Tires: Dry Rot on Tires, goodyear wrangler ap, ford f150 crew cab

Question
QUESTION: We have Goodyear Wrangler AP tires on our Ford F150 Crew Cab put on in 2004. They now have approx. 33,000 miles on them.  We were advised by the tire co. that they need to be replaced because of dry rot.  Is this normal for tires with less than 50,000 miles to need to be replaced? The tread is still decent with at least 10,000 left on them.

ANSWER: David,

Cracking is a normal part of the aging process for rubber.  So this becomes a matter of degree rather than kind.  Some tire dealers use that as a selling tool.

So if you you did a decnt job of maintaining the tires - checking tire pressures every month, rotating the tires for even wear, etc. - and you don't live in a hot state (AZ, NM, NV, CA, TX, or FL), then it is possible that you could get an adjustment - a discount on your next set of tires.  

I'm hoping the tire company oferred to do that.  If they didn't, then you can pretty much guess they were "selling", rather than "advising".

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick reply.  We are still puzzled that the tires need to be replaced after only 33,000 miles.  Is this normal for this product?

Answer
David,

I think you are confused.  I don't think your tires need to be replaced because the tire company did not offer an adjustment on a condition that is warrantable after only 3 years.

However, under certain cirumstances this would be normal - hot climate, insufficient tire maintenance, heavy ozone concentration, etc. could cause this condition to appear sooner.  It is a time related issue and not a mileage related issue.