My father is notoriously frugal, and I tell him he should replace his old dry-rotted tires even though they still have plenty of tread. Can you please explain why I'm right?I think our dads might be brothers. Tire replacement is pretty straightforward to the cost-conscious: when the tread wears down or a hole can't be patched. The reality is more nuanced than that. Tires are complex components that undergo amazing stresses during even the most mundane of drives. It took the better part of 50 years and a world war before motorists could depend on reaching a far-away destination without fixing one or two flats. As rubber technology and steel-belting techniques improved, tires became a very reliable part of the carwe just don't expect blowouts and punctures. Tires do degrade over time, though, and that process is called dry rot. Oils and chemicals in the rubber compound start to evaporate or break down because of UV exposure. The rubber loses its flexibility and begins to crack at the surface, and the structure becomes more and more brittle (think of a really old rubber band), leading to sidewall damage and eventual failure.

And we're not talking "Oh, I'll just fill it up and drive on it"; this is a complete loss of function. You might even see tread start to separate. It's good practice to replace tires as soon as you see signs of dry rot, to prevent blowouts and the subsequent loss of vehicle control. Even if there are no signs of rot, the industry standard is to swap out tires before they hit 10 years old, and some tire companies recommend replacement as early as six years after manufacture. The Greatest Road in the World Might Be Switzerland's Furka Pass These Are 11 of AMG's Most Interesting and Unusual Cars This Roller Guardrail Seems Brilliant, Except For One Major Problem Why Carbon Fiber Is the Miracle Material This Is Probably the Only Time You'll See a New Ford GT Hit a Puddle Motorcycles Are Learning to Save You From Your Own Recklessness My Ride: The Boxy-But-Beautiful 1991 BMW 325i How to Change Your Transmission Fluid How to Flush Your Radiator and Cooling System

Why Rally Drivers Use Left-Foot BrakingMotor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top The last time I saved a good tire and gave it to the tire place to replace one of my other tires, they said they couldn't due to dry rot. I had stored it in a plastic bag in a shed subject to seasonal temperature variations for 2 years, and it was less than 5 years old. That tire became a tire swing, but now I have a complete set of tires about 2 years old with very little wear that could be used on my vehicle in another few years. Do all tires dry rot regardless of storage, or is there a way to store them so they will last longer? Am I better off selling them and saving the money for when I need tires? Dry rot is typically the result of one of two processes. The first is UV damage from the sun, and the second is simple exposure to air.

The rubber compounds break down due to exposure. Tire companies add carbon black to help with UV exposure, and a wax to prevent air exposure. The wax is throughout the tire, and apparently redistributes itself slowly through normal usage - rolling, flexing, and heating and cooling cycles. Tires that are not used typically dry rot faster than tires that are used. Dry rot can be seen as cracks, primarily in the sidewall. If they are greater than 1/32" (0.8mm) in width then they are considered too rotted to safely use, and may result in leaks or blowouts.motorbike shop cronulla Manufacturers typically indicate that tires should not be used past 6-10 years, as the protective compounds have almost always worn out by then and dry rot is very likely.motorcycle clothing buxton Water based tire protectants can extend the life of the tires a little - avoid petroleum based protectants, as they can remove the tire's own protective chemicals at the surface.motorcycle helmet mohawk review

If storing a tire for an extended period of time using a water based tire protectant and storing it away from heat and light in a neutral position (not bearing weight, inflated if on a hub) will provide the greatest life. As dry rot is a natural expected process, though, it will still occur and cannot be prevented, only delayed a little. Check the DOT number, the last 3 or 4 digits (4 digits for newer tires) show the date of manufacture. 125 motorbikes for sale aylesbury2210 would indicate the 22nd week of 2010. german ww2 motorcycle and sidecar for saleIf it's less than 6 years old and doesn't show cracks in the sidewall, or the cracks are few and under 1/32nd" (0.8mm) wide, then the tire is probably safe to use. motorcycle dealers wangara

If it's older than 6 years or has wider cracks, it's unsafe to use. If the tire is only 1-2 years old, you may be able to store it for another few years, but keep in mind that they'll continue to dry rot after you start using them again, so if you think you'll get 3 years of active use out of the tire, and it's already 2 years old, then you can really only expect to store it for a year before you start losing remaining life on the tire.motorcycle dealers wangara So the question about store or sell should be made on the useful life left on the tire. If they are new and you drive a lot, you can probably store them for 2-3 years and still get their full life from them. If they are 2-3 years old, have decent tread left, and you don't drive very much, you may find they dry rot before you use up the tread. Variation between manufacturers and even between tires within a manufacturer may mean some tires don't dry rot for 10 years, while others are unusable after 6 years.