2014 Mustang GT - Original Pirelli Tires - Dry Rot ?

[Bhenders]

I have 11,700 miles on my original tires. Performance is still great, but I have noticed some cracks in the tread area. ( Now I cannot say enough that the current guidelines for tires is to replace them at about the 8 year interval. (regardless of mileage) However it is tough for me to give up on tires with only 11K miles ! ) And, yes I should be driving the car more!
I have added a picture that should show a vertical crack between the two tread blocks. (Actually, the picture looks worse than up close.)

Have any of your had a similar issue with Pirelli tires ? Any recommendations as I start to look at replacing these tires? (For those of you that have been driving your Mustangs like you should.)

 

[89ripper]

I run pirellis on my Impala SS, so far they have been good but I dont have that many miles on them either. Its not driven often. Just a quick search brought up a few hits with cracked Pirelli tires so hopefully mine will be fine. I thought it was a good brand.

Here is a bump for someone else to chime in that has experienced this on a mustang

 

[Noobz347]

Sitting on the shelf and having never been used, tires have a shelf life.

So, if I understand correctly, your tires are 11 years old at the very [least]. They're likely 2 to 3 years older than that.

It's time for new ones. If those tires had zero miles on them, they would still be no good. 10 years is about the max if the tire is stored, unused, in perfect conditions. 5 years if it ever sees the road and sun.



By the way... The tire in that image in unsafe. Be careful.

 

[Bhenders]

Thanks guys, for the responses. I have not driven the Mustang since I saw the cracks. Will finally shop for tires this week. I have always had good luck with Michelon tires and will probably go that route.

89ripper,

You will probably be OK, just make sure to check for these vertical cracks from time to time. Like you, I have always viewed Pirelli tires as being of good quality.

 

[SuperCharged_Coyote]

Just realize that as tires age the rubber gets old and degrades and the tires are likely to blow out. Not good to run tires over 8 years old I'd say regardless of treadlife. That crack looks bad. Think about this, as you drive tires heat up, pressure goes up and with high speeds they expand. If rubber is old and brittle, normal drive and heat cycles will blow it apart as it can't expand like it should.