Cracked tires

[Frankthetank]

I got some schwinn s7 westwind tires but they are slightly cracked in the tread area. I've heard it won't affect the ride as when you air them up it goes away, is this true?

 

[user 135]

You may not see the cracks, but they will still be there. Riding cracked tires is okay as long as you cant see any threads or the sides are cracking clear off.

You should not be able to feel them at all, but you may have some increased rolling resistence. Not because of the cracks but because the rubber/nylon is not as supple as when new.

 

[yoothgeye]

You may not see the cracks, but they will still be there. Riding cracked tires is okay as long as you cant see any threads or the sides are cracking clear off.

You should not be able to feel them at all, but you may have some increased rolling resistence. Not because of the cracks but because the rubber/nylon is not as supple as when new.

What he said. ^^ Some people won't have anything to do with cracked tires, but if they hold a tube in and don't start coming apart in chunks as you ride down the road, then ride them until they do.

 

[ozzmonaut]

I have some pretty rough old Schwinn Typhoons on my 48 Hornet and it rides great. Theres even a few little chunks missing on the sides I think. I only put these tires on because the old Firestones that were on it finally split enough for the tube to start coming out.

 

[expjawa]

I wouldn't go near cracked tires on a car, but a bicycle just can't stress the tires to nearly the same levels as a car would. That said, keep in mind that old tires still harden with age, and a hard tire will not only ride harsher, but also will have a lot less traction. If you find yourself on a wet road, especially if the temperatures are low, you might also find that cornering grip is significantly poorer. And you might not. But it is a risk...

 

[Anonymous]

Dont ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly on cracked tires.

 

[jackdaw]

One can boot a tube if you have a blow-out, by wrapping something around the tube at the area of the blow-out. A mylar Doritos bag works. You can also stitch up tears in the sidewall of tires with dental floss, and boot the tube. RAT!!!