Perishing tyres!

[Soots]

Has anyone had experience of their tyres perishing?
I've taken my CV20 for it's 1st MOT this morning and found that all 4 tyres are perishing with in the tread, I know Swift caravans had a 3 year warranty on tyres, but do Elddis/Fiat?
Thanks for any helpful advice in advance.
Soots

 

[Lenny HB]

Michelins by any chance?
Often see cracking on tyres that aren't used a lot, regular use keeps the tyres supple. I normally change ours at 3 to 4 years as they are worn out, never seen any cracking on any of the Motorhomes we have had.

 

[Alsatian]

I regularly have to replace my car tyres due to them cracking, as I don't do very much mileage. I recently replaced all the motorhome tyres as they were 6 years old.

 

[Soots]

No they're Continental VancoCampers 14000mls.

 

[Alsatian]

No they're Continental VancoCampers 14000mls.

Oops, and that's what I've put on my motorhome!

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[Lenny HB]

No they're Continental VancoCampers 14000mls.

Problems normally worse with Michelin.
Do you take it out for a run regularly?
How many miles do you do a year?

 

[Soots]

Problems normally worse with Michelin.
Do you take it out for a run regularly?
How many miles do you do a year?

Yes it goes out most weeks, I take the dog out walking or go shopping, so far it's done 14000 miles

 

[WillH]

I had a couple of Avon tyres cracking at three years.

 

[David and Sally]

Is it an mot failure if in the tread area?

 

[Soots]

Is it an mot failure if in the tread area?

No it didn't fail.

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[Speve]

I would be inclined to go to the tyre manufacturer and see what they can do

 

[David and Sally]

No it didn't fail.

I had similar on car tyres and it passed ok. If not an mot failure nothing to worry about ?

 

[KUSKUS]

I changed four michelin tyres a few weeks ago 15,000 miles loads of tread but loads of cracks, I fitted a set of Hankook Vantra very pleased with ride quality.

 

[Soots]

I would be inclined to go to the tyre manufacturer and see what they can do

Rang Venture caravans/ Hymer group and continental Customer services. Only a 2 year warranty. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes it goes out most weeks, I take the dog out walking or go shopping, so far it's done 14000 miles

Used regularly I wouldn't expect it to happen, although overall mileage is a bit low I would have thought enough to prevent problems.

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[Hettie's Crew]

Has anyone had experience of their tyres perishing?
I've taken my CV20 for it's 1st MOT this morning and found that all 4 tyres are perishing with in the tread, I know Swift caravans had a 3 year warranty on tyres, but do Elddis/Fiat?
Thanks for any helpful advice in advance.
Soots

View attachment 790089

You need to contact Continental UK giving them photographs of all the issues, tyre info like date of manufacture which is on the side wall and what pressures you run them at for each given axle weight.
I recently raised an issue regarding a five year old Continental tyre that had some side wall cracking and received a 75% reimbursement of the replacement tyre.
It does of course mean you’ll have to fit a new set of tyres, in order for the faulty ones to be sent back to Continental for investigation.
Sending them back is free through your tyre fitter.

 

[pappajohn]

Is it an mot failure if in the tread area?

It usually only fails if the cords are visible.
I had one pass with a deep cut in the sidewall but no visible cords.
Changed immediately after the test.

 

[Phill D]

How old are the tyres that happened on a set of conti after 3 years.
I sent photos of them to conti customer service and simply asked if they considered these safe to continue using.
They said they were not unserviceable but would replace them minus allowances for the wear of the tyres.
I suspect that if they had said all was well and I had a blow out they would be subject to a claim for damages.

Within 4 weeks I had been refunded an agreed sum and replaced the tyres.

 

[IRHP]

I had the same problem and received this reply from Continental after sending details and pictures

Please let me begin by giving you an explanation of the condition evident on your tyres.

The condition is a superficial cracking of the tread cap rubber. It does not extend beyond this layer and beneath the tread rubber is the base rubber compound, cap ply, steel belt package, carcass and Inner Liner. (See diagram).

Cracks or crazing of this nature may be caused by a variety of factors other than the tyre itself. These include rising ozone levels, poor tyre inflation pressure maintenance or frequent overloading. We also suspect but cannot confirm that frequent use of chemicals within the car washing process may be an aggravating factor and tyres that are used infrequently or in applications that result in only very short low speed journeys do appear to be more susceptible to this condition. This said, the number of tyres affected, compared to the sales volume, is extremely low and as we have observed similar symptoms on competitor brands of tyres it is not peculiar to Continental.

