13 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Tell that to the tropical sun out here. ☀️ Tyres rot from the side cracks way before the tread wears down in this heat! 🚗💨

Sidewall cracks are often also about wrong tyre pressure.

Low pressure makes the sidewalls flex too much. That creates heat, stress, and cracking over time, especially together with UV.

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

Tell that to the tropical sun out here. ☀️ Tyres rot from the side cracks way before the tread wears down in this heat! 🚗💨

Agreed. The oils in the rubber dry out quicker in the sun. Ensure your car is parked in the shade when not being driven and they'll last as long as they did for me back in England.

25 minutes ago, IsaanT said:

Agreed. The oils in the rubber dry out quicker in the sun. Ensure your car is parked in the shade when not being driven and they'll last as long as they did for me back in England.

True, shade is a lifesaver! I still reckon the sheer ambient heat and humidity here rots them faster than back in the UK though. The air out here just cooks the oils out of the rubber, even out of the direct sun! 🌴☀️

Change mine every 2 sometimes 3 years regardless of mileage the hot humid weather is brutal on tyres and if the dogs take a shine to your tyres then all that pee on the sidewalls is not going to help. trying to save a few thousand baht by waiting til the tread has worn down is not my idea of safety

On 5/22/2026 at 7:03 AM, Nemises said:

Tell that to the tropical sun out here. ☀️ Tyres rot from the side cracks way before the tread wears down in this heat! 🚗💨

Does that not depend on how much one drives?

It's been a good while since I've seen a cracked sidewall on one of my tires.

When buying tyres/tires for racing I always took a Durometer to the store and chose the softest ones.

Anyone worried about tires going hard could always buy one. They are even on Shopee.

Good year brand, change every 4 years. still plenty of tread left,

But in the sun most days must have some effect on them.

cheap to replace.

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Does that not depend on how much one drives?

It's been a good while since I've seen a cracked sidewall on one of my tires.

Depends how much you drive, sure… but UV and heat don’t care whether the car’s moving or parked.

Out here the sun cooks the rubber long before some people wear the tread out.

How long is “a good while”?

1 minute ago, Nemises said:

Depends how much you drive, sure… but UV and heat don’t care whether the car’s moving or parked.

Out here the sun cooks the rubber long before some people wear the tread out.

How long is “a good while”?

I've been driving here since '99 and do not remember having any tires with noticeable cracks.

I would not change out a set of tires just because they are old.

2 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I've been driving here since '99 and do not remember having any tires with noticeable cracks.

I would not change out a set of tires just because they are old.

That’s fine if you’ve never noticed cracks, but tyre shops see sun and age damage all the time out here.

And “I wouldn’t change tyres just because they are old” is exactly why manufacturers put date codes on them 😂 Rubber hardens and deteriorates over time whether the tread looks good or not.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Does that not depend on how much one drives?

It's been a good while since I've seen a cracked sidewall on one of my tires.

As long you keep correct tire pressure there is less chance of cracked sidewalls. Together with tropical environment, underinflation can speed up the cracked sidewalls.

Edited May 23May 23 by Hummin

39 minutes ago, Nemises said:

That’s fine if you’ve never noticed cracks, but tyre shops see sun and age damage all the time out here.

And “I wouldn’t change tyres just because they are old” is exactly why manufacturers put date codes on them 😂 Rubber hardens and deteriorates over time whether the tread looks good or not.

I look at every tire that comes of and goes on pretty closely.

Manufacturers put date (and plant) codes on tires so they can track defects back to the plant and the batch to isolate liability.

24 minutes ago, Hummin said:

As long you keep correct tire pressure there is less chance of cracked sidewalls. Together with tropical environment, underinflation can speed up the cracked sidewalls.

Every flat I have had in the last forty years has been some kind of road hazard.

37 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I look at every tire that comes of and goes on pretty closely.

Manufacturers put date (and plant) codes on tires so they can track defects back to the plant and the batch to isolate liability.

Date codes aren’t just for recalls and liability though — rubber ages whether you notice it or not.

There’s a reason manufacturers and safety bodies talk about tyre age even when tread looks okay 😃

Edited May 23May 23 by Nemises

19 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Every flat I have had in the last forty years has been some kind of road hazard.

Not one flat on my car but on my motorbikes needles and even a bolt.

5 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Date codes aren’t just for recalls and liability though — rubber ages whether you notice it or not.

How does having the date on a tire, benefit the manufacturer?

5 minutes ago, Nemises said:

There’s a reason manufacturers and safety bodies talk about tyre age even when tread looks okay.

Sure, the people that sell them think you should change them more often.

I can see how a white-knuckle driver might be able to notice a bit of grip as the tires get old, but for daily drivers, I think not.

Just now, Hummin said:

Not one flat on my car but on my motorbikes needles and even a bolt.

Pallet staples...

26 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Sure, the people that sell them think you should change them more often.

I can see how a white-knuckle driver might be able to notice a bit of grip as the tires get old, but for daily drivers, I think not.

