Opinions on this tire tread?

I wouldn't be driving on that till it was checked. With your driving age is going to catch up before treadwear.

 

How deep is the crack? Is there also a bulge? Looks like a weak spot in the tire that could blow out. I would take it to a Michelin dealer for a professional opinion. You may be buying those new Premiers sooner than you planned.

 

I agree with afob3, age is a factor here as well as the physical damage.

Best to get it taken off the rim to examine the tire from the inside opposite that odd split. As it is within the groove, there obviously is less rubber until you get through into internal belts.

In terms of where you and I live, it is all too easy to hang onto tires for too long especially if one uses snow tires for 6 months of the year. On the one hand, people don't want to toss tires that still look okay even though they are 6 years old, so they tend to cheap out... but they have no problem buying a second set of tires and rims to use in an environment where winter is a fluke occurrence. If we were consistent, the old tires would get tossed... likely the snows are just as old and also "look" new.

Hopefully all weather tires gain in popularity over time. Less waste of materials and money, with greater safety as you are better prepared for changing road and weather all the time.

Roland

 

I'd probably hit it with soap solution to see if it was leaking.
Looks like this right?

 

I think those tires are past their prime.
I think it's time for new.

 

I once had a tire that had a similar crack in the sidewall, no bulge. The tire dealer said it was just a cosmetic defect in the outer rubber cover and OK to drive. I would still have the tire inspected by a Michelin dealer before condemning it. Maybe it is not as bad as it looks.

 

The tires are from 2009 and exposed to all the elements. It's deteriorating and it shows. Safety first.
I personally would not even bother getting them inspected. It's time for new tires. Just saying.

 

It's the belt structure that keep the tire together. The lack of a leak would say a lot as well. What's missing is a load test since you haven't driven on it.

 

It is a pain to test but clearly it's a cut and not just crack from dry rubber. So how deep and bad is the cut? As you found, not deep enough to penetrate as it still holds air. Did it damage the structure(belts)? No bulge so that another good sign. If that meet your critirea, then you're ok.. if not take it for the last test you can do, drive on it(load test).

 

On the right side of the tire if those are the tread wear indicators that are showing I would get new tires.

 

I don't see the wear indicator bars in your photo.