Is It Okay for Tires to Crack at Sidewall and Tread

Updated 01/31/2022 | Published 01/29/2022

Question:

my tandem trailer tires have great tread but they show a cracking of the tread around the entire side wall. The trailer is rated for 12,000 pounds. Is this a safety concern?

asked by: John L

Helpful Expert Reply:

Usually when we see cracking around the sidewall of a trailer tire it means it is starting to dry rot and needs to be replaced with a new tire, like the Westlake 235/80R16 # WE76FR.

Tires have a lifespan of 3-6 years or 10,000-12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you have excellent driving habits and take good care of your tires especially when they are in storage then they are prone to lasting longer. If you're prone to bumping into/running over curbs and you don't store your tires correctly then that can shorten the lifespan.

Attached is a helpful article about tires for you to check out.

expert reply by: Jon G