Is this dry rot beyond repair?

What's the manufacture date on those tires? Close to ten years? Play it safe and replace.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

 

That doesn't look awful in the photo, but could just be the photo. I agree with Mendel, let the date code be the deciding factor.

 

If you are happy with the tires, I would keep driving them. That amount of cracking isn't going to cause a catastrophic problem. The Michelins on my VW were less than 4 years old and showing more cracking than that.

Note that as tires get old, they lose some of the desirable tire characteristics as the rubber hardens. They may not handle as well, etc. But, if you aren't noticing any of that, keep going with them and inspect at least monthly.

 

Almost new. Drive them down to the wear bars.

Put some soapy water on the valve with the cap off and see if it bubbles. This is a common source of leaks. I've also leak tested tires in the bathtub, but that's not real popular with the spouse.

 

Yep keep rolling and check again later.

 

Considering the age, they starting cracking early. Almost a defect? Maybe the tireshop that installed them can go to bat for you, get a pro-rated warranty replacement? Doesn't hurt to show them, see what they say.

What are they, manufacture and complete model name?

 

Considering one has a leak, I'd be inclined to replace.

I recently replaced some Pilot hx MXM4, sitll plenty of tread, but getting pretty cracked looking. They were OEM, and manufactured Feb of 2009, so I guess deserved their cracks. the car was built in August 2009, and sat till we bought in November 2010.

Thing is, how much do you want to gamble on "they're probably ok"?

 

From the picture, they are OK. And I doubt that a leak would be caused by that small amount of dry rot.

 

texas sun maybe? i would keep them too.

 

If your tire shop cannot find the leak have them check around the bead of the tire. I was having issues with a tire slowly loosing air and they needed to sand the inside of the wheel and clean it up a bit so the tire would seal to the wheel again.

 

Tires, IMO are one of the most direct safety related aspects to driving.
So to me?
It's comes down to Safety vs. Money. And I'm always going to side with safety.

You've got tires exhibiting ROT...that by your own admission weren't used much for a year or so. If the vehicle was hardly driven, that's not good for tires. Lot's of sitting.

Safety trumps frugality.

IMO...replace the tires...KNOW they are good. Don't gamble that they are "good enough".

 

Goodyear Assurance tires suck. Awful ride could not wait to get them off my car. Buy some cheap Kumho's the car will ride 100% better.

Sidewalls should not look like that picture. That would greatly concern me. Car has sat for a while.

Ever had a blow out before?

 

Yes.
I don't actually see ANYTHING that would concern me even for a second.
Exactly what is it that you are worried about ?

Tiny surface cracks are pretty much normal.
Modern tire compounds do not "dry rot" anymore.

By all means have a tire shop check the one that is losing air.......soon.
Could be a puncture, valve stem or bead not seated good.

 

Michelins have a reputation in that the tread will outlast the side-walls. At least that's what I discovered when I was about to replace the Energy Savers on my 2009 Gen II (the second set of Michelins @ around 100k plus miles) Lots of tiny micro-cracks appearing on side-walls. Tread about 60% worn!

 

To address the question in the subject line, you don't "repair" dry rot tires just replace them.

Inspect the condition of the rubber between the treads. If you're also seeing deterioration there, let that be your guidance.

 

There won’t be a blowout due to that small amount of surface cracking. I will bet money the inside walls of that tire look like new.