Funny how every tyre engineer, manufacturer and road safety body says age matters… but apparently they’re all wrong because “daily drivers think not.” 😂

Rubber ages from heat, UV and oxidation whether you’re clipping apexes or just driving to 7-Eleven for a toastie once a week.

The problem with old tyres is they often feel “fine” right up until they suddenly aren’t.

17 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Funny how every tyre engineer, manufacturer and road safety body says age matters… but apparently they’re all wrong because “daily drivers think not.” 😂

I never said that age did not matter, and yes, everyone that makes their living selling tires thinks you should buy more tires. 😂

17 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Rubber ages from heat, UV and oxidation whether you’re clipping apexes or just driving to 7-Eleven for a toastie once a week.

The problem with old tyres is they often feel “fine” right up until they suddenly aren’t.

I have been driving in hot, sunny climates for over fifty years. First in California, then Las Vegas, then Pheonix, then Florida, then back to California and then to Thailand for the last 26 years. I have not had a blowout in Thailand, and I have never changed a tire that was not worn out.

You can buy tires every ten minutes for all I care, Makes me not never-mind.😂😂

Again, how does having the date on a tire, benefit the manufacturer?😂😂😂

3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I have been driving in hot, sunny climates for over fifty years. First in California, then Las Vegas, then Pheonix, then Florida, then back to California and then to Thailand for the last 26 years. I have not had a blowout in Thailand, and I have never changed a tire that was not worn out.

You can buy tires every ten minutes for all I care, Makes me not never-mind.😂😂

And plenty of people smoked for 50 years and never got lung cancer. Personal anecdotes aren’t engineering standards 😂

Nobody said every old tyre explodes. The point is that ageing rubber increases risk — which is exactly why manufacturers and safety bodies publish age guidelines in the first place.

But hey, if “nothing bad has happened to me yet” is your maintenance strategy, knock yourself out.😂😂😂

6 minutes ago, Nemises said:

And plenty of people smoked for 50 years and never got lung cancer. Personal anecdotes aren’t engineering standards 😂

Nobody said every old tyre explodes. The point is that ageing rubber increases risk — which is exactly why manufacturers and safety bodies publish age guidelines in the first place.

But hey, if “nothing bad has happened to me yet” is your maintenance strategy, knock yourself out.😂😂😂

Do you also change your radiator cap every 3-5 years like the manufacturer says?

And yes, I'll take my engineering degree and fifty years of experience over the guys selling tires.

37 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Do you also change your radiator cap every 3-5 years like the manufacturer says?

And yes, I'll take my engineering degree and fifty years of experience over the guys selling tires.

A radiator cap failing usually leaves you stranded. A tyre failing at highway speed can leave you dead. Slight difference there 😂

And again, it’s not just “guys selling tyres.” It’s tyre engineers, manufacturers, transport authorities and safety organisations worldwide.

But if your engineering degree has overturned decades of material science and rubber degradation research, you should probably let Michelin know.

2 minutes ago, Nemises said:

A radiator cap failing usually leaves you stranded. A tyre failing at highway speed can leave you dead. Slight difference there

This is why I replaced my road bike tires last year.

16 minutes ago, Nemises said:

A radiator cap failing usually leaves you stranded. A tyre failing at highway speed can leave you dead. Slight difference there 😂

And again, it’s not just “guys selling tyres.” It’s tyre engineers, manufacturers, transport authorities and safety organisations worldwide.

But if your engineering degree has overturned decades of material science and rubber degradation research, you should probably let Michelin know.

Bit of a drama queen huh? Do you change your struts and shocks every five years? Seatbelts after an accident, or every ten years?

25 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Bit of a drama queen huh? Do you change your struts and shocks every five years? Seatbelts after an accident, or every ten years?

Struts and shocks are wear items that fail from use. Seatbelts are inspected and replaced after deployment or damage, not just time alone. Tyres are different again — they’re a rubber compound exposed to UV, heat cycles, and oxidation whether you drive or not. That’s why age is part of the safety guidance alongside tread depth. It’s not drama, it’s material science.

52 minutes ago, TedG said:

This is why I replaced my road bike tires last year.

Exactly mate 👍 Amazing how the rubber industry managed to invent things like oxidation and UV degradation without consulting the old-school forum engineers.

On 5/23/2026 at 5:49 PM, Hummin said:

As long you keep correct tire pressure there is less chance of cracked sidewalls. Together with tropical environment, underinflation can speed up the cracked sidewalls.

Thais very rarely under-inflate tyres. More like over.

The Toyota dealer here will not rotate tyres on my Vigo if over three years old. and want to put 35 psi, even though the book says 29 all round.

Maxxiss, from where I bought the tyres, will do it, and balance the wheels, and put just 30 psi, every 10000km at no charge.

Wonder why TYRES gets a red underline, whereas TIRES don't.

Edited May 25May 25 by wil iam not

On 5/22/2026 at 8:55 AM, IsaanT said:

and they'll last as long as they did for me back in England.

Not this week! Hotter in Manchester than here at present.

Edited May 25May 25 by wil iam not

6 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Wonder why TYRES gets a red underline, whereas TIRES don't

Spell checker using American English rather than UK English.