Are my tires dry-rotting?!?!

Perdue · 08-21-2005, 09:25 PM

I bought a set of 17x7 MB Motorsports Weapons and 205-45-17 Yokohama ES100s from Discount Tire Direct in November or December of 2004. They were mounted on my Legacy a month after buying them (had to wait for winter weather to start clearing up). My passenger's side front tire started to show some funny wear a couple months ago, and has now gotten MUCH worse. The Driver's side has now started with the same thing, but not as bad, and the rears are doing the same on a much milder level. It looks like dry-rot to me, but I'm not sure. I run 35psi front and 32psi rear for normal street use, and ran 42 for auto-x today. Anyone have any diagnosis for me?

Passenger's Side Front:

Passenger's Side Front Close-up:

Driver's Side Front:

Driver's Side Rear:

Since I figure I'm going to be getting new tires now (whoohoo! spending the money I hoped to spend on pullies and an Auto-x helmet!!

), what tire would you all recommend? I'd like something that I can drive on daily, but it still nice enough to use for Auto-X in wet or dry conditions. Also, is there a way to avoid this happening again if it isn't dry-rot?

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Perdue · 08-21-2005, 09:27 PM

hmmm...looking at it again, it looks like that's where my tires ride in a turn when they're at 35psi rather than 42psi...any possible connection?

jweiss · 08-21-2005, 10:01 PM

Rubbing on fender?

Silver_Bell_WRX · 08-22-2005, 02:18 AM

That looks like normal wear for tires that are driven hard in corners. Dry rot is normally in the side wall of the tires and result in cracks in the rubber. That just looks like you are rolling the side wall onto the road when cornering. If you run 40 psi all the time it should stop some of that.

Perdue · 08-22-2005, 06:08 AM

alright...I'm going to get new tires anyways, as I don't really trust tires that have chunks coming out of them. Looking at BFG g-Force T/A KDW-2s. Stock tire for the SRT-4 and they're apparently really nice, but still yet affordable enough to be driven on daily. I guess I'll lose some ride quality and go with 40psi this time.

And no, they're not rubbing on either corner.

t3hWIT · 08-22-2005, 07:24 AM

yah man. thats how my first set of tires looked, and i drove the car hard. i wouldnt worry about it as it led to no further problems with my car.

Perdue · 08-22-2005, 07:27 AM

alright then...tonight when it cools down I'll go to 40psi and see how that does. Hopefully the tech inspectors won't fail me and not allow me to race next month. I guess I'll wait a week or two and order my pullies and helmet...just to make sure...

Scooby Freak · 08-22-2005, 08:25 AM

That looks like normal wear for an autox'd tire. And the 'chunk' looks very very small.

There is many other tire choices for a good street/autox tire: Kuhmo MX, Hankook Z212.

08-21-2005, 09:25 PM	#1
Perdue Scooby Specialist Member#: 57431 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Charleston, WV Vehicle: 98 Legacy GT 04 Dakota QC 4x4	Are my tires dry-rotting?!?! I bought a set of 17x7 MB Motorsports Weapons and 205-45-17 Yokohama ES100s from Discount Tire Direct in November or December of 2004. They were mounted on my Legacy a month after buying them (had to wait for winter weather to start clearing up). My passenger's side front tire started to show some funny wear a couple months ago, and has now gotten MUCH worse. The Driver's side has now started with the same thing, but not as bad, and the rears are doing the same on a much milder level. It looks like dry-rot to me, but I'm not sure. I run 35psi front and 32psi rear for normal street use, and ran 42 for auto-x today. Anyone have any diagnosis for me? Passenger's Side Front: Passenger's Side Front Close-up: Driver's Side Front: Driver's Side Rear: Since I figure I'm going to be getting new tires now (whoohoo! spending the money I hoped to spend on pullies and an Auto-x helmet!! ), what tire would you all recommend? I'd like something that I can drive on daily, but it still nice enough to use for Auto-X in wet or dry conditions. Also, is there a way to avoid this happening again if it isn't dry-rot? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
how long are my tires going to be held?!	fiveoh88	Tire & Wheel	0	10-31-2008 04:55 PM
Are my tires defective, or does this tire shop just suck?	obyone	Tire & Wheel	12	05-16-2006 02:07 AM
Are my tires almost gone?	Lantec	Vancouver Impreza Club Forum -- VIC	6	04-09-2006 03:50 AM
Are my tires rubbing?	Hank3	Brakes, Steering & Suspension	3	12-03-2002 10:27 AM
Help. Are my tires mounted right?	Axan	Brakes, Steering & Suspension	4	08-09-2002 08:23 AM

08-21-2005, 09:27 PM	#2
Perdue Scooby Specialist Member#: 57431 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Charleston, WV Vehicle: 98 Legacy GT 04 Dakota QC 4x4	hmmm...looking at it again, it looks like that's where my tires ride in a turn when they're at 35psi rather than 42psi...any possible connection?

08-21-2005, 10:01 PM	#3
jweiss Scooby Specialist Member#: 31636 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Park City, UT Vehicle: 2005 STi & '82 911 CGM & rosewood	Rubbing on fender?

08-22-2005, 02:18 AM	#4
Silver_Bell_WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 7677 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Burlington, VT Vehicle: 2005 WRX Blue	That looks like normal wear for tires that are driven hard in corners. Dry rot is normally in the side wall of the tires and result in cracks in the rubber. That just looks like you are rolling the side wall onto the road when cornering. If you run 40 psi all the time it should stop some of that.

08-22-2005, 06:08 AM	#5
Perdue Scooby Specialist Member#: 57431 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Charleston, WV Vehicle: 98 Legacy GT 04 Dakota QC 4x4	alright...I'm going to get new tires anyways, as I don't really trust tires that have chunks coming out of them. Looking at BFG g-Force T/A KDW-2s. Stock tire for the SRT-4 and they're apparently really nice, but still yet affordable enough to be driven on daily. I guess I'll lose some ride quality and go with 40psi this time. And no, they're not rubbing on either corner.

08-22-2005, 07:24 AM	#6
t3hWIT Scooby Guru Member#: 58779 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: ** Town Vehicle:** 95 WRX RA replica, 98 Tacoma (300k Club)	yah man. thats how my first set of tires looked, and i drove the car hard. i wouldnt worry about it as it led to no further problems with my car.

08-22-2005, 07:27 AM	#7
Perdue Scooby Specialist Member#: 57431 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Charleston, WV Vehicle: 98 Legacy GT 04 Dakota QC 4x4	alright then...tonight when it cools down I'll go to 40psi and see how that does. Hopefully the tech inspectors won't fail me and not allow me to race next month. I guess I'll wait a week or two and order my pullies and helmet...just to make sure...

08-22-2005, 08:25 AM	#8
Scooby Freak Scooby Specialist Member#: 40751 Join Date: Jul 2003 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Springfield Vehicle: '94 SER	That looks like normal wear for an autox'd tire. And the 'chunk' looks very very small. There is many other tire choices for a good street/autox tire: Kuhmo MX, Hankook Z212.