Worn Tires and Flatting

This post also appeared on the store blog - but I figured the audience here is a little more broad and it's a good topic; so I'm sharing it here as well.


This time of year we seem to more commonly be addressing common causes of flat tires and how to prevent them.  A frequently overlooked cause worth talking about is worn-out tires.

As your tires wear their flat protection is reduced because there is less rubber on them to resist sharp objects as you roll over them.

Additionally, tires do age: and not very well at that!  Cracking in the tread and side-wall of the tire is a good indicator of a worn and weakened tire that is ready to be replaced.

Finally, tires also get cuts in them which weaken the tire and make it more prone to flatting.  Anything bigger than 3/16" (4 mm) really ought to be addressed.

All of these symptoms are exceedingly common.  How common?  All 5 of the worn tires pictured below came into the store on Saturday, July 24th!

Good, round tire

Worn, "flat-top" tire

Vanished tread or wear indicators

Large cuts through tread and casing

Cracking/"cross hatch" in sidewalls

Cracked/separated tread

Tire worn through to casing

More worn tread through to casing