Tire rot?
 

I just replaced both front and rear tires on my road bike because they seemed unsafe to continue riding due to what appeared like deep dry rot cracks. Admittedly, I have not ridden much the past two years, but I’ve never come across this issue before. Both tires have what appeares to be hundreds of small breaks in the center tread area only and all the way around the tires. The breaks are generally parallel with the length of the tire and are only in the tread area. Many breaks go down to the belts. The shoulders and sidewalls look pristine still. The bike has been stored in a garage, suspended by the frame and usually without the tires being pressurized when not ridden (latex inner tubes loose air fairly quickly). Tires are Specialized Roubaix Pro 700c x 25/28 (discontinued now). Tires were mounted in 2020. They have about 2,500 miles on them.

Seems an unlikely place for the tires to rot and too short a time, given how the bike is stored.

I am curious if anyone else has experienced this sort of issue?

Tire cracking is as old as the hills. Age from actual molding (not sold date), conditions (heat, sun), stresses seen (air pressures and time) all are easy to understand contributors. Generally surface deep cracks are not a big worry, except as being a sign that the "rubber" is loosing elasticity. But when the cracks show casing or deeper layers all bets are off and that tire needs replacing ASAP. I tend to be somewhat critical of my tires and as such replace them sooner than their tread wear only might suggest. I have seen other conditions (chemical exposure as example) that have hastened tire life too but it's not common.

IMO most tires being sole to "bikies" are not intended to serve more than a season, installed and being ridden. Any more than a year and I call it icing on your cake. Andy.

Depends on what your definition of small cracks is. Also on how you ride your bike. Slow and leisurely or are a speed demon that never slows down. Even when going through tight corners. And also a lot of whether or not you have the pocket change to simply get new tires and not have to wonder or worry.

There are things tires can be exposed to that will cause them to deteriorate and crack faster. Virtually all the tires I've had such experience with were on bikes that I'd put up in storage and were unused for a time. I still rode those tires when the bike was put back into service. Some flatted the first ride, others lasted for as long as I'd expect any tire to last.

One gum wall that the sidewall had cracked and was falling off exposing the casing blew out the sidewall dramatically as it ripped open and the tube came out. Surprised the bajeebus out of me. But all I had to do was slow down and stop. Then walk home. Though I think I got a weeks worth of rides out of it.

But still, if you are uncomfortable with how they look. And not wanting to risk any flat or what ever other bad you imagine. Then just change them for new.

Sun exposure causes rapid cracking of the "rubber"
chemicals/harsh cleaning solutions too...
excessive heating/cooling cycles...
rolling at low pressures..

and five years is a long time to skinny, light weight tires.

you mounted them 6 years ago, but what year were they made? do you still have them? do bike tires have a year code, like car tires?

Ozone from an electric motor is also a reason why tires dry up. I read a long time ago being cautioned about storing your bike near a furnace in a basement.

You forgot the variable of CHEAP garbage rubber and manufacturers. They are NOT the same by miles. They all cost about 1 cent a mile, some last 10,000 miles, the rest DON'T. LOL
My Schwalbe tires have NO such rot or cracking. One I didn't even start riding on till 8 years. Now it's 12 years old, I'll ride it 45 mph anytime anywhere.

>> And yah, Specialized and Conti tires have always sucked with cracks between the treads. I wouldn't ride Vittoria and other brands either if you paid me.

I just did the same for my Continental Gatorskins, about 3 years installed, age unknown, considerable wear but indicators still showing. stored each summer in desert heat out of the sun. The rubber tread was actually separating from the belts. The effect was audible and scary. I was a little upset such quality tires failed like that. It's the first time that's happened under identical conditions with other sets of tires, but it's not much of a surprise. Could easily be an unknown change in environment or storage before purchase.

Quality tires?? LOL Hilarious.
Heat has ZERO effect on my Marathon Plus 35 mm.
It was 90F every day in Saigon under my 120 lb bike. And up to 99F when I was riding the 84i in Oregon 2 weeks.

I have tooo amny bikes and to the good input above I would add what many use on their motor home that sits for year with low milage, 303 Aerospace Protectant.

Cheese to chalk. Ozone, which accelerates rubber aging along with heat, doesn’t reach the same levels in hot, humid conditions that it does in how dry conditions.

Well you're definitely a splendid chap and a bit of a hero, the sort of fellow we need to straighten out things like this. We must hear more about the way your stuff is terrific and everything else is awful.

Italy Vicenza, in the 70's I bought some Natural Rubber Pirelli Sew Ups . Man they cracked up in less then 6 months. The Italians told me that they crack less when ridden. To be sure in that 6 month period I was only at site about 2 months out of it. The rest of the time my bike was suspended over my bunk in the billets. I have also had trouble with Gum Walled tires. If storing wheels with tiers on I spray the whole wheel with Armourall Tier foam. I am really not sure if that helps though...

Here again is the front tire that came with my 1973 CCM I bought in 2017. It was hard and obviously 30+ years old, maybe 40+. LOL
I put in a new tube, sanded off some roughness at the tire bead, then rode it 1930 miles. LOL
These pics were the day after I got a nail on a 74 mile ride. It wobbled the 30 miles home. So half of this rubber cracked off taking the tire off twice.
Now tell me again your cracked 3 or 5 year old tire was great. LOL
And here's the bike when I took it on a 2 day trip to Jasper. Rode it 40 miles in 4.5 hours. I passed a few ladies going up the hill on rented MTBs. LOL
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5616c8326c.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b6d3d726fb.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...01a7f1dc9b.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e5528fb40.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0bc7387631.jpg

Thanks for all of the feedback.

Happy cycling!