# Expensive tire sidewall cracks; slow leak **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** tires\ **Created:** [July 11, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962 "2025-07-11T03:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/81 "2025-07-21T14:00:44Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > The problem with that is most people are not tire engineers. The tires get hot. But at what point is that concerning? Most people don’t have the background to make that assessment so just follow the car manufacturer’s recommendations and don’t pretend to know better. The problem–as I see it–is that far too many car owners are disconnected from everything about their vehicle–other than simply getting into the driver’s seat, starting the engine, and then motoring away. As one person who I knew many years ago said, “All I know is that, if I put gas in it, it goes”. There are a whole lot of people out there who seem to think that a lit-up CEL is “normal” or unavoidable. Quite a few years ago, we had a post from a woman in Maine, and her question was essentially this: _The Check Engine Light on my Suzuki has been lit up for **16 years**. What’s wrong with it?_ Short of the engine not starting, a whole lot of people will choose to ignore everything–including strange new sounds/vibrations/odors. Ergo, they don’t follow car manufacturer’s recommendations… or anything else. The TPMS warning light on most vehicles will only light up if the tire has lost more than 20% of the recommended pressure, so it is entirely possible for people to get onto an expressway with only 30 psi in one or more tires. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/82 "2025-07-21T14:09:57Z")
No doubt. Every distribution has the extremes. In this case, the ignorant operators that are essentially clueless are just as dangerous as the people who think they know better than the actual engineers that designed it. I did my own research… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/83 "2025-07-21T17:02:31Z")
Had a state trooper come in with his patrol cars CEL light on, found gas cap loose, he smiled and said he knows nothing about cars except how to drive them, but he said now if you need to know the laws of the road or how to work a major wreck, he was your guy… lol BTW, my tires cold psi was 36 and at 80+ mph on a hot day was 39psi… lol I dropped them back to the place cards 32psi cold, well it was still 85… lol ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/84 "2025-07-21T18:43:19Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > did my own research Yep, that works well in medicine too! ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/85 "2025-07-21T18:45:44Z")
That tire looks like the finned brake drums on a '58 Buick. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/86 "2025-07-21T19:58:30Z")
Heh heh. That’s what I told the doc in the ER. I was wrong, he was right. I only spent a week in the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/87 "2025-07-21T21:16:47Z")
You know the difference between mechanics and doctors? Doctors wash their hands after they pee, mechanics wash their hands before they pee. Mechanics are professionals, doctors are still practicing. ---
**Author:** ![grunes\_183031](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9bd4f/32.png) [@grunes\_183031](https://community.cartalk.com/u/grunes_183031)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/88 "2025-07-22T02:35:51Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Menards I guess menards is in West Virginia - right? Am I correct that Menards doesn’t deliver out of state? I tried to purchase one, but it immediately asks for my login info. I’m not sure I want to get into their system if they don’t delive. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/89 "2025-07-22T03:02:51Z")
> [@grunes\_183031](#): > > Am I correct that Menards doesn’t deliver out of state? Menards a Midwestern hardware store, I think Fed Ex and UPS can deliver to your area. An infrared thermometer is a multi-use tool, not specifically for tires. You can’t measure the tire temperature while driving and you can’t measure the temperature of the inside of the tire. If you monitor your tire temperatures, will you find the data useful? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/90 "2025-07-22T03:25:32Z")
It’s a lumber yard like lowes and Home Depot. I know they are as east as Ohio at least. But yeah, based in Wisconsin. I just ordered a faucet from them. I may have registered, I don’t remember, but they at least have to have an email address for updates. Can’t see why they wouldn’t ship but think I had to pay a little for shipping to home instead of a store. I only do that if the store is out of stock and if not at another nearby store. I’ve ordered the same way from Home Depot and once from Lowe’s. But hey, that thermal reader is pretty cheap junk. Haven’t tried it yet but you can do as well from harbor Freight or anywhere. It was right next to thev$34 one which is better quality, but I don’t need either and will probably forget I have it. I just went there for more pavers and Briggs plugs. You get 11% rebate but only good at the store. I haven’t installed the dang faucet yet. Pain in the neck. Just needed a new spray nozzle but they wanted $85 but $200 for a whole new faucet. Seven years old anyway. Sorry into plumbing talk but there ain’t much room under the cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/91 "2025-07-22T11:08:55Z")
