[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by AkMar

I have marked a few spots of concern with an arrow (please see the image at full resolution):

Honestly, I don't see anything alarming here. I think its just that you are looking at your own tyres extremely closely, and noticing cuts and deformities which you didn't expect to be on a tyre (but are present on most tyres).

My point of view is that as long as the cuts are surface cuts (not too long or deep), and on the thick rubbery tread portion of the tyre, it is fine and normal.


source

Originally Posted by AkMar

I don't agree with the view that the last pic in first post shows moulding lines

Maybe this thread will shed some light on things : How Tyres are Made

Originally Posted by ashis89

I have Amazer 3G tyres as OE on my 5 yr 35k kms old WagonR. It has been through extremely sharp rocks, bad rural and mountain roads too. Yet they do not have any such cracks.

Could it be possible that you aren't looking as closely as AkMar? Or perhaps your tyre compound is less prone to showing cuts & cracks?

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Could it be possible that you aren't looking as closely as AkMar? Or perhaps your tyre compound is less prone to showing cuts & cracks?

I keep looking at my tyres once in a while and I am sure it doesn't have such cuts and thread cracks. I am looking at replacing my tyre because I have lost 2 of them due to alignment issue in my rear wheels. My tyre is the older model Amazer 3G and not 3Gmax as in case of AkMar.

[AkMar]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Honestly, I don't see anything alarming here. I think its just that you are looking at your own tyres extremely closely, and noticing cuts and deformities which you didn't expect to be on a tyre (but are present on most tyres).

My point of view is that as long as the cuts are surface cuts (not too long or deep), and on the thick rubbery tread portion of the tyre, it is fine and normal.

Point taken. Maybe I am being too paranoid over the cracks & cuts in photos 1 & 2 in first post and the photo in 2nd post. But I am still very concerned about the 3rd pic in first post. I went through the Apollo factory visit thread, but I am not convinced it is "normal" mould lines. That looks so much like damage which should certainly not happen to a 1 year old tyre. I am wary of it because of its crucial location - Where the tread pattern meets the tyre base.

Originally Posted by R2D2

I was reading your post and browsed through the pics with cracks in the treads and thought it not entirely unusual. That is until I saw the last pic. The tread seems to be separating at the point it meets the carcass. Looks like a serious manufacturing defect to me.

This is exactly what I thought - to some extent I can ignore the cracks in 1st 2 pics. But the last one is downright scary. Maybe I am being paranoid about it, but I believe that is better than repenting later.

I am exceedingly cautious when it comes to tyre condition and highway driving. Sorry man, I don't want to sound morbid but we can recall reports of accidents on the Mumbai - Pune expressway caused by tyre blowouts.

If I were you I'd get them replaced warranty or no warranty.

No need to say sorry. Somewhat similar thoughts are going on in my mind too.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Thanks for the PM AkMar.

However I must confess that I've never really had such a closer look at the tyres so early in its lifecycle. I do check for any issues once it is reaching the end of its thread life though. And unfortunately, our Xcent is currently at Trivandrum (my native) and I'll be able to check and confirm only during the second week of July.

That said, most of the cracks highlighted above seems to be on the thread pattern. I wouldn't be too worried unless it is going deeper than the thread area, or is affecting the sidewall.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by AkMar

But the last one is downright scary. Maybe I am being paranoid about it, but I believe that is better than repenting later.

Absolutely!

Please get those tyres checked. That crack doesn't seem to be a moulding line. Better to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety.

Do update this thread with the tyre manufacturer's take on a warranty claim. Good luck.

[model-t]

The boots require a change. .Please speak to the dealership/Apollo and stick to your stand on change. This should be taken on highest priority.

[AkMar]

Ok, so here is a pic of 2 mould lines:


And here is the line on tread pattern:


To my eyes, this bears absolutely no resemblance to the mould lines. You can also see a small piece nearly dislodged from the tread. They are present at multiple joints of tread pattern with rest of the tyre. This makes it even more unlikely that they are mould lines. It clearly looks like tread pattern separating from rest of the tyre. I am sure it will intensify with time.

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Thanks for the PM AkMar.

However I must confess that I've never really had such a closer look at the tyres so early in its lifecycle. I do check for any issues once it is reaching the end of its thread life though.

Thanks for the reply, Crazy Driver. However, some time after sending the PM, I realised that your car is an SX(O) and it will be shod with 15 inch Bridgestones, not the Apollos which our car has!

