There are few consumer products that are experiencing the same intense impact of the environment, which can withstand tires.
In addition to the regular dilation attributable to the tire during its operation, it is affected by acid rain, dust from brake pads, chemicals and direct sunlight and summer heat and winter cold.
Even though the tire tread compound contains special additives to retard the aging, constant contact with aggressive media causes rubber to lose some of its elasticity and provokes the appearance of surface cracks.
Surface damage is called differently: weather, atmosphere, ozone cracking. Typically, these small cracks are formed on the sidewalls of tires or in the tread grooves. Depending on the extent of the damage, they may be cosmetic in nature, if not go beyond the superficial layer of rubber, or may cause the replacement tire, if you destroyed the main bulk of rubber.
Since tires are made of rubber, toward the end of life of all of them, one way or another, covered by a network of cracks. However, this process can be accelerated due to frequent overheating, impact of exhaust gases, ozone and sunlight, as well as the proximity of generators and electric motors (with brushes).
For example, bus car parked on the street and not in the garage, are continuously exposed to sunlight, which increases the likelihood of cracking.
In addition, cracks in the sidewalls often caused by friction on the curb when parking or excessive use of detergents and cleaners, which wash out with each application of antioxidants and protivoozonovyh additives contained in the bus. Observed that, when the cause of cracking is the sun or exposure to cleaning products, damage can be seen only on the outer sidewall of the tire and the inner side remains intact.
Contained in the rubber mixture of the compound to slow down the aging, are more effective when the bus is used regularly. Constant cycle of stress-strain mixture prevented the formation of cracks.
If the car is used infrequently or have low annual mileage, his tires more likely to become covered with cracks, because long periods of immobility stop "working" condition.
In addition to owners of show cars, the same problem faced by owners motorhoumov and cars for leisure, who go to them infrequently and can not even put his vehicle in the garage or in the shade. Use special covers for tires can at least reduce the negative effects of sunlight.
Tire manufacturer's warranty to protect against cracking is generally 4 years from date of purchase (with a check, or depending on the date of the vehicle) or 4 years from the date of manufacture.
There are a number of conditions are not covered by manufacturer's warranty. Cracks on the surface of tires may occur due to improper maintenance of wheels.
Driving with a flat or nedokachannye wheel, driving with an overload causes excessive stretching of the rubber compound and may lead to cracking, similar to superficial lesions described above. In the manufacturer's warranty may be refused if the inside of the tire inspection confirms that the cracks occurred in one of these reasons.
