Dry Rotting Tires

[GaryBDavis]

I once counted all the tires I have. Between the cars, truck, trailers, ATVs and farm implements, I have over 100 tires. Ugh!

Most of my tires dry rot after a few years and by 10 years, they are pretty much shot. Not worn out, but dry rotted. I have a few really old tires on farm implements that seem to last forever. Someone told me the old nylon tires won't dry rot nearly as fast as the new ones.

I can't ever seem to wear out tires unless they are on my car or truck. The other ones just fall apart before they are worn out. For my farm implement and light duty trailer tires, my criteria is ones that won't dry rot very fast.

Any suggestions or are today's tires just not made to last past a few years?

 

[Builder]

I once counted all the tires I have. Between the cars, truck, trailers, ATVs and farm implements, I have over 100 tires. Ugh!

Most of my tires dry rot after a few years and by 10 years, they are pretty much shot. Not worn out, but dry rotted. I have a few really old tires on farm implements that seem to last forever. Someone told me the old nylon tires won't dry rot nearly as fast as the new ones.

I can't ever seem to wear out tires unless they are on my car or truck. The other ones just fall apart before they are worn out. For my farm implement and light duty trailer tires, my criteria is ones that won't dry rot very fast.

Any suggestions or are today's tires just not made to last past a few years?

Parking my stuff in garages or barns or out of direct sun seems to help my tires from checking & dry rotting more than anything.

 

[PILOON]

I agree, the UV is what does it.

However is there any product that can 'rejuvenate' or fill in those weather checks?

Being that modern tires are generally nylon or other synthetic cords it would seem that a product might exist to fill or re-seal the weather checks.

The old tires were cotton cords which, naturally would rot with time. Nylon will resist rot so it stands to reason that a tire's life might be extended if 'checks' could be filled.

I know the basic answer--like on motor homes and RV's, one should drape a tarp or other cover over the tire to block the UV, but who remembers to do that after a day in the saddle.

 

[GaryBDavis]

As far as dry rot goes, tractor tires last a lot longer out in the weather than auto tires. They must be made from something different.

 

[Builder]

don't know if it's true, but I've heard armor-all helps.

 

[jinman]

As far as dry rot goes, tractor tires last a lot longer out in the weather than auto tires. They must be made from something different.

Gary, I think tractor tires would likely shed rubber and come apart if we ran them down the road at 70+ mph. However, the rubber seems to be much thicker than the average load range D or E tire. I have a trailer with 10 yr old tires that were new in 1998. My neighbor borrowed the trailer to haul his lightweight tractor to his deer lease. Halfway there, one tire shed it's tread and when he came back, another tire's sidewall let go. He didn't haul the tractor but about 5 miles before the tires let go. I think I'd have to cover them with a skirt to keep UV from ruining the tires.

 

[CurlyDave]

How fast a tire rots depends on how much antioxidant was compounded into the rubber.

One of the best things you can do for a tire is to use it every few weeks. The antioxidant tends to become depleted at the surface, and getting the tire warm and flexing redistributes the remaining antioxidant inside the rubber, replenishing that on the surface.

UV shielding is good, but ozone also eats tires and you can't shield that.

There is nothing that will "fill the cracks" and regenerate old tires. The best thing is prevention.

jinman's experience should be a lesson to all of us. It sounds like the only bad result was the loss of two tires, but I hate to think of the potential consequences if I were to lose a tire on a heavy trailer at high speed.

 

[EddieWalker]

I was told one of the characteristics of trailer tires over automobile tires is that they are designed for sitting in the sun for extended periods of time without drying out and cracking. I can't say for sure if this is true or not, but the trailer tires that I bought for my trailers are still looking very good after four to five years of having them.

RV's have covers that they put over their tires to protect them from the sun. Basically, just a material of some kind that drapes over the tires. I don't know how effective they are, or if they are even needed since most RV Tires are similar to big rig tires and super expensive. I've never seen the ones my parents have develop rot or cracks and they never cover their tires.