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

That said, most of the cracks highlighted above seems to be on the thread pattern. I wouldn't be too worried unless it is going deeper than the thread area, or is affecting the sidewall.

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Honestly, I don't see anything alarming here. I think its just that you are looking at your own tyres extremely closely, and noticing cuts and deformities which you didn't expect to be on a tyre (but are present on most tyres).

My point of view is that as long as the cuts are surface cuts (not too long or deep), and on the thick rubbery tread portion of the tyre, it is fine and normal.

I would request you to take another factor into consideration - the tyre's age. These might be normal for a tyre which is say 3-4 years old. But is this normal in just one year? These cracks will definitely go on worsening with time. By the time they are deep enough to pose serious threat, the car & tyres will be out of warranty! I think this should be reported under warranty.

Originally Posted by R2D2

Please get those tyres checked. That crack doesn't seem to be a moulding line. Better to err on the side of caution when it comes to safety.

Yes we will report the tyres when the car is serviced in less than a month from now. There are no long trips planned till then.

[Sree73]

The cracks that you see on the treads are not much of a concern as it looks today. If these cracks were on sidewall, it would have been some thing which needed immediate attention.

What you can do is observe these cracks on a routine basis. Just see if this cracks are growing in nature. (Increasing the length / depth of cracks). If they are not growing, not much concern.

Do not worry. These kind of tread cracks will not result in tyre blow out. At the same time, please give attention to side walls and even if a small hairline crack appears on sidewall, get it inspected by an expert.

[LoneRidder]

Originally Posted by AkMar

Hello,Our car has now crossed 6.3K km.

This is unusual, tyre cracking at 6.3 kms and that too within 1 year.

As per the 1st picture, the crack looks quite normal, like driven on a bad road. However, the third picture is a concern. There seems to be an overlap over the thread that is coming out.

A crack on the tyre caught in time can save your life. If left undetected, a crack can cause the tyre to burst at high speeds. As a tyre ages, bulges on the sidewalls are common but at the early age a strict no.

This is more common in OEM tyres, which are often the cheapest set of tyres produced by a tyre maker. I doubt if the OEM would own it, but you have to push for it.

[Rajain]

To me...seems less alarming. This may have something to do with some particular road that managed to give the tire such cuts but all in all I am not so worried. Yes it seems to have come much earlier tan expect but it still seems very on the surface.

However, if it is seen to be developing more my suggestion would be t replace the tires. Years ago, I had once seem a cut which I thought was not natural and not natural mould I went ahead and changed the tire. Just better peace of mind.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Rajain

[anandharamanp]

This does not sound normal to me, Donot take risk especially with tyres - Better to replace the tyres ASAP either through warranty if possible or by your own.

[rahulskumar]

These cracks seems normal for low quality tires coming as standard fitment. I had this issue on my Ritz JK tires. You can easily use for another 2 years if your main usage within city. On highways just dont drive above 120 for long duration. I replaced mine after 3 years of use as it had become quite hard but hardly run 12000 kms.

Dont worry too much, I would be more concerned on side wall cracking within a year. Just keep monitoring every month.

[FIAT3031]

I have one query

Since you've done only 6.3k kms in 1 year that works out to be 525kms/ month which means 17.5 kms/ day.

If you're using the car everyday, then those cracks surely is a concern to be raised with the Tyre manf & not Hyundai

On the contrary, if its one of those cars that's used occasionally, then there are chances that the replacements will also develop similar cracks
(Tyre rubber tends to get hard resulting in cracks)

[AkMar]

Thanks everyone for the replies. If this is not a concern then well and good. Nevertheless I will report this in the servicing and get it checked.

I saw a couple of Grand i10s & Xcents in my office parking having the same tyres. Those tyres did not show such cracks.

Originally Posted by FIAT3031

If you're using the car everyday, then those cracks surely is a concern to be raised with the Tyre manf & not Hyundai

On the contrary, if its one of those cars that's used occasionally, then there are chances that the replacements will also develop similar cracks
(Tyre rubber tends to get hard resulting in cracks)

We do not use the car daily.

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by AkMar

Ok, so here is a pic of 2 mould lines:

And here is the line on tread pattern:

To my eyes, this bears absolutely no resemblance to the mould lines.

You're right about that, but my guess here is that:

a) The "pic of 2 mold lines" is just as you say
b) The line on the tread pattern is more of something to do with a vulcanisation process and the attachment of the tread.

Let me PM Nikhilb2008 for his inputs on this thread too...