My tires are good now (will pass inspection) but I'm worried about tire dry rot in the future. Tires are expensive and I'm wondering if there's a treatment (spray) that will prevent or delay tire dry rot. I'm thinking something like Armor All but is there better product out there that will prevent dry rot (minimize UV ray damage). Paul
question on preventing tire dry rot
- Thread starter spstan
- Start date
"Surface treatments" (as Armorall, Son of a Gun, etc.) are just that "surface treatments" to protect against ozone affects. No more, no less.
Dry rot happens well under the surface, with time and age. The tires can look pristine on the outside and be deteriorated internally.
Tires which are aged-out of use, but still on the car, CAN still drive ok and such, but ONE evasive maneuver or chuck-hole will be enough to de-bond the internals from each other. Usually not, from my experience, a "blow-out", just a loss of air and then a flat. Prior to that, they will hold air and perform as normal, in easy driving.
Just like an older car with Fingerhut (or similar) fitted clear plastic seat covers to protect the factory seat covers. They will look nice under that plastic, but be dry-rotted and fail quickly once those plastic covers are removed.
If not protected, upholstery fabric "dry rot" happens in plain open sight. As the foam underneath gets harder, too.
When tires would normally need to be replaced after 30K miles, we didn't hear about tire dry rot unless it was a very old and low mileage vehicle.
CBODY67
Dry rot happens well under the surface, with time and age. The tires can look pristine on the outside and be deteriorated internally.
Tires which are aged-out of use, but still on the car, CAN still drive ok and such, but ONE evasive maneuver or chuck-hole will be enough to de-bond the internals from each other. Usually not, from my experience, a "blow-out", just a loss of air and then a flat. Prior to that, they will hold air and perform as normal, in easy driving.
Just like an older car with Fingerhut (or similar) fitted clear plastic seat covers to protect the factory seat covers. They will look nice under that plastic, but be dry-rotted and fail quickly once those plastic covers are removed.
If not protected, upholstery fabric "dry rot" happens in plain open sight. As the foam underneath gets harder, too.
When tires would normally need to be replaced after 30K miles, we didn't hear about tire dry rot unless it was a very old and low mileage vehicle.
CBODY67
The theory I heard was that as the wheels spin, the centrifugal (centripetal?) forces force the chemicals towards the outside of the tyre and helps keep the rubber in good condition. This could be complete hogwash however.
On tangent, I tell as many people as I can that low mileage isn't always a good thing, unless you're going for a concours condition car for whatever reason. For a car one intends to actually enjoy, high mileage indicates that it's at least been looked after. You can have a 30,000 mile car that sounds like a diesel because the owner had no idea that engines actually need oil changes, or a 650,000 mile car that's been through at least 12 different owners but the engine still purrs like a kitten, and the car still drives and handles practically like it just rolled out of the dealership because all or most of those owners actually kept up with maintenance.
I have a friend who works at (owns) Big O Tires.
Tires are now made with just less than 3 gallons of oil per tire.
15 years ago they were made with 5 gallons of oil per tire.
Tires now dry rot on the inside far faster than the outside.
I didn't believe all this but my friend took me to the old tires and showed me the dryrot on the insides of most of the old tires he has awaiting recycling.
Due to insurance issues Big O Tires will not patch a nail hole on a tire older than 7 years. Really 6, but.
Nor will they do anything with tires that old. They replace the tires.
The new tires suck due to over regulated manufacturing companies.
Finding used tires has become very difficult if you want to stay within that time range.
Tires are just replaced.
That is what the corporations want. Just buy more tires.
I have a station wagon with 4 different 25 year old tires and they look and work great.
Newer tires though, lose air after 5 years, pretty much no matter what brand they are.
Tires are now made with just less than 3 gallons of oil per tire.
15 years ago they were made with 5 gallons of oil per tire.
Tires now dry rot on the inside far faster than the outside.
I didn't believe all this but my friend took me to the old tires and showed me the dryrot on the insides of most of the old tires he has awaiting recycling.
Due to insurance issues Big O Tires will not patch a nail hole on a tire older than 7 years. Really 6, but.
Nor will they do anything with tires that old. They replace the tires.
The new tires suck due to over regulated manufacturing companies.
Finding used tires has become very difficult if you want to stay within that time range.
Tires are just replaced.
That is what the corporations want. Just buy more tires.
