[TripodCane]

Routine maintenance at VW dealer alerted me to tire cracks. Cracks would be an understatement. The tires had 14,000 miles on them. They are meant to be under warrantee. The local tire store and I phoned each Vredestein and left messages. I wrote the company three times. No response.
I know people are likely to say they were breaking down because I wasn't driving often enough but my driving habits haven't changed in the past 20 years and this is the first time I've had this issue.

 

[Joooe3]

How old are the tires? More importantly, what's the date code on the tires?

Ive gotten 5+year old "new" tires from my supplier before.

Tires do dry and crack with age regardless of miles and driving habits.

 

[Travis Grundke]

Interested in this. I just bought a set of winter Vredesteins in November and so far, I've been very, very pleased with their performance (coming from a history of Blizzaks, then more recently Michelin Alpins).

Of note: I've read elsewhere that you should store your winter or summer tires in a climate controlled area (eg: basement), as summer tires are prone to cracking in extreme cold, etc.

 

[quaudi]

Interested in this. I just bought a set of winter Vredesteins in November and so far, I've been very, very pleased with their performance (coming from a history of Blizzaks, then more recently Michelin Alpins).

Of note: I've read elsewhere that you should store your winter or summer tires in a climate controlled area (eg: basement), as summer tires are prone to cracking in extreme cold, etc.

X2, I have always done this as I have dedicated winter/summers, also drop the pressures to 20-25 lbs. Never had OP issues.

 

[TripodCane]

How old are the tires? More importantly, what's the date code on the tires?

Ive gotten 5+year old "new" tires from my supplier before.

Tires do dry and crack with age regardless of miles and driving habits.

They were one year old when they went on the car in Feb. 2020.

 

[Travis Grundke]

They were one year old when they went on the car in Feb. 2020.

So, previously owned?
Winters, all-seasons, summers?

 

[Joooe3]

They were one year old when they went on the car in Feb. 2020.

So that makes them already 4 years old (that we're aware of) im still interested in the date code stamped in the sidewall, the only way to know their actual age.

Im curious because im an automotive tech who sees stuff like this. It's not uncommon for me to see a 6-7 year old Michelin tire with 8/32" tread left but cracks so deep you can see the cords. I don't know factually, but from experience it seems like some tire dressings and/or coatings accelerate drying and cracking.

Im not trying to argue or bust your balls im just trying to say that sure, there's defective products, but it's also not outlandish for a 4 year old tire to start to dry and crack, and im also just genuinely curious.

 

[TripodCane]

So that makes them already 4 years old (that we're aware of) im still interested in the date code stamped in the sidewall, the only way to know their actual age.

Im curious because im an automotive tech who sees stuff like this. It's not uncommon for me to see a 6-7 year old Michelin tire with 8/32" tread left but cracks so deep you can see the cords. I don't know factually, but from experience it seems like some tire dressings and/or coatings accelerate drying and cracking.

Im not trying to argue or bust your balls im just trying to say that sure, there's defective products, but it's also not outlandish for a 4 year old tire to start to dry and crack, and im also just genuinely curious.

I really liked the Vredestein tires and would probably have bought another set down the road. My real beef is that I got absolutely NO response from the company, nor did Town Fair Tire who installed the replacement tires.

 

[MBrown]

Might be worth a chat with the Consumer Protection area of your state's Attorney General's office. Maybe they can get a response.

 

[Cooper]

Th Michelins that came on my wife's '12 Escape hadvcracked sidewalls. There was an issue with some Michelins back then. Her tire model was in the recall, but not her size.

 

[Cooper]

Good story for local TV consumer reporter. I would e-mail them at your local stations and see if anyone gets back to you.