On 2008-07-07, landotter wrote:
On Jul 7, 1:22*pm, wrote:

I've got an '89 Giant Iguana. 15 years ago the original tires were
replaced with Avocet Cross 26 X 1.50 Kevlar tires. The rims are Araya
36 spoke.

Over the years I haven't ridden this bike much at all, and there's
plenty of tread left on the tires. I've been riding the last couple
weeks and the tires seem just fine. But I do see cracks on the
sidewall - nothing major but definitely noticeable. I attribute this
cracking to the fact that the tires are 15 years old, and this kind of
(rotting?) cracking is inevitable and normal.

Any fraying of the fabric? No? Then it's just cosmetic. The thin
coating of rubber was just there to protect the casing from abrasion.
Ride with confidence after a visual inspection.

If the casing is cotton, then the rubber also servers to protect it from
water. Wet cotton softens, stretches, and will degrade more quickly. A
quick coating of fresh latex on the sidewall can seal it up again.

--

John )
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