Is This Tire Bad Already?!

I purchased my rear ContiMotion tire back on 3/10/11. Rode for the 2011 season - put around 3000 miles on it, including a couple runs during the colder months to keep the bike in good shape. Last week I noticed something on my tires. It's a line that does not look good. I can't tell if it's dry rot, or something I need not worry about. I grabbed some cell phone shots. Looking for opinions as to what the "crack" or "line" through the sidewall is:







Thanks.

 

that looks like a cold split, If you can see any of the fibers in the tire, get a new one quick, if its less than 0.5mm ( 1/16 inch) according to canadian recomendations, then you can keep riding but i wouldnt ride nothing fast (under anything you wouldnt want to crash at). personally i wouldnt ride on it, not worth the risk, call the sales company and talk to them, if you only have 3k miles on it then see if this is a warranty defect. I retired a tire just because it took a nail and couldnt get it repaired back to 'S' specs (+150MPH).

Ultimately its your call on how safe it is, but I would look to a new tire.

 

I reckon it could be ok as it dosn't look too bad but having said that if I had managed 3000 miles on it I would change it.
I bought a tyre a few years ago and damaged the wall of the tyre the next day and had to change it, I was gutted.
Tyres have come down in price since then too, ditch and be safe.

teabag

 

Even if its a year on since you had the tyre fitted, (sorry us Limeys don't do "tire") why not go back to whoever supplied and fitted it and ask them to check it?

Any responsible tyre dealer will be very happy to assess the state of your tyres for free. Most will give you an honest but probably cautious opinion as they will not want to say its definitely OK to ride if they have any doubts, and risk a lawsuit.

Personally I would be unhappy at riding that tyre until a motorbike tyre fitter/expert has checked it. As has been said before, it may be simply the outline of the transition between different materials showing through and maybe nothing to worry about. If so the tyre shop will be able to put your mind at ease, but if its any sort of crack in the tyre carcass, especially one which shows the reinforcing inside, then ditch that tyre - your life has got to be worth a whole lot more than a new tyre would cost. Just my 2p

 

Thanks for all the help. I purchased it from a buddy of mine who is a parts rep at a local Honda dealer. It's a good 1.5 hours from my house out there, so lack of free time has kept me from dropping by. We have many bikers here at work, including one bike mechanic. He said he'll look at it for me, but he is out this week. Just wanted others opinions while I wait for the pros

 

Toss it bro...

Tires ain't cheap, but they're cheap enough to replace when in question. I'd just throw on a new pair & keep the leftover single as a spare.

 

doesn't look good, hard to tell from the pics, could be something from the bike rubbing the tire as it rotates, but it looks more like a seam split - and that would be bad, real bad

contact Conti ASAP