yep thats a huge problem, and most sellers will never admit to there being dry rot, which in my opinion makes a tire worthless for street use. I was looking at some used military tires and was told they had "weather checking." I said what the hell is weather checking and the guy said "oh just a few little cracks from the sun, you know, no big deal." I said, "oh... you mean dry rot. forget it."

btw the tires on my excursion are less than 8 years old and already were showing signs of dry rot. Tried to get some extra life out of them since they had really good tread, but lost the sidewall on one thursday, just glad it didn't happen while towing!

 

Many car and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires after 5-6 years of age regardless of tread life. The rubber on any tire I have seen that old has degraded so far that they begin developing those crack or "dry rot".

 

the tsl's that i slashed out mudding were about 5 years old and decent. they replaced a set of older bfg m/ts that were for all intent and purpose brand new. real bad "weather checking" had ended the life of one. it happened parked out in front of my house. soo loud it scared the hell out of my neighbor who was out side at the time. i wont drive on cracked tires. no way. so i hung one of good ones from a tree out in my front yard.

im heading up to a place that sells them after our new years trip up to Washington state, see what they have. still cant beat a $100 a tire for 80% tread life on a 36" or $150-175 for a 37" then start saving up for some turbines from a certain someone on here!

eventually have a set of "40ish" ground hogs or boggers that'll get stored indoors out of the sun. now im dreaming

 

Yea a sellers 75% tread and your opinion of 75% usually differs by alot, but nothing beats the ol quarter trick "Oh you know about 1/2 a quarter", or "Top of Washington's head" or the ever famous "Tread a high as the bottom of his ear".

"Them tires are knee deep in rubber, hell they are durn near at the eagles feet". LMAO Check out the back side of the quarter to see what I mean.

I have a set of almost brand new 15x38x16.5 Ground Hawgs "only been in the mud pit once, the ol chebby 14 bolt couldn't bear the strain" said the seller. They are hid in my tire barn outa the evil sun.

As far as those Military tires, any DRMO (Defense Reutilization Management Office) sale will have them. They are on or around any military base, but you have to buy by the LOT and that could be 100's+ of tires, some wore out, some 75%????

I am sure thats where the 100 dollar tire guy gets his.

 

Yeah i heard someone tell the tale of buying a lot of them, they picked them up on a 48' gooseneck, said there were like a hundred tires, all different sizes, semi tires, heavy equipment tires, 16.5's, everything all mixed together... he said they ran out of straps so they just put the bald ones on back and didn't strap them down.

I don't advise of that tire disposal option since it will probably kill someone.