I have 2011 F150 with 10,000 miles with the factory 18in Michelins. I just noticed today on the left front some small cracks on the sidewall near where it meets the tread. I'm sure most tires do this, but I didn't think it would happen on low mile tires especially since my truck usually sits in the shade. Just wanted to know if this is something I should worry about. Thanks.

 

I certainly would. It is a sign of dry rot or a flaw in the construction of the tire.

 

Michelins are bad about dry-rotting. I see it happen to a lot of vehicles that come into our shop that are running Michelins. Personally, I'd just keep and eye on 'em and only worry about it if it started getting worse.

 

A tire dressing may help condition and protect against UV ray damages. My Toyo M/Ts are finally showing minor signs of dry rot cracking after 4yrs/51,000 miles. I always applied HyperDressing to the sidewalls.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I went by the Ford dealer at the service guy said that it looks like normal weather cracks. Told me just to keep an eye on them.

 

I have been dealing with tires for my vehicles for over 40 years. I have never had them "weather crack". Pure and simple, dry rot. If they are Firestone or Goodyear, I would take them to one of their stores. Or an authorized dealer if some other brand.

 

what is manufacture date? http://www.ehow.com/how_6113693_read...-sidewall.html

 

My new 2000F150XLTScab4x4 came new with Good Year Wranglers. They lasted forever almost but the sidewalls cracked. I finally changed two of them at 72,000 miles because the left front had a 360 degree crack on both sides of the tire at the peak bulge point of the sidewall. It was so bad that it started losing air. the right front had a 360 degree crack on one side. I replaced the other two at 92,000 because they were cracking bad. those tires would have lasted 120,000 miles if the hadn't cracked.

 

I know Michelin can adjust them out for dry rot within a certain period of time after the tire was manufactured. However, I don't handle the adjustments at our shop so I'm not sure what the time frame is. I've seen Michelin's start to dry rot in as little as 2 years though.