# Crack in tire to worry about? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** suzuki, forenza\ **Created:** [November 23, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629 "2016-11-23T04:50:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![daluu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@daluu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/daluu)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/1 "2016-11-23T04:50:38Z")
Is this crack in tire something to worry about or ok defer replacement? ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/3/3cf72d0f05daf61cfba1efe072fc60b79fb21fdb.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/2 "2016-11-23T05:50:31Z")
Looks like a lot of nothing to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/3 "2016-11-23T06:09:49Z")
Not for the crack but I will check the age of the tire-next to DOT with week/year of manufacturing make sure it is not antique. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 11:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/4 "2016-11-23T11:56:52Z")
For a single crack, that would be OK, but if there are multiple cracks like that, the tire is probably too old for further use. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/5 "2016-11-23T15:08:11Z")
> [@galant](#): > > Not for the crack but I will check the age of the tire-next to DOT with week/year of manufacturing make sure it is not antique. > [@CapriRacer](#): > > For a single crack, that would be OK, but if there are multiple cracks like that, the tire is probably too old for further use. I agree. šŸ˜‹ ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/6 "2016-11-23T15:12:42Z")
It might be worthwhile to have the tire removed from the wheel and inspected internally. The crack may be the result of impacting a pot hole, etc., and there might be damage to the belts or cord body. As a matter of fact, as I took a second look at the photo I see what might be a crack in the wheel that aligns with the crack in the tire. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/7 "2016-11-23T15:18:27Z")
Nice catch, Rod. I enlarged the photo and that certainly looks like a crack to me. Follow Rodā€™s advice. šŸ˜Œ ---
**Author:** ![Roger124](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Roger124](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roger124)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/8 "2016-11-23T15:21:37Z")
I agree with other posters. I just want to add that the manufacturing date is a 4-digit number. For a tire that was produced last week, the number would be 4716 for 47th week of 2016. If the tire is more than 6-8 years old, I would begin to worry a little. ---
**Author:** ![monkarl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@monkarl](https://community.cartalk.com/u/monkarl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/9 "2016-11-24T03:31:30Z")
Looks like not a big problem unless thereā€™s air coming or you can see any cord. But if you are really worried, have a tire shop inspect it for you. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/10 "2016-11-24T03:35:40Z")
Me, I wouldnā€™t drive at high speed on the freeway w/ that tire. Around town driving probably ok. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/11 "2016-11-24T05:27:59Z")
Agreed that it looks like the wheel hit something. Curb or whatever. Note the scuff on the tire. I tend to agree with GeorgeSanJose. Around town would be ok but Iā€™d be a bit antsy over it on highway driving and with the split right at the bend into the sidewall. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 6:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/12 "2016-11-24T06:40:46Z")
That is a very small crack. Modern tires deteriorate in a short period compered to the tires of 25 years ago. In a few years the cracks on those tires will likely be excessive. ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/9/983d20aa6ed4d6b845bdb3526211b0a8d890eecc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/13 "2016-11-24T16:33:57Z")
Wow, Nevada, that tire has some serious issues going on. Looks like one of them is old age. I donā€™t think Iā€™d want to drive on pavement on that one. šŸ˜± Iā€™d also guess that that tire has seen a lot of off road useā€¦ rock climbing? ---
**Author:** ![daluu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@daluu](https://community.cartalk.com/u/daluu)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/14 "2016-11-24T22:09:08Z")
> As a matter of fact, as I took a second look at the photo I see what might be a crack in the wheel that aligns with the crack in the tire. that got me worried, turns out that isnā€™t a crack, the photo isnā€™t clear since itā€™s not likely original resolution after upload, and I may have zoomed in for the photo originally. What looks like a crack at the wheel (cover) below the tire crack is actually just a ā€œfinā€ of the tire, not sure what you call them, the tiny points that stick out of the tire like the tiny spikes of a rubber sea urchin kind of toy/massager. There are several of those along the side of my tire, it just so happens one of them is aligned to where the tire crack is. As for tire age, theyā€™re labeled 1812 for 3 of them, and one 1913. I bought them in 2013. So theyā€™re not that old. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/15 "2016-11-25T01:37:52Z")
FWIW the tiny ā€˜pinsā€™ on tires are sipes. They are the result of vents called sipes in the mold to allow air to be expelled. Once the air escapes uncured rubber is pushed in where it cures, most is trimmed off. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/16 "2016-11-25T14:45:02Z")
Nevada\_545 said: That is a very small crack. Modern tires deteriorate in a short period compered to the tires of 25 years ago. In a few years the cracks on those tires will likely be excessive. [[Photo omitted]] Mountain Bike is right - There is more going on in the photo he provided than just a crack. The tire is in the midst of a tread separation and the cracks are merely incidentals to the process. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/17 "2016-11-25T15:08:52Z")
> [@Rod\_Knox](#): > > FWIW the tiny ā€˜pinsā€™ on tires are sipes. They are the result of vents called sipes in the mold to allow air to be expelled Sorry, my friend, but thatā€™s incorrect. > **[Definition of SIPE](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sipe)** > > seep, percolateā€¦ See the full definition > **[Siping (rubber)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber))** > > Siping is a process of cutting thin slits across a rubber surface to improve traction in wet or icy conditions. > Siping was invented and patented in 1923 under the name of John F. Sipe. The story told on various websites is that, in the 1920s, Sipe worked in a slaughterhouse and grew tired of slipping on the wet floors. He found that cutting slits in the tread on the bottoms of his shoes provided better traction than the uncut tread. Another story is that he was a deckhand and wanted to avoid sl... I can give you a dozen more if youā€™d like. In the old days ā€œsipingā€ was an aftermarket process done by all tire stores for extra cost. Theyā€™d slit the tread blocks on our bias ply tires to provide more edges to bite the ice and to make the blocks a bit more compliant. It worked. The little nipples are called ā€œsprue marksā€. They can be caused by the material release paths or the material injection paths. > **[Sprue (manufacturing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprue_%28manufacturing%29)** > > A sprue is a large diameter vertical channel through which liquid material is introduced into a mold. It connects the pouring basin to the runner. In many cases it controls the flow of material into the mold. During casting or molding, the material in the sprue will solidify and need to be removed from the finished part. It is usually tapered downwards to minimize turbulence and formation of air bubbles. > In casting, a sprue is the passage through which a molten material is introduced into a mol... ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/18 "2016-11-25T18:37:24Z")
Instead of sprue, The tire industry uses the term ā€œventā€ - or at least the part I work in does. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/19 "2016-11-25T20:39:19Z")
> [@CapriRacer](#): > > Instead of sprue, The tire industry uses the term ā€œventā€ - or at least the part I work in does. Cool. I learn something new every day that Iā€™m willing. Actually, from a purely technical standpoint, only the feed channels are ā€œspruesā€ but that marks from both are typically called ā€œsprue marksā€. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629/20 "2016-11-25T21:58:00Z")
As Mr.Firestone said to Mr. Goodyear, ā€œWhatā€™s ā€˜sprueā€™ with you?ā€ [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/crack-in-tire-to-worry-about/96629.md?page=2)