My 2009 Hyundai Sonata was equipped with a set of expensive name brand tires. Three and a half years and 10,000 miles later all four sidewalls were badly cracked and the right front sidewall was peeling off in big chunks. It had been in the right rear for the first part of its life and was then switched to the front. I have been feeling out curbs for more than 60 years, but I don't think I'm abusive. The sidewalls have always outlasted the treads, but this time I had to kiss a set of hardly-worn treads goodbye.
The car is parked at the end of my driveway, which opens up 30 degrees west of south, so that the right side gets more sunshine. I think that the UV degraded the right sidewalls to such an extent that, when the poor right front was put on curb feeler duty, the sidewall just peeled off. The other right-hand tire was in better shape: it did its curb feeler duty when it had less UV damage.
The tire warranty booklet gave a phone number which produced a squeaky female voice that gave me phone numbers of new car dealers in my neighborhood. When I called them they were of no help. My Hyundai dealer suggested that I call a tire dealer who carried this particular tire brand. I found one in the latest Yellowbook and went to see him. He was a hard-working busy guy who agreed that I needed four new tires, and nope, there was no allowance on the warranty. I could see that he did not have the time or inclination to discuss the proper inclusion of UV absorbers in sidewall rubber. He had a few decent brands that cost half as much as the original name brand. I like the guy. He runs a nice, tight shop, so I let him select one of the brands and install them.
I notice that the new tires have a slightly rounded profile in contact with the road, as opposed to the very square-cornered cross section of the originals. The car has a brutally stiff suspension, so I think the new tires will soften the ride a bit. But will these last longer than the originals? I decided to protect the right side from UV with corrugated cardboard fitted into the fenders. The left side will be unprotected, so I can compare those with the name brand tires.
The ozone hole is over the South Pole, but the UV intensity may have changed in our area. Checking that out is on my to-do list.
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