Tyres with silica based tread compounds that are required to give the highest levels of wet braking and rolling resistance do appear to be more affected than carbon black reinforced compounds. As tyres with silica compounds are progressively more common it may give the impression that the number of tyres with the symptom has slightly increased. As a result of our market observations Continental is continuously introducing improvement measures to reduce the occurrence of this type of condition even though the performance characteristics of the tyre (e.g. wet grip, handling, mileage, rolling resistance) are not affected and we can confirm that tyres exhibiting groove cracks can continue to be used in normal service. The symptom is therefore cosmetic and does not affect vehicle safety.

As I have pointed out this is not a safety concern, however if you do as mentioned feel you wish to remove your tyres you can replace the tyres at your local tyre dealer paying for them as you would normally and then simply ask the dealer to return the tyres using the standard complaint procedure. You will be asked to complete a standard complaint form (SAF) which is used by all the tyre manufacturers so the dealer should have some ( I have enclosed one anyway ). We will then collect the tyres inspect them and once the condition and tread depths have been confirmed a financial payment will be passed back to you via the tyres dealer, normally by cheque. This is the normal warranty complaint process for any make of tyre because due to the many different conditions on a tyre it must be examined by the manufacturer to determine the likely reasons for the complaint condition and only after this, if appropriate, is a commercial payment offered which is based on the remaining tread depth of the tyre. This straight forward and in many cases is the best method of resolving the concern because the tyres can be replaced immediately and the complaint tyres returned by the fitting tyre dealer meaning the drivers inconvenience is minimised.

I hope this goes some way to addressing your concern.


Best Regards

Tomasz Wojciechowski
Technical Specialist Engineer

Direct Line: +44 (0)1788 566 240
Fax: +44 (0)1788 517731
E-Mail: administrator.technical@conti.de
Web: http:// www.continental-tyres.co.uk
Continental Tyre Group Ltd
DC2 Castle Mound Way
Rugby
United Kingdom
CV23 0WB

​

 

[IRHP]

This is the cracking on mine at just over 3 years old and 10,000 miles. Continental Vanco CP

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[Pausim]

Continental say. “We also suspect but cannot confirm that frequent use of chemicals within the car washing process may be an aggravating factor”. At last an excuse not to wash vehicles.

 

[TheBig1]

I was speaking to an elderly friend just the other day. His van is due an MOT and 7 years old. It has the original tyres, having only done just over 2000 miles. He was worried the van would fail the MOT based on age. He keeps the tyres covered at home and on rallies/sites. So minimal cracking showing

 

[Roby2008]

I was speaking to an elderly friend just the other day. His van is due an MOT and 7 years old. It has the original tyres, having only done just over 2000 miles. He was worried the van would fail the MOT based on age. He keeps the tyres covered at home and on rallies/sites. So minimal cracking showing

I don´t know the UK standard but here in Germany 7 years is when they strongly suggest a change at Tüv time (MOT) and 10 years is when they fail them regardless of tread depth, condition etc.
My trailer is 7 years old and the tyres are like new ( it only goes to the tip 1/2 km away ) for it´s test (yes, they test them here), they said ok until 10 yrs but the speed allowance when towing has been dropped to 80kph from 100kph...at 10yrs it will be new tyres.

 

[chatteris]

only if cracks are deep enough to reach the cords would be an mot failure

 

[Rozzer]

Filling with nitrogen will help prevent cracking. Oxygen trying to equalise with the atmosphere causes the deterioration, oxidising the rubber as it permeates the casing. Not so important on a high mileage car where you would replace the tyres in a relatively short time frame but ideal for low mileage vehicles that stand around for long periods of time. I used to sell these generators amongst other products for Parker Hannifin and used in my family and company vehicles ever since, pressures stay consistent for many months also. Not widely available in the UK - not sure tyre suppliers want tyres lasting longer! Costco inflate with Nitrogen as do many tyre shops in the States. Many big hauliers do this, Stobart for example. AA don’t think much of it and think it’s only for performance cars and aeroplanes.

The science is there though and I’m very happy with the outcome. I’m retired now so have no vested interest in promoting these products, just saying!