Are Cracks on Tires Normal?When should i change?

✅ Belongs to normal aging and can continue to be used

The cracks are only distributed on the tread, with a depth of less than 1 millimeter.

They are few in number and remain only on the rubber surface, showing no obvious depression when touched by hand, and the internal cord structure is not visible

The tire usage period is within 3 to 5 years, mainly for low-speed urban driving with infrequent highway or heavy-load scenarios

The cracks are evenly distributed across the tread and do not extend to weak areas such as the sidewall or tread groove bottom. The tire shows no overall bulging or deformation issues

⚠️ Dangerous situations requiring immediate replacement

If the crack depth exceeds 1.5-2 millimeters, allowing a fingernail to fit in or directly exposing the internal layer, the tire's structural strength is already compromised

Any visible cracks on the sidewall, which is the weakest area of the tire without steel wire layers, will rapidly expand during driving, posing an extremely high risk of high-speed tire blowout

Tires used for over 5-6 years, even if the tread grooves are still deep, have naturally hardened rubber, resulting in approximately a 40% reduction in grip and significantly increased braking distances in rainy conditions

Cracks accompanied by bulging, small chunks of rubber falling off the tread, and wear patterns reaching the 1.6mm legal wear mark indicate that the internal carcass has fractured or completely lost its performance

High-Risk Factors Accelerating Crack Formation

Prolonged exposure to sunlight and continuous high-temperature baking during summer cause repeated thermal expansion and contraction of the rubber, accelerating aging

When a vehicle remains stationary for an extended period, the rubber components are subjected to prolonged static compression, leading to rapid loss of elasticity

Tires frequently come into contact with corrosive substances such as oil stains and road salt, which damage the molecular structure of rubber

Long-term underinflation causes repeated excessive bending and compression of the tire sidewalls, which can easily lead to deep transverse cracks

ps.You can use a coin to quickly self-check the crack depth daily, inspect tire pressure monthly, and avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight to effectively slow down tire aging and cracking.