Nifty Swiftys cracking sidewalls after only 2 months of riding. Normal?

[lungimsam]

Or unsafe?

 

Is it normal for gum/skinwalls for this to happen?

 

The bike is garage kept. Inflation kept at 75psi (max for the tire). No furnaces/moving air or anything nearby to damage tires.

 

Puzzled.

[Ron Mc]

doesn't sound good

I've had gumwalls last 5-6 years before the gum peels and bare cord shows through.  

if it's not age/UV, I expect chemical/solvent exposure.  

john (at) rivbike .com - here's probably where you want to start at rivbike

[lungimsam]

It is a split, on both sides of the tire, running the whole way around. About a fingernail edge width.

 

I'll keep an eye on it. 

 

 

[lungimsam]

pic. Hope you can see it:

 

 

[Ron Mc]

thanks for the photo - that tire has a reinforced sidewall, so you may just be seeing a seam at the edge of the reinforcement.  

if the gum was cracked, you should be seeing exposed cord (fabric)

[Cyclofiend]

I seem to recall a similar photo which surfaced on this group a few
months back. It does look like a seam either from the casing wrap or
the edge of a protection layer. It wouldn't bother me to ride, but
IIRC, the poster of that did have RBW warranty it. It's a little on
the "B-minus" edge of the range of material coverage.

[lungimsam]

That was me, and it was another Swifty that had the same cracking, but  along the bead.

 

I didn't get it from RBW, but the seller swapped it out for me.

 

After 2 months of riding, I don't think they will be willing to swap this one. I don't even know if this is considered defective or normal.

 

I am thinking of going to Soma Xpress or the Marathons. I am sure the Marathons will be top notch. Just not sure if they will be draggy or not. But they are RBW's go to tire now, so that says something I guess.

 

I think I will get them from Rivendell - Soma, or Marathons this time.