I'm using the kit vinyl tires, but need advice on how to color/weather them. Last time I used rubber or vinyl materials, the tires cracked apart afet a short time. I believe I used turpentine and pigments on those, but honestly can't remember. Don't want a repeat!

...some of that vinyl stuff cracks and some's melting the ps-parts; result: very frustrated modellers and partly ruined models.
Solution: cook your tires! Really, put the tires into boiling water for some minutes and all the "bad" solvents are gassing out!
:-H
Michael

To replicate fading and wear/tear, I lightly sand my vinyl tires with fine grit sandpaper/sanding sticks and steel wool. Then I use pigments on them for the diryting up process... Just be careful on the sanding, you can over do it.