Tires are an essential part of vehicles, and they can suffer from different types of problems. One of the most mysterious is that of crystallization.
A car rests on its four wheels, which are the element of the vehicle that more punishment they receive.
They are constantly crashing against the ground, and they suffer the aggressions of the terrain and inclement weather: cold, heat, rain, ice …
All these attacks can cause the phenomenon of crystallized tires, which are not easy to detect, and which can pose a significant security problem.
Our colleague Rodrigo Fersainz explains in Auto Bild, what are crystallized tires, and how to prevent them.
The crystallized tires They occur when their components lose their properties and are formed microcrystals that make what is popularly called rubber (rubber and other elements that make it up) hardens excessively.
This problem reduces vehicle grip and damping, making driving more dangerous, and increasing stopping distance.
Crystallized tires are produced by lack of break-in, extreme temperatures (direct sun, ice on the wheels), excess moisture, etc.
The problem is that they are not easy to detect, because it is not seen with the naked eye. Some clues are the excess noise when rolling and harshness in the reactions, or the abruptness and vibrations in the steering and suspensions.
Rodrigo Fersainz explains a homemade trick: dig your fingernail into the tire from time to time and see if it costs more or less the same as at the beginning.
With good tires it should not happen throughout their life cycle, but if they are not well cared for or of poor quality, the problem materializes.
Unfortunately, crystallized tires have no solution. There is no choice but to replace them with new ones.
Safety, and avoiding possible accidents, comes first.
You have more information in this Auto Bild report: How to avoid the danger of crystallized tires?