Conti Tour Ride Cracking

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Just noticed this, it appears that the tyre side wall is cracking through the rubber but only where the labels are!
Both tyres and little miles / use / age, six moths max, 250 miles if that 26" X 47.
I can only guess that the label has effected rubber through heat / chemical glue etc, or its somehow affecting the rubber flexing easy in normal use. New one on me

[PT1029]

I have often seen this, its only the label.
If you peel away the label (easy when it cracks more), you'll find the rubber underneath looks fine.
I've always thought it odd that the bit with the company name on deteriorates the quickest!

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
If you examine the third pic closely you will see that the carcase is cracked, the label is very thin indeed.

I will take another look and see if its not just a separate piece of thin rubber backing under label.

[andrew_s]

Ignore it.
The part of the tyre that matters is the fabric carcase.
The rubber is there to provide grip on the road and to protect the carcase from abrasion, neither of which apply to the label area.

This is cracking that warrants tyre replacement:

[rmurphy195]

I don't think you can ignore it - if the sidewall is cracking then the carcass beneath could be weak and prone to fail, which wouldn't be very nice. Assuming its not due to underinflation, I would take or send the tyre back.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
The part that is cracking is about half a mm thick, the label is thinner still.
So Either the label is affecting the rubber at a depth of 1/2 mm or the label is put on a piece of rubber and moulded to the rest of the tyre.

I mistakenly said the word carcase further up posts
Apart from the thin piece under the label the rest of tyre is perfect.
Had conti tyres for many decades, as long as the carcase is sound, side perishing and fraying of carcase wrap which was common near the bead on 23 mm grandprix etc was normal.

Not worried just a bit surprised at it, I am sure if you rejected them to your LBS they would have to replace, though would try to talk you round to saying they are safe, I am OK with them but I feel some would not like the cracking on a tyre that has seen little age / use.