What Causes Aging and Cracking in Car Tires?
2 Answers
Cracking, stickiness, hardening, softening, powdering, discoloration, and mold growth are all normal manifestations of aging in rubber products, and car tires are no exception. More details are as follows: 1. Starting with the material of the tire, the main component of a tire is rubber. The maximum storage and anti-aging time for rubber, from natural latex to ethylene-propylene and nitrile rubber, does not exceed 10 years. The average service life of various rubber products in use is 3-5 years. 2. Additionally, tires bear the weight of the entire vehicle, frequently serve to cushion impacts, and must also resist corrosive rainwater and car wash cleaning solutions. As a result, the aging of tires is significantly accelerated. 3. Generally, after 2-3 years of use, small cracks begin to appear on the sidewalls of tires. If a large number of fine cracks are observed on the sidewalls, the tires should be replaced. Typically, the wear lifespan of tires is around 30,000 to 50,000 kilometers. However, even if the tires have not reached the wear limit or mileage, if they have been in use for 5 years or show significant cracking on the sidewalls, they should be replaced.
Tire cracking is something I've seen a lot since I started driving in my youth, mainly caused by prolonged exposure to the outdoors. The strong ultraviolet rays in sunlight directly hitting the rubber make it brittle and prone to cracking. Extreme weather conditions, like sub-zero winters in the north or scorching summers in the south, with rapid temperature changes, also accelerate aging. I remember a car eight years ago that was parked daily in an open, unshaded area—it developed cracks all over within two years. Exceeding five years of use is critical, as the rubber naturally degrades and becomes brittle. Poor maintenance, like insufficient tire pressure or accumulated dirt, also promotes cracking. This seriously impacts safety, increasing the risk of blowouts at high speeds. It's advisable to regularly check tread depth, park in underground garages or use tire covers to extend lifespan and avoid accidents.
