I realise that tyres have a limited shelf life but I have noticed that the only factory-fitted rear Hankook is showing signs of deterioration after 6 years.  My sister-in-law's Fabia of the same age is shod with  the factory-fitted Continentals and they have no signs of perishing. I have never had this tyre problem before and am wondering if Hankooks are prone to it? I realise that tyres should be replaced after 5 years for safety reasons. I have always been particular about maintaining correct tyre pressures.

I have contis of a similar age that are going the same way. Planning to replace them in the autumn when I switch back to winters. Can afford the time to shop around then as the wheels won't be on the car. Explain why they are not wearing that much as they have gone hard.

I have an European road trip planned with 4-up and luggage. I had better have it replaced before then for safety sake. Shame as it is only half worn

@edbostan have a read about on how deep the usable compound goes on modern tyres.  Some only come with 3-4mm of the proper compound then 3-4mm of base compound.  I only found this out recently and it makes sense considering how my tyres are performing now.  I got them used and they were ok for the first 'summer'.  Now into their second they are suffering as the good rubber has been worn off and the hard stuff underneath is what's left.  Add the tyre aging and they are not the best.

 

I'd not thought about safety side until now.  We are driving up to Scotland in a few weeks (500+ miles each way with some more while there).  I guess I should look at getting them swapped before hand rather than waiting for the autumn?

This is the classic trade off, make the rubber harder to last longer and it wont wear the treads down as much, but deteriorates in other ways

Not unheard of nowadays which is why there is common view that need to change tyres after 5 or 6 years

 

If you need to change the tyres, seriously consider going all season rather than another batch of summer tyres

Much better grip in Autumn-winter (cold rain and muddy field run off) and sleet/snow. 

Virtually no difference in summer (UK rarely sees temps of 30+c so high temp performance is irrelevant)

I run winters from Nov to March so no need for all seasons.  Does mean that my tyres last longer (in time) so more likely to go the way of the OP's.

@SurreyJohn

Just a small point re Summer Tyres, All-Season, All-Weather, Winter tyres and temperatures.

It is not about Ambient temp and how often you see that, 

it is Road Surface Temp and i think anyone that bothers to check will find 30*oC plus road temps are rather common in a few months in parts of the UK and more common in many parts.

See todays road temp in parts of the bitter north.

http://trafficscotland.org/weatherstations

 

 

Edited 30 July, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

Was advised to replace Nokian WR A3's at my last service in March due to perishing near the treads (after 5 years and 25k they still had 4mm off tread lef).

 

Swapped tyres over to my Goodyear Efficient Grip Performance and was advised during the MoT to replace them as they were showing perishing near the tread. Again they were about 5yo with 25k under their belt with 3-4mm of tread left. 

 

Fitred Goodyear Vector 4Season Gen2.

Going to have to replace couple of tyres on our Roomster, prior to MOT this month, one is an original (as date codes just over 7 years), got similar perish cracks to Op in first post.  The tyres are Bridgestone.

 

The other is a 2015 tyre, came off the front last year when got a puncture, and replaced both fronts, so could keep one, but chosen not to, so all 4 will be same type

 

Looks like modern tyre formulation starts perishing sometime 5-7 years around 

On 30/07/2019 at 08:47, MarkyG82 said:

@edbostan have a read about on how deep the usable compound goes on modern tyres.  Some only come with 3-4mm of the proper compound then 3-4mm of base compound.  I only found this out recently and it makes sense considering how my tyres are performing now.  I got them used and they were ok for the first 'summer'.  Now into their second they are suffering as the good rubber has been worn off and the hard stuff underneath is what's left.  Add the tyre aging and they are not the best.

 

I'd not thought about safety side until now.  We are driving up to Scotland in a few weeks (500+ miles each way with some more while there).  I guess I should look at getting them swapped before hand rather than waiting for the autumn?

 

In my experience Contis (PremiumContact 2) were very poor when down to 3 mm for that double compound reason. At about 26000 miles (3mm remaining) the previously trustworthy tyres started to lose wet grip (it was winter time) and the car was saved a few times by TC/ESC kicking in on roads where it had never been needed before. I decided to stick it out through another summer season but the dry grip started to go too, the neutral handling car started to oversteer on dry bends and had I not sold it, 4 new tyres would definitely have gone on. Big surprise though at 35000 miles the tread depth was still easily legal and still 3mm all round. They would have lasted for ever - or at least until the car ended up on its roof in a ditch.

 

 

Edited 6 August, 20196 yr by camelspyyder

Just sold a Toyota Yaris hybrid for a family member. Front tyres oe were 10psi down and cracked at 2yo and 11000 miles.

Just had it replaced with a Hankook Eco tyre. It is only the outside shoulder which has perished not the inside shoulder so the sun must be to blame for the cracking. The new tyre has 7mm of tread but I was under the impression that 8mm is the norm. 

On 28/07/2019 at 11:53, edbostan said:

I realise that tyres have a limited shelf life but I have noticed that the only factory-fitted rear Hankook is showing signs of deterioration after 6 years.  My sister-in-law's Fabia of the same age is shod with  the factory-fitted Continentals and they have no signs of perishing. I have never had this tyre problem before and am wondering if Hankooks are prone to it? I realise that tyres should be replaced after 5 years for safety reasons. I have always been particular about maintaining correct tyre pressures.

This is what all 4 of my OEM Bridgestone Turanza's look like after less than 3 years and under 8500 miles from new.

Problem seems to more widespread than first thought. 

15 hours ago, edbostan said:

Problem seems to more widespread than first thought. 

Yeah. I checked my neighbour's 2018 Audi with 20K miles, and he had cracks too.

I don't recall young tyres cracking like this a few years ago.