> [@grunes\_183031](#): > > I guess menards is in West Virginia - right? Most sites have a store locater… They are more north central… Bowling Green, KY is about as close as they come to my area… ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/4/2/42f20927987217d919961847c6325f716925a81e.jpeg) Here, I will help you out and Amazon delivers just about anywhere… lol [Amazon Best Sellers: Best Infrared Thermometers](https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Infrared-Thermometers/zgbs/industrial/9931459011) ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/92 "2025-07-22T12:34:39Z")
Yes Menards ships, but I looked at ann item and found the shipping to be higher than I was willing to pay. I think many big box stores require you to creat an account before they calculate the tax and shipping. No harm except more emails. To me, knowing the temperature of the air inside the tires would be more curiosity than anything else. One in a great while I will set my gauges to read tire pressures to watch them rise as I drive, just for kicks, nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/93 "2025-07-22T13:28:01Z")
> [@grunes\_183031](#): > > I guess menards is in West Virginia - right? Am I correct that Menards doesn’t deliver out of state? I tried to purchase one, but it immediately asks for my login info. I’m not sure I want to get into their system if they don’t delive. For crying out loud . You are making this too complicated . I guess this is a Infared thermomiter you want. You do not have to be a member to purchase from Menards . There all all kinds of places to buy one. Even Walmart , Harbor Frieght , Lowes and Home depot. When you add Menards processing fee and shipping you might even get one locally for less and if it does not work you will not have to pay shipping to return it. Our neighbor wanted something from Amazon so we ordered it since we have free shipping and they just paid us for it. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/94 "2025-07-22T14:12:03Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > There all all kinds of places to buy one. Even Walmart , Harbor Frieght , Lowes and Home depot. When you add Menards processing fee and shipping you might even get one locally for less and if it does not work you will not have to pay shipping to return it. +1 Infrared thermometer guns are not exactly purple unicorns, and can be found pretty much everywhere in retail hardware stores. Prices range from $20-something to much higher prices, and should be available within a reasonable distance from the OP’s home. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/95 "2025-07-22T14:38:16Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > You can’t measure the tire temperature while driving and you can’t measure the temperature of the inside of the tire. Tires are good thermal insulators. If someone measures the tire temperature with an IR thermometer gun immediately after driving, it should be a good reading of the air temperature inside the tire. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/96 "2025-07-22T14:42:48Z")
The tire temperature is one of things that I can’t control or care about . ---
**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:** [July 22, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/97 "2025-07-22T15:47:51Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Tires are good thermal insulators. The outer layers are cooled by ambient air. The inner layers have no cooling other than the temperature of the wheel, which can be hotter or cooler than the air inside the tire. The air pressure inside the tire increases by 4 to 5 psi because the air inside the tire is much hotter than outside. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/98 "2025-07-22T17:21:52Z")
If you know ambient temperature and cold pressure, you can calculate the internal air temperature by the rise in pressure during use. Useless data. Temperature of the tire itself might be useful if you’re going outside the recommended inflation pressures… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/99 "2025-07-22T17:41:57Z")
Check pressure cold and don’t worry about the rest. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962/100 "2025-07-22T17:55:10Z")
That reminds me, my Vibe/Matrix has hardly been driven since Sept 2024, and only driven once since before March 8th sometime, so my son decided to drive it over the old Chevy for MPG and to work his left ankle and knee after the wreck, I remembered the TPMS light was on (light only), so I told him to check the pressures, they were ALL at 38psi… lol Guess the tires were adjusted last winter… lol Back to the proper 32psi.. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962.md?page=4) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/expensive-tire-sidewall-cracks-slow-leak/200962.md?page=6)