be the reason behind such a problem?

The causes of tyres cracking

Tyres are made constructed from rubber that is itself formed from a number of polymers that are knitted together to form the mass of rubber that we can see. Cracks in tyres will occur as the bonds between these different polymers breakdown. There are a number of causes of the this breakdown between the polymers that we we will discuss in this section.

Tyre Age

The tyre age can be major cause for the sidewalls of your tyres to begin to crack. The more the rubber on your car tyres ages, the more brittle it becomes as it is exposed to various environmental conditions which increases its risk to form cracks. Whether you drive on the tyre or keep the vehicle parked up for weeks or months at a time the rubber will become less flexible so they can get cracks as rubber characteristically gets degraded with the passage of time. The production date of the tyre is visible on the sidewall of the tyre.

Sun light exposure

Another common factor that can cause the sidewalls of the tyres to crack is the excessive exposure to sunlight. If the rubber in the tyres has not been treated with UV Stabilizers then the tyre can degrade as it has continuous exposure to sun light.

Ozone exposure

You may have heard about ozone when talking about the upper atmosphere and how the increase in CO2 has lead to a hole in the ozone layer.

Well ozone is a gas with the chemical symbol O3 and can be harmful to elastomers that can be found in the rubber of a tyre. The form of degradation from ozone is called ozone cracking or weathering.

Cracking from ozone occurs at the tyres surface is exposed to even small quantities of the gas, the greater the concentration the quicker the impact. Cracks will form under areas of tension.

Although ozone is a naturally occurring gas in can be artificially produced using a number of methods. The one that I think you would interested in that the once that could affect tyres that you have stored away.

If these stored tyres are kept in an area where the are a large number of machines that have large electrical discharges they could be generating ozone that could attack and degrade the stored tyres. Machines such as large motors, laser printers, photocopiers and arc welders can generate ozone.

Harsh Chemicals

Chemicals can also play a vital role in causing tyre cracks. Products used to improve the appearance of tyres or cleaning agents can contain chemicals that will lead to cracking. These chemicals can accelerate the breakdown of the polymers making the rubber weaker. These hairline cracks can then be exposed to Sunlight and ozone leading to cracks growing bigger quicker.

Incorrect Tyre Pressure

A common cause of tyre cracking is when tyres are continuously used at low pressure. This under inflation coupled with overloading the vehicle can lead to increased pressure of the sidewalls of a tyre leading to premature cracking.

Are cracked tyres illegal?

Tyres with minor cracks may not pose an immediate threat and are therefore allowed to be used. However, according to RoSPA they would recommend that tyre replacement as soon as a tyre shows signs of ageing such as cracks in the tyre walls or bulges.

Will cracked tyres pass the MOT?

MOT or the Ministry of Transport is the test is annually booked for vehicle owners in order to ensure overall vehicle safety in the United Kingdom. The MOT includes checks made by the MOT Tester to check the tyre condition. Tears, cracks, or even bulges on the sidewalls can indicate a tyre that is not fit for use when it comes to regarding the safety issues. Since the MOT considers these issues as being very serious, a tyre with any of the aforementioned flaw is marked as unfit. Thus, tyres with cracks can be failed at an MOT.

Are cracked tyres dangerous?

The surface cracks that you see on your tyres can go deep inside the rubber then visible leading to dangerous weakening of the tyre structure and strength.

By weakening the strength of the tyre walls there is an increased risk that continued exposure to the usual strains a tyre undergoes whilst it is being driven on can lead to a catastrophic blowout. A blowout that in turn will makes your car less responsive leading to an in increased likelihood of being involved in an accident to loss of your control. Also, the tyre blowout, if takes place while you are driving your car at a motorway speed, can lead to brutal accidents.

Even the cracks that appear to be minor at the beginning can prove dangerous over the time. Therefore, the surface cracks may not pose an immediate threat to your safety but can eventually be the cause of serious accidents if left untreated for long.

How to prevent tyres from cracking?

Remember that if cracks start to appear on a tyre that is considerably new, the reason behind the cracks can simply be manufacturing defects. Though this is a very rare scenario, make sure to visit a dealership at your locality when this happens. There are expects who can inspect your cars tyres thoroughly and take the required actions accordingly.

You can reduce the amount and severity of cracks on your tyres by following some of the measures mentioned below.

Drive on them

Modern tyres are constructed in a way that they have the inbuilt mechanism to prevent weathering. The rubber compound they are created with consists of several anti-degradants like waxes, antiozonants and antioxidants. These materials do the preliminary job of preventing the tyres from getting damaged when subjected to unfavorable conditions.

Though the anti-degradants are effective in slowing down the process of cracking, they are not enough to keep your tyres safe for lifelong. They help in securing the tyres from the action of heat, sunlight or ozone but are not as effective when it comes to prevention of degradation from certain chemicals.

If the tyres are left stationary for a very long period of time the anti-degrading chemicals woven into the tyre rubber will not work as they are designed to be released as the tyre is moved/driven on. Therefore, it is useful to actually have your vehicle in use at least once in a while so as to keep the tyres a in good condition.

Use Special Tyre Cleaners

As mentioned earlier, the chemicals used in cleaners can be harmful for your car’s tyres. These chemicals take away the essential compounds from the tyres that help slow down damage to a tyre. Thus, make sure to use tyre dressers or cleaners that are safe for your tyres.

Correct Tyre Pressure

Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct tyre pressure to ensure they are not under inflated. You could use a suitable tyre pressure gauge to measure the pressure, always do this when the tyres are cold to get an accurate reading.

Tyre Protector

You can get an off the shelf tyre protector that is formulated to help prevent damage from exposure to UV radiation and ozone. Most of these tyre protectors will also help to repel water, dust and other environmental agents.

Summary

Finally to conclude, it is wise to state that tyres will develop cracks over a lifetime of use. Some of these cracks are not dangerous and the tyres can still be used however they may develop into more severe cracks that can pose a lot of risk while driving. Try the preventative measures we have mentioned in this post to increase the life of your tyres and reduce the amount of cracks that develop.

If you do notice cracks appearing on your tyres then take them to a tyre specialist to check. In some cases the best option will be to replace the cracked and damaged tyre with a new one, so as to ensure your safety. Most importantly, do not ever delay this action as it can lead to a increased risk of danger to yourself and other roads users.