Swamp Lite Tires Sidewalls Cracking

[LMI]

Title pretty much says it all.   After fixing my throttle body I had a look at the tires.  on my last ride my buddy hit a branch on his side wall with enough force to jar the quad off track.,  no Damage but I thought I would review mine.

The discussion about what to bring with on the trail also got me thinking about my tire health.

It looks like my rear tires are older, the front ones only really seem to have some knob wear and are in good shape.  I absolutely can't get new tires this year, but I still want to ride it and reduce my risk.  I am thinking of getting a couple of tubes for my rears sort of pre-emptively change them instead of having to do an urgent tube install on the trail.

Then next year I will get 2 new rears and probably the year after get to new front leaving me 2 decent spares.

 

I figure $50 in tubes is decent to reduce the risk until I can spend on new tires.

 

Thoughts?

[Frank Angerano]

I think your idea is good but for the most part I feel if something is strong enough to pierce your outer tire tread then the tube does not stand a chance.  That’s why I always keep plugs and a small 12v compressor with me.  My bikes all have a cigarette type power port to plug into.     I also keep with  me thanks to my buddy who rides bicycles is a Co-2 air supply. It’s super small and very powerful. I have this In case my compressor failed or my power port for any reason. 

 If it’s a big tare then your screwed either way wether it be a tire of a tube. Just my thoughts on this anyway. 

 

[mikeexplorer]

Agreed, that would be the most important thing to carry on any ride is plugs and a compressor.

 

Mike

 

[LMI]

I guess the point I was trying to make about getting the tube was thinking that the tube would protect against a deflated tire due to the sidewall cracks..  The cracks are not due to puncture they are due to tire age.

The event with my buddy hitting his sidewall just made me think to look at the status of my tires which is when I noticed the sidewall cracks.

For sure the plug kit is on my list for my kit, I also have a 12v inflator, my accessories socket is f'ed, but I have a clip on accessories socket that I can use.

My front tires look quite a bit newer, no cracking at all.  is that because they are smaller and take less stresses and the rear are larger and therefore bend more + carry load?  I noticed they are different sizes so I can't rotate them.  I realize a sidewall puncture if it occurs would likely hit my tube as well. I would then have to carry a tube repair kit as well as a plug kit,

So the question I was asking… to get me through this hunting season and spring next year and to reduce the risk of a deflated tire due to sidewall age cracking, will a tube do the trick? 

 

[Frank Angerano]

Yes by all means a tube would be a good idea for a cracking side wall where air eventually could leak.  The last thing you need is to come back to a bike to go get a deer 🦌 to find a flat tire.