Blind

I have approx 2500 miles on this tire, there's really no visible wear on the center tread area, but it has these cracks all around the tire like in the picture. I think the tire is too wide for the wheel though so it's been pretty bulgy it's whole life. It's a michelin city reflective sidewall tire, I believe 700x35 on a mavic open pro rim w/DT spokes and dura-ace hub

I'm waiting for the day when the tread just goes all 90's explorer on me on the way to work. Any bets?

LesterOfPuppets

Is it on the front? It's difficult to wear out the tread on a front tire before the tire starts to deteriorate.

Blind

nah it's the rear, steel 68cm 30lb road bike and I weigh about 215-220 loaded with my laptop bag to work everyday.

Bizman

I would be ordering or getting a new tire tomorrow, no sense chancing a blowout at speed or other wise being late for work to change a flat maybe even jeopardizing your job. My rear tire is cracked now on my Velomobile with only 1600 miles. Even though the cords are not showing I do carry a new spare folding tire (and spare tube) in case I need it. My new wire beaded tire is on the way and will be installed when it gets here this week!

Blind

I have a spare, I got a set of gp4000s2's for my 'fast bike' so I have the old stock bontrager tires from it.

no worries if I arrive late on my commute fortunately, it's only a 12 minute ride anyways.

hueyhoolihan

i don't see any cracks...

Mr IGH

I worn out a few set of those, they ride like a solid tyre. I say life is too precious to ride crummy tyres, dump 'em and get a pair of Panaracer Pasela PT. Just as unlikely to flat and rides sooooo much better.

caloso

I think the chances of a blowout due to those cracks are vanishingly small. Replace it if it makes you feel better, but if it were my tire, I would ride it for many, many, many more miles.

Darth Lefty 

Tears as in torn, or tears as in crying?

Blind

FBinNY 

I don't see any reason to worry or cry about this tire. It's not rare to see checking or stress cracking in the rubber on the sidewalls. UV, ozone and road chemicals dry or harden the rubber over time, and the constant wall flex will cause it to form these cracks. OTOH the structural fabric underneath which holds tires together and give them shape are fine and have plenty of life left in them

Walls don't fail all at once. As the fabric begins to age and fray you'll see bulging or distortion in the tire and that's when it's tome to retire it (or when tread rubber is gone, whichever happens first).

martianone

It will last inversely proportional to your need.
If you happen out of bed some morning, a few minutes later than usual.
It is a damp morning, that minor spritz, starts becoming a cold rain,
you are getting late and happen to snag a broken piece of glass hidden in a puddle,
now your tire is hissing, it is easy to see the glass shard by the bubbles in another puddle.
Your fingers are getting cold while removing the wet wheel.
I probably change my tires before I need to do so, as it helps me control when and where
the change gets done, just one person's perspective.

spare_wheel

I'd be more worried about the rim than the tire. It looks to me like your indicator is almost gone and since uneven wear is common I would not be popping any curbs on that rim. I asploded an open pro rim once: Superman!

prathmann

I suppose it would be nice if changing out a tire early would prevent this, but in my experience a brand new tire is just as likely to puncture from that glass shard (or, more likely here, a goathead thorn) as would a tire that looks like the OPs. If it were mine I'd continue to use it for many more miles.

Bizman

The cracks are very visible to me but I can zoom in with my iPad, that one looks like a pretty good crack. I have had sidewalks crack and blowout, I don't chance that longer than it takes to get a new tire.

FBinNY 

Take a look at this bicycle tire cross section drawing. Note that only the innermost 2 layers are structural. They're made of a single layer of fabric cut on the bias into a strip then wound around the bead wires and back over forming 2 plies running at 90° to each other.

Those 2 fabric plies are all that counts, the rest is cover for protection and/or traction. The rubber can crack all it wants, but if the fabric is fine, as evidenced by the simple fact that the tire can hold pressure without bulging. If you prefer You can confirm by deflating, and rolling the tire between fingers to open the cracks and see if the fabric in OK.

BTW- tires usually (but not always) announce impending failure by thumping as you ride. This can last for hours or days, or as little as minutes. If you feel thumping glance down and see if the turning tire appears to wobble, or have fat spots as you ride (it's pretty obvious).

TransitBiker

I say replace. Even if the tire is "fine" something could get in there and BOOM you're walking home.

- Andy