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Tire Dry Rot Is A Misnomer

qtla9111
Nomad
Nomad
An article I read this morning on RvTravel.com. I thought it was interesting as I see lots of references to tire rot.

For those interested HERE is a report issued by NHTSA on tire aging. You will note that on page 3 of the report titled "Background" they identify that "degradation is accelerated with higher temperatures", You may also note that there is no mention of UV as a significant contributor to the aging process.

Tire Dry Rot Is A Misnomer

NHTSA Report
2005 Dodge Durango Hemi
2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog
16 REPLIES 16

RAS43
Explorer III
Explorer III
Seems to be normal for Michelin's. I have the same issue on my pickup-4 year old tires with cracks in the sidewalls. Others here have reported the same thing.

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Hmmmm ......

How come #1 my 1995 ungaraged out-in-the-sun pickup goes 10-15 years before it's tires' treads wear out and the tires' sidewalls are still pristine and crack/check-free (just dirty)? (No covering of it's tires, no chemical treatment of the sidewalls of it's tires, and sometimes driven a couple times a month and sometimes not!!

How come #2 my 2005 ungaraged Class C motorhome goes 5 years with fantastic thread left on it's tires (and I keep them clean) and the tires' sidewalls are full of cracks/checks? (Tires almost entirely in the shade, Aerospace 303 used on the sidewalls of it's tires, and usually driven on several RV trips per year but sitting months in between!!

Pickup = Cooper tires.

Motorhome = Michelin tires.

The motorhome is about to get it's 3rd set of Michelins since we bought it new in 2006. Outstanding tread life but terrible sidewall life.

:h :h :h :h :h :h
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
The "tires" of today are not of the same material of tires of say thirty years ago. "Dry Rot" used for anything but wood is a misused buzzword. Take two old tires of same manufacture, age and use. Place one in the sun, the other in total shade. What you eventually see (or don't see) is reality, not rhetoric.

RayJayco
Explorer
Explorer
First hand observation goes a long way. I am in construction and we have quite a few trailers of various sizes. From what I see, the spares seem to develop cracks long before the tires that roll do... For that reason, we typically replace spares when we replace tires, even if the spares have never been put on trailer axles.
No covers on any of the spares as in construction, they wouldn't last a week anyway...

I haven't read the article yet, perhaps later. Just stating my observations, YMMV
Inquiring minds want to know...

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Explorer III
Read the article.. It talks about the sidewall cracking

I always though Dry Rot was in the tread.

True story.. Had a tire with dry rot hit something and go PSSSSSSSSSST (flat) Took it to Wal*mart (this was on a car, nto a motor home and it happened at less than 5MPH so it was not a big problem)...

Ask the guy how much for a new tire

HE starts explaining the advantages of a proper patch over a plug (I know more about it than he does).. I said "That's good but I ask how much for a new tire" Still he's trying to explain patch over plug... Finally I showed him a spot on the tread he says "YOU NEED A NEW TIRE"... Uh, is that not what I'd been asking for?????
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
I disbelieve political rote-driven drivel. I respond to facts.

"Dry Rot" has been an inseparable description for wood destruction. Chemical decomposition is for inorganic material. Sub-basic chemistry. Make it cheap. Make it profitable. Today's Mantra. Use buzzwords. Baffle 'em with B.S.

I agreed with your post and elaborated. "Dry Rot" tires? Surely someone jests.

qtla9111
Nomad
Nomad
I figured you'd respond that way.
2005 Dodge Durango Hemi
2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Explorer
Neither was ozone factored in.

"Unsafe At Any Speed" The biggest joke the precursor of NHTSA ever played on the gullible mantra-soaked US public. This is a political not factual US government organ. Like the NWS

Deutschland Uber Alles for Volkswagen and Porsche. Ooooooo and for the Francois Renault Dauphine.

Today's tires contain a MINIMAL amount of authentic rubber. It is now scarce and costly.

About forty years have passed since I climbed the stairs ina friend's tire warehouse and toppled a stack of "new" 1000 X 20" tires sitting against a 10 horsepower motor driving a horizontal air compressor. Every last tire had micro cracks around the bead.

Plastics and elastics containing CARBON BLACK are more O3 resistant than identical carbon products sans carbon black. This is why BLACK plastic tie wraps live in sunlight while natural white ties become brittle.

Kenneth_Neal
Explorer
Explorer
I agree with darsben. UV light may play a role in aging but UV light was not part of the test.

SCVJeff
Explorer
Explorer
rexlion wrote:
Let me get some popcorn... ๐Ÿ˜„

Help yourself...


I got free refills...
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350

RinconVTR
Explorer
Explorer
Good read. I agree with the reported data and claims from such.

There might be a slow period before people get fired up enough to respond here because they wont reply to the "facts" they don't want to believe. They will reply to the posts they don't like and fight the fight from the back seat.

qtla9111
Nomad
Nomad
Funny though, only a few people have posted. When it comes to China tires, exploding tires, old tires, then everyone comes out of the woodwork with their expertise.

If you don't think so, or you're one of the guys who always cries "tire rot" either post something of substance or don't post at all.

I was hoping someone who has a little experience besides armchair chat, could put some credence into what the article and the NHTSA has to say as they (NHTSA) are supposed to be the experts.
2005 Dodge Durango Hemi
2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog

rexlion
Explorer
Explorer
Let me get some popcorn... ๐Ÿ˜„
Mike G.
Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. --Frederick Douglass
photo: Yosemite Valley view from Taft Point

Huntindog
Explorer
Explorer
darsben wrote:
qtla9111 wrote:
An article I read this morning on RvTravel.com. I thought it was interesting as I see lots of references to tire rot.

For those interested HERE is a report issued by NHTSA on tire aging. You will note that on page 3 of the report titled "Background" they identify that "degradation is accelerated with higher temperatures", You may also note that there is no mention of UV as a significant contributor to the aging process.

Tire Dry Rot Is A Misnomer

NHTSA Report

UV WAS not mentioned as it was not part of the test
Are you saying that the test was conducted at night?:B
Huntindog
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