I have a station wagon with 4 different 25 year old tires and they look and work great.
Newer tires though, lose air after 5 years, pretty much no matter what brand they are.
Seems like they've given up longevity, but improved grip, even if only due to the way technology and materials science improves with time. I really would like to see 50s and 60s cars' 0-60 and lap times and other sorts of times done with modern tyres but everything else remaining unchanged/stock.
With the old (circa 1966 or so) bias-ply tires, we could get approx 40K miles out of BFGs. On my '77 Camaro, I regularly got 90K miles out of normal Radial TAs (the OEM version was observed to do similar). The Mich Defs on a 2005 Impala get "lumpy" after about 85K miles, even with good tread still left.
Construction techniques/processes have been refined over the years, as expected. Tread designs have been computer-optimized over the years, but RUBBER compounds plus the tread designs are what have improved performance so much, to me. Even with the old narrow-treaded tires, driving 70mph in the rain was a BAD thing to do, back then. Radial tires and higher inflation pressures help too!
CBODY67
Construction techniques/processes have been refined over the years, as expected. Tread designs have been computer-optimized over the years, but RUBBER compounds plus the tread designs are what have improved performance so much, to me. Even with the old narrow-treaded tires, driving 70mph in the rain was a BAD thing to do, back then. Radial tires and higher inflation pressures help too!
CBODY67
Modern tires are waaaaay better as far as I can tell. (wasn't driving back then)
If only they would give us the longevity back by using more OIL.
14's are almost gone and 15's are on their way out as well. Unfortunate for all of us.
If only they would give us the longevity back by using more OIL.
14's are almost gone and 15's are on their way out as well. Unfortunate for all of us.
I know if I was filthy rich step one would be to get tiktok/instagram famous, then use my popularity/influence to make 13s, 14s, and 15s popular again. If only we could have the top tier stuff like Michelin PS5s in 235/70R15...one can dream.
Does UV from constant sun exposure contribute to quicker dry rot compared to always being stored in a garage when not in use for example? I also heard that if the car sits near a furnace or anything with an electric motor the Ozone produced by the electric motor would accelerate dry rot. Maybe old wives tales.
As I have been told, Air is what dry rots the tires.
That's why the inside is usually where the dry rot is more visible on modern tires.
That air stays there and is never changed, inside.
Sure, sun rots the tires as visible on any tire that sits facing the sun for long periods.
When a tire is only good for 6 years the sun doesn't really attribute to the dry rot outside as that is a fairly short period.
The tires flex towards the inside when being used. So the dryrot would make sense on the inside first.
I hate what is going on. I have some 20 registered running cars and tires are how the establishment are going to get rid of our cars.
I wish there was something to put on the inside of the tire to protect it. I'll ask my tire guy.
That's why the inside is usually where the dry rot is more visible on modern tires.
That air stays there and is never changed, inside.
Sure, sun rots the tires as visible on any tire that sits facing the sun for long periods.
When a tire is only good for 6 years the sun doesn't really attribute to the dry rot outside as that is a fairly short period.
The tires flex towards the inside when being used. So the dryrot would make sense on the inside first.
I hate what is going on. I have some 20 registered running cars and tires are how the establishment are going to get rid of our cars.
I wish there was something to put on the inside of the tire to protect it. I'll ask my tire guy.
Mudeblue
Well-Known Member
Bought American Classics, white walls, drove them for one year with approximately 1,500 miles then tires went in inside storage for 3 years during complete restoration, put them back on the car when restro was done and 3 of the 4 had severe tire separation and manufacturer would not stand behind them saying there was not a manufacturing defect and were beyond the 3 year warranty; basically TS! $1,400 later and now running Diamondbacks. Buyer beware; not all tires are created equal!
Are you happy with the diamondbacks? How many years have you had them on?
I don't know about the electric motor, but I'd imagine that like with almost everything, heat will accelerate degradation.
Mudeblue
Well-Known Member
Had them a little less than 2 years. They look good and are rated high. The tire store where I originally bought the American Classics sold me an extended warranty at the time and when American Classics would not stand behind the tires, the tire store stood behind them with the Diamondbacks. They said that they will no longer sell an extended warranty on the American Classics because of a history of problems and failure to stand behind their tires. They offered, and I purchased, the extended warranty on the Diamondbacks. So far happy and they ride and drive nice.
