weather cracked tire question

[ATCT]

So, I just received the front rim for my Tecate rebuild off eBay. The guy told me the tire was weather cracked and told him just to remove it but he couldn't, so he sent it. Anyway, the tire on there looks almost brand new. The edges of the knobbies are not worn at all, they're sharp in fact. However, as he stated, there is weather cracking here and there on the tire. Not in a ton of places, but a few, and even though the tire holds air fine, they look pretty deep.

My question is this: if I run this tire with a tube, will it be alright? or will it start cracking more throughout the tire? I'm just wondering who out there has done this and what the results were.

I have a replacement tire for it that's in quite good shape. The knobbies are just a little more worn than this. It would be a shame to throw out the tire on the rim, as you obviously can't get them any more and it is otherwise really nice.

[chris200x]

If it's weather checked go ahead and throw it out. It's not safe to run them. escpecially if it's a front tire. A innertube won't help either cause the tire just may shread or fall apart at high speed.

You can always just remove the tire.. either by cutting it off or breaking the bead and save the rim.. but I wouldn't run the cracked tire that's for sure.

[ATCT]

OK, thanks Chris. That's kind of what I figured--it would eventually just disintegrate.

Oh, and I'm saving the rim. A little aluminum polish and it'll look pretty good.

[chris200x]

yeah, it's a damn shame sometimes with some of these old original tires that have no wear but are cracked all to crap... Better to replace them and be safe tho.

[ATCT]

Yeah, it really is. You can tell this tire/rim was just left outside for a long time. If the rim were the '84 steel rims, it would be a pile of rust, I'm sure.

[SYKO]

lol!! im the exact oppitsite!! I say run it!! I ran a tire so cracked that a chunk fell off and the tube was poking through! still kept riding it and in fact sold it! and its still going!! how bout dem apples!

[ATCT]

haha. that's great. well, I do have another tire. and I'd have to buy a tube for this one. decisions...decisions.....

[Dirtcrasher]

I'd run a cracked tire on the rear but not the front, it could get real ugly....

[3 weelin geezer]

Hope you have an easier way of removing it at the house than me. Do they come with bead glue or what?? My 2x4 technology just doesn't seem to work very well.

[ATCT]

haha. Oh, I'm not even going to attempt the removal. I did it once, and it was horrible. This is going to the local shop.

[Dirtcrasher]

When there junk I cut them with a new razor blade and then use a pair of snips to chop the bead away. The piece of wood method doesn't work very often for me with old tires....

[Threes company]

In the past I have resorted to backing my truck up onto the tire.... right along the tire bead... with a 2x4 between the trucks tire and the bikes to break the bead....... it works. The neighbors think I'm nuts...... but it works. For slow trail riding I'd run the weathered tire all day..... but for out on the track? Maybe.. depends how bad the cracking is. Maybe throw a few gallons of green slime in there, lol.

[Jim mac]

You think it sucks for a trike, A buddy works for a tire shop. Try telling a guy with a RV he needs 6 new tires, even though the tires on the RV now only has about 10000 miles on them. jim

[toocheaptosmoke]

Rode a friends trike that the front tire was so bad there were chunks missing and the tube was showing. Replaced it with a less cracked tire and some slime, worked like a charm.