How to Prevent Tire Dry Rot

[grumpyvette]

I don,t know how you use your muscle car or car transport trailer,but if you store it out side when its not in use, and especially if you only put a couple hundred or even a couple thousand miles a year on your tires chances are good they will deteriorate before they wear out!
If you store the car outside, store the car or trailer tires parked on a concrete slab or at least on large concrete pads , you can buy 24" square paver stones to put under tires for about $5 each at HOME DEPOT ,carefully clean the tires with mild soap and water and verify the brake cylinders don,t leak fluid, brake fluid and oil can ruin a tire over time just like exposure to direct sun light. make sure the tire pressure is up to the suggested levels, coat the tires with a preservative spray (don,t forget the side facing under the car) and placing a tarp over the tire, and use a bungee cord to keep it in place during storage to keep them out of direct sun-light helps
try not to store a trailer or car with the tires parked on grass or dirt as this tends to speed up the tire deterioration

How to Prevent Tire Dry Rot
UV Radiation--One Cause of Tire Dry Rot

http://www.detailedimage.com/303-M2/Aer ... /16-oz-S1/

viewtopic.php?f=87&t=1946&p=43912#p43912


http://www.goldeagle.com/product/303-aerospace-protectant
Dry rot can be caused by a number of factors. One of the major causes is excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays. One general type of UV stabilizer is called a "competitive absorber." Competitive absorbers absorb the UV light, instead of the tire sidewall, and convert the UV rays into heat so it can dissipate. The least expensive type of competitive absorber comes in "carbon black." This is why tires generally come in black, rather than unique colors. Eventually, though, UV stabilizers no longer offer protection to a tire, causing the tire to look gray.

dry rot can adversely effect the heath and lifespan of automobile tires. Dry rot generally occurs when tires get brittle and dry due to low air pressure, inactivity, exposure to ultraviolet and ozone rays and the grime accumulation that breaks down its rubber layers. Special tire protection care is essential to preventing dry rot. If it is not caught early, dry rot can completely damage tires and cause them to be unsafe on the road.Instructions

1

Inspect the damage. Examine where tires have become especially worn and where tire walls have become cracked. The longer the tires have been sitting stagnant and exposed to ultraviolet light, the greater the damage. Tires damaged beyond repair will need to be replaced.
2

Invest in water-based tire oils to lubricate and seal cracks on the tires. Avoid using petrochemicals and silicone-based oils because they can strip protective waxes off the tire and expose them to higher levels of UV rays which increase the rate of degradation


3

Apply two coats of water-based tire degreaser to a large sponge and wipe it on all parts of each tire. Spray the tires down with a water hose on lukewarm water to rinse away degreaser, dirt and grime. Allow the tires to air dry for two to three hours.
4

Saturate the tire with a water-based tire protection solution (found at most automobile shops). Reapply this solution every 20 to 30 days to increase the tire's barrier to ozone and UV rays.


RELATED THREADS

viewtopic.php?f=87&t=7375&p=24946&hilit=+sealant+tires+leaks#p24946

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=845&p=25509&hilit=trailers#p25509

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=380&hilit=brakes+bleed

viewtopic.php?f=71&t=1848&p=16080&hilit=brake+fluid#p16080

 

[87vette81big]

Great tips Grumpy.
I have had tires dry rot on me more than once from long term vehicle storage outdoors & indoors.
And it has been a frustration seeing all those cracks in the sidewall & exposed tread.

You have me thinking of my Twin axle car trailer I bought last fall.
Too cold to do anything tonight. About 0 degrees F out now.
When it warms up close to 40 F, give the tires some attention.
I try I keep all tire pressure up every month on vehicles sitting unused.
And move them around at least twice a year or drive them.

 

[grumpyvette]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Grumpyvette, how do you keep the 24" concrete pavers from not cracking? When I put the trailer on it, two of them cracked in half immediately (both on left side). That's almost $20 wasted.

MY car trailer probably weights a good deal less than the trailer you posted a picture of, mine looks like these.

the concrete pad stones GET CRACKED because they don,t flex under load, if theres some flex or give in the soil or grass you placed them on,and you place a load on them they bend and crack, you can either place a 12" square section of 3/4" plywood over the concrete,or a 24" square section under the paver, to add support and reduce the potential flex loads, so the jack or tire loads spread over a wider area, to spread the load OR you can pack the area the concrete pads sits on so its a solid foundation,I poured sand under my pads, raked it smooth, then moved the pads back and forth several times to be sure the pad support was evenly supported, but over time the front jack support pad cracked , I just use it that way, its been fine for over 8 years even if its cracked[/b]