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How long should I run with cracking sidewalls on Avid Touring?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by priuspony, Dec 20, 2011.

  1. priuspony

    priuspony Junior Member

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    When I was rotating my Yokohama Avid Touring S tires last evening, I noticed the sidewall cracking, which has been there for about a year, has gotten much worse. Put the tires on in October, 2008 and have 45k on them. All the tires have sidewall cracking inside and out, but the cracks have gotten wider. I first noticed the cracks appearing this spring.

    There is also cracking at the base of some treads. Has anyone else experienced this? There is about 6/32 of tread left, so there's more of that to go, but the cracks worry me. I have rotated them every 5k. The car is garaged, and the tire pressure is checked at least ever couple of months.


    Prior to these were the original GoodYear Integrities, which lasted 31k. The Avids are much better in the snow, about the same with less noise on dry and wet pavement.

    So what do you think? I was hoping to get through another year with these tires, but I don't think it's worth the risk.
     
  2. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    Totally agree! Change them now.
     
  3. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    Replace them asap. You are putting others and yourself at risk. The tires have lost integrity and will not perform to specifications if needed during abrupt handling procedures.
     
  4. priuspony

    priuspony Junior Member

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    Thank you both! Yes, I think we'll replace them in the next couple of weeks. I'm pretty disappointed in the Yokohama quality. I could understand this after 5 or 6 years, but 3 years?! This was my first try with Yokohama tires.

    I think I've decided to try the Hankook H727. They seem to get pretty great reviews - not technically LRR tires, but a pretty good handling tire, good snow traction, and quiet.

    Question: should I go with 195/60/15 or 195/65/15? Obviously, the 195/60 has a slightly shorter sidewall, resulting in a few more rotations per mile. Which size is best for accurate speedo / odometer?
     
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The taller tire will help correct or maintain the speedo error. The shorter tire will increase the error.

    The H727 is not a great handling tire compared to the others like the Continental ContiProContact with Ecoplus. It does the best in the snow but not the best in the wet. The ContiProContact does better.

    Eco-Focused All-Season Tires: Do They Deliver on the Promise?

    Testing the Goodyear Assurance TripleTred All-Season
     
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  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I concur with this decision, and the tires certainly should not show sidewall cracking so soon. I last recall seeing tire sidewall cracking when I lived in Los Angeles in the mid-70s and it was Smog City, the air quality would make your eyes tear up. I had Michelin tires on my VW Dasher. The tires aged quickly given the ozone present at that time.
     
  7. priuspony

    priuspony Junior Member

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    Well, I ordered a set of Continental Contiprocontact with Ecoplus this morning. 122 per tire installed + sales tax, so around $500 total installed, to be done next Thursday. I realize that's a bit more than ordering from Tire Rack and having them installed by one of their preferred installers, and probably more than a larger tire center center would have charged, but I have a good relationship with this small garage and they handle my inspections, etc.

    I'll report back when I have some miles on them! Thanks all for the feedback.
     
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I totally understand paying a bit more for a local service. Especially a small business.

    Keep us updated with your results and opinions. It's very helpful in guiding others on future purchases.
     
  9. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    How long should I run with cracking sidewalls on Avid Touring?

    As long as it takes to get to the nearest tire shop, especially if you haul passengers around that you care about.
     
  10. LIPriusFreak

    LIPriusFreak Can I haz JDM?

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    I guess it depends....I notice all Goodyear tires tend to firecrack at the sidewalls in their first year of use....my Goodyear Assurance Fuelmaxes are no exception to the rule (only have 13k on them less than 1 year old). But I am confident they are no less safe than they were at a day old.
     
  11. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    PS If you care that much about buying local do so with cash so they aren't losing x% per transaction. Unless of course you're from the home state of the transaction processor. ;)
     
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Good point!!! :rockon:
     
  13. swi66

    swi66 Member

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    Tire cracking is funny.
    Some tires can be 20 years old and not display any of it.
    but a 3 year old tire with cracking shows a poor tire compound.

    I had a set of Goodyears that I just replaced on a non-Prius.
    Tires were hard as a rock, and they had a lot of very tiny cracks between the treads, and on the side walls. It is oxidation and drying from being out doors.

    I have a set of Firestone 727's that have been on a 73 T-Bird since 1978. Car is garage kept, and the tires are fine, but only have about 25,000 miles on them since installation.
     
  14. priuspony

    priuspony Junior Member

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    Got the contiprocontact ecoplus installed on Thursday - $521 out the door. The biggest difference so far is noise - they are virtually silent! Granted, I think tiresngetnlouder as they wear, so the avid tourings were probably quieter when new, but not as quiet as these.

    Handling seems good, and a bit softer ride. I have air at 38 front, 36 rear, which is where I ran my yokohamas.

    I'll need to put on more miles before I can comment on fuel economy.
     
  15. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    Cars that are used only on occasion's tend to crack! Hal
     
  16. priuspony

    priuspony Junior Member

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    Well, my wife drives it 10 - 15 thousand miles each year, so its not that itnsits around a lot. The guy that owns the place I bought the new tires says he's seeing more and more cracking on every brand. He thinks the tire manufacturers changed the rubber compound.

    Of course, if we'd drive 50k miles per year on each car, we would have wore them out before they rotted, but that seems like an unreasonable expectation for mileage, particularly for the east coast. Now in Minnesota where I grew up that kind of mileage is much more common.

    My Jetta wears Brigestone Turanza Serenity and they are just over 2 years old with no evidence of cracking yet.
     
  17. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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  18. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    Well that shots that theory all to hell. My model A Ford and Mtr. Home tires always get cracks and the tire guy told me that I don't drive them enough! 10 to 15,000 miles is driving a fair amount. Hal