Are the tires with the problems on trailers, tractors or vehicles?

Eddie

 

[GaryBDavis]

The problem is with the trailer and implement tires. The cars and trucks wear the out before they can dry rot.

 

[Builder]

Are the tires with the problems on trailers, tractors or vehicles?

Eddie

At my big tire dealer, he has piles of dry rotted big truck tires with tons of tread left on them in the back of his shop.

There's a set of 6 matching Goodyear 12R 22.5's in his back lot with full tread on them. I asked him if he could sell me one as a spare. He said they wouldn't last much longer because they were starting to rot. I was shocked to see that they were in fact starting to rot a little, but the tread was at least 95%.

He told me they were on a fire engine that saw almost no use. The tires were replaced with a new set. Another example of your tax dollars hard at work.

I have a spare dumptruck tire with 1" of tread left that has started weather checking because (luckily) I've never had to use it.

I have noticed that certain tire dealers up my way have warehouses with unusual lighting in them. I wonder if they have certain lights that don't cause the rubber to break down.

 

[dorus]

The only product that has done very well for me... Renew Protect line.
It actually penetrates and seals dry. I only reapply 3 or 4 times a year. Pretty simple stuff to use... and , never use silicone products like Armor All.

 

[scoutcub]

Great thread/topic. I own a 06 F-350 dually with 44K miles and recently noticed all tires are starting very fine cracking. The tread all the way around is holding up great, but I'm wondering at what point do I seek replacement....
Unfortunately I don't have space for storing the beast inside, so it sits outside all year. And, I work overseas so it sits unmoved for 6 weeks at a time.....
next house will have a BIG garage....

 

[jaquetarr]

In lieu of cloth covers for my trailer tires, I use scraps of cement board. They are heavy enough not to blow off, light enought to move by hand and don't rot when left in contact with the ground. I just lean them against the side to cover all of the tire. And cheap to considering the price for RV tire covers.

Another associated concern: conveyor belting. Would "Renew Protect" work to keep those from rotting?

Rgds,
tim

 

[glh]

i can remember my grandpa putting brake fluid on the tires and the cracks would go back closed
and when he saw um opening back up he would do it again
one time right after he put some on the tire i put a small stick in the crack and the next day i try to pull it out and couldn't
(i got in trouble for that one) lol
gary...

 

[lpdcac]

We have a 2001 TC33D New Holland compact tractor with seriously dry rotted front turf tires. To the point that I have to order 2 new tires to replace them. Has anybody here got any knowledge or experience re the difference (if any) in dry rot resistance between turf, industrial, or ag tires? Price is a consideration as well.

 

[slowzuki]

No difference. Keep them out of the sun. Use UV treatment/rubber restore on them.

We have a 2001 TC33D New Holland compact tractor with seriously dry rotted front turf tires. To the point that I have to order 2 new tires to replace them. Has anybody here got any knowledge or experience re the difference (if any) in dry rot resistance between turf, industrial, or ag tires? Price is a consideration as well.

 

[sweep]

don't know if it's true, but I've heard armor-all helps.

Never use Armor All on tires. Armor All contains either silicones and petroleum distillates that attack rubber. Same as STP Son of a Gun-bad stuff for tires.

Best rubber preservative is Team 303 Protectorant-contains no silicones or petroleum distillates that attack rubber. RV dealers really recommend the stuff.

As sunlight is the worst killer of tires another poster on this site had covers made for his tractor tires from his local tent and awning co. using scraps. If I recall it was very reasonable price wise.

 

[jmanatee2]

I 2nd 303 Aerospace Protectant.

 

[Renze]

shoe polish is what manufacturers use to make them look good on fairs... might help the rubber as well..?

 

[Ken45101]

Thankfully, tractor tires seem to last without the problems. Yes, mine are stored out of the sunlight but...

I just had to replace the rear tires on my 2007 dually pickup. The sidewalls were deteriorating and leaking. Tread was still very good. Can't blame sunlight since the inner tires were shielded from the sun.

Ken