Tire problems unsure of cause

[drillerjoe]

Any body seen this before? I have four continental contisports with this condition one actually lost a chunk of tread.

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss69/mean_green88/C4F2D0D5-DCFE-411A-BD2D-67CB1CCDB11E-130-00000003EE767DAB.jpg

I do drive some dirt roads but not exceeding a strict 25mph limit. Most times around 20mph

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss69/mean_green88/7348E5A2-EC68-48FF-BDEC-7E7A2B879357-130-00000006B91DFA2A.jpg

The tire that lost a chunk. I'm getting some new good years installed now. Just want to be sure they don't see the same fate

[pauljcl]

It seems pretty bad. I've never seen it before. Can you get Continental to pony up? [I'm sure they don't want their name linked with those kind of photos].

[99GREENM3]

How old are they ? They should have a date stamped somewhere on the sidewall. They look to be old, dry rotted and are seperating or you have a bad set.
Take them to a tire dealer who sells that brand and see what they say.

[Rex1585]

This is caused from some serious dry rotting, or severe over-heating.

[drillerjoe]

Not sure on the age actually. The tires are gone now. But didnt show cracks on side wall but a few in the tread

[Jim@tirerack]

The first photo shows a visible tread splice, which is very unusual on a street tire. I see the small section of tread missing in the shoulder area just in front of his thumb. I also see some cracking that is in the circumferential groove in the same area. The second photo doesn’t show a visible tread splice, and in this angle I don’t see any of the circumferential cracking.

It would be too hard to diagnose what went on. It could be a combination of things including dry rot and impact.