ST MAXX Cracking

Yo!
I have 10k miles (6 Months) on these ST MAXX's and i noticed this crack appear last weekend It got a big bigger after hit the trails that day.
The tire shop says nothing to worry about since it's not deep, but I'm curious of the internets opinion on the topic. Safe? Normal?

 

Did you get the warranty? I myself would not want any crack like that on the sidewall on my tire.

 

You sure that's a crack and not a cut? Looks like a superficial cut from a sharp rock or something while on the trail. Doesn't look worrisome to me. These tires have very sturdy sidewalls.

I don't understand how a tire can 'crack' unless it's dry rotting from being really old

 

Yes i did - and i don't like the look of it either necessarily lol

We trail it hard, so maybe could have been a rock, you're right.

I'm mainly concerned about the structural integrity

 

I personally wouldn't worry about it. Cracks from dry rot look more like this





It really looks more like a shallow surface cut to me.


All that being said, I did cut through the sidewall of an STMaxx once on the trail. Don't know what did it but it gashed the side good. Have had 2 sets of these and wheeled them plenty, that was the only time I had one fail. But you gotta go deep to actually compromise it.

Personally I wouldn't worry by what I see in your pic, but if you want I'm sure a tire shop can tell you one way or the other if it should be replaced.

 

Roger that - i appreciate the feedback!

 

That thumb looks like a big toe

 

Funny you mention it...I know a guy who has a big toe for a thumb. He cut off his thumb chopping wood when he was a teenager, doctors removed his big toe and attached it as a thumb on his hand. No shit, it's actually a common thing to do in cases where the severed thumb can't be saved.

He was on my hockey team, apparently it's a myth that you can't walk or balance without a big toe. More important that you have two thumbs I guess lol.

From the looks of that pic I grabbed off the web, that guy probably had the same thing done.

 

yes

 

Check the manufacture date just to be sure they didn’t sell you tires that were made 8 years ago.

 

I had some deep sidewalk cuts on my S/T Maxx that finally blew while my FZJ80 was fully loaded coming back from the Rubicon. Luckily it was on the rear since we were going about 65mph. Tires were about 3 years old at the time. DT warranty replaced the tire.

 

Oof yeah that one looks bad, looks a lot deeper than the OPs


That's what happened to mine, too

 

@b3itz , spray some soapy water over that cut just to be sure there is no air leaking out of it. It doesn't look like a deep enough one to me but that can help put your mind at ease.