An Indiana man’s viral TikTok video showing severe cracking in year-old tires raises questions about whether cost-cutting in your tires is ever a good idea. The mechanic’s @deth93 investigation may have inadvertently found a safety hazard. This TikTok currently has over 27,900 views, as of this writing. 

“So I’ve never seen this before, but this DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation standards code) is from 2024,” the mechanic said. 

He showcases the cracks in the walls of a tire on a sedan. 

“And look at that, it’s already dry rotting, and that’s actual dry rot. It’s all the way around. The other tire is the exact same way,” he explains. 

While tire experts say tires can develop dry rot as early as six years after manufacture, the mechanic’s finding of extensive cracking on 2024-manufactured tires suggests a far more alarming timeline. In fact, he might have helped save that driver’s life.

What Is Tire Dry Rot?

Tire dry rot is the degradation and cracking of a tire’s rubber. It is usually caused by aging, UV light, heat, ozone, or parking the vehicle for days, weeks, or longer. This typically happens on the tire sidewalls and tread, which can get brittle. 

These compromised tires are prone to dangerous blowouts or failure. There is often discoloration or fading, indicating a serious safety hazard that requires immediate replacement. This should be done immediately, regardless of remaining tread depth.

The time to dry rot can vary greatly depending on the tire compound, weather conditions, climate, storage conditions, and car usage.

Per NHTSA, tire failures resulted in about 11,000 accidents annually. In 2023, 646 Americans lost their lives in tire-related incidents.

What’s the Deal With These Tires?

So, if you see the little circle on the sidewall, just above where the mechanic is pointing, you’ll see some circles. As one commenter noted, the circles are “a dead giveaway,” meaning these tires are likely Suredrive, a brand owned by Bridgestone Americas.

It replaced the “Primewell” brand at Firestone. They are sold only through Bridgestone’s retail network, including Firestone Complete Auto Care.

On the website, it says they are “designed to meet the everyday driving needs of practically minded and budget-conscious drivers.” It is described as “priced to perform, delivering essential tire performance at a friendly price.”

This tire in the video was likely made at South Korea-owned Kumho’s Vietnamese plant, per the “1K2’ code on the tire. But the brand has had a funky history, with some weird rebranding tidbits.

One source identifies the SureDrive Touring A/S tire as a rebranded Kumho Solus KR21, which “wasn’t a cheap throwaway tire when it launched over a decade ago. It was actually a high-mileage premium passenger tire with good all-season traction and an 85,000-mile warranty.” There was an 85,000-mile warranty on the original Kumho, which was reduced to 55,000 miles on the SureDrive version, “suggesting either a different compound or just Bridgestone setting more conservative (and profitable) warranty terms.”

It can be found in smaller sizes (like, say, 225/60R17) and can be bought for as little as $90. The most expensive, big-size (277/55R20) all-season tires can cost $169 each. They are priced about 20-30% cheaper than Kumho.

In one forum, a user asked: “How are they selling the tires so much cheaper than Kumho? Once the tire molds are worn out do they repurpose them for Suredrive? Are they using a different compound?”

One wonders what is sacrificed between the $85-90 SureDrive vs. the $175 Kumho-branded for a similar size.

Are SureDrive Going To Perform Like Bridgestone, Michelin, or Pirelli? 

Probably not. But the fact is that it’s a budget tire, and you’re going to get what you pay for. If you don’t drive your car much, don’t have much cash, and you reside in a relatively moderate/dry climate, they could fit the bill.

But one driver noted to Car Tips Daily that you stay on top of your regular maintenance: “If you buy SureDrive tires and want them to last their warranted mileage, you need to be religious about maintenance. Rotate every 5,000-7,000 miles. Check your alignment annually. Miss these, and you’ll destroy even a good budget tire.”

MotorBiscuit reached out to the mechanic via TikTok message and comment, and Bridgestone Americas via email. This article will be updated upon response.

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