tires and dry rott ?

**dustrunner** · 10-02-2012, 08:17 AM

anyone know what causes tires to dry rott and a cure ?

**TatTooL23** · 10-02-2012, 08:36 AM

I also would like to know what to spray or rub on tires to hopefully preserve them and ward off dry rot.

As far as I have seen once the dry rot starts u cant fix it.

**RapidRick** · 10-02-2012, 09:26 AM

Ultraviolet and ozone attack the chemical bonds of the compounds in the rubber. Keep them out of the sun for the UV however ozone is in the atmosphere and it's hard to get away from that.

I use a couple different types of synthetic dressings. Armor All to be more specific currently.

Inactivity also promotes cracking as well as low air pressure, so I guess ride more and the tires will last longer

Hope this helps

**oldskool83** · 10-02-2012, 10:10 AM

keep the bike on a stand and armor all them. if your dealing with 30 year old tires its time for new ones.

**oscarmayer** · 10-02-2012, 10:40 AM

rubber dries out over time. It was not ment to last for years. so no matter what they will "dry rot" and crack and get ruined. if you had a special "controlled" enviroment like a musium then maybe you can kepe them in ok shape with proper humidity and temp control and no sunlight, but that's it.
I haev seen some guys try to use dry rotting tires and it enver ends up pretty. even putting a tube does not stop the tire itself from comming appart. so jsut spend the coin and get new ones.

**El Camexican** · 10-02-2012, 10:54 AM

Rule #1 with tires you are trying to preserve is to NEVER keep them in an area where welding is going on, its even worse than direct sunlight. Welding creates ozone and as stated above ozone is detrimental to rubber. All over you who weld with a condom in your wallet might want to heed this warning. As far as Armor All goes, I’m skeptical about long term preservation. As someone once told me “Putting Armor All on tires that are left in the sun is like putting butter on your skin and going to the beach”. I never had a problem with car tires cracking up on me before I could wear the treads out when I was living up North, but down here my tires seems to crack up all to heck before I’m ¾ to the wear bars and I suspect the use of Armor All is adding to the problem based on a talking to the owner of the tire shop I buy my rubber at. I’m not going to argue with anyone over this, but after having to toss my garage kept Michelins in the garbage well before the wear bars were reached I’m backing off on the Armor All. Also of note , don’t EVER put Armor All on a street bike tire. Not even a little on the side walls, unless your hell bent on testing your frame sliders. Also somewhat related, I know that drag races will “paint” old dry slicks with brake fluid to soften them up and get a couple more passes out of them, but I suspect this is not a good long term way to revitalize rubber. I just keep my stored tires in a cool, dark, dry corner on wood and hope for the best.

**dustrunner** · 10-02-2012, 11:12 AM

well i picked up a big red with the original tires that are nice and was just curious as to how to keep them nice. after all they are 26 year old tires ...and never been of my uncles bike.

**El Camexican** · 10-02-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by 124356q

well i picked up a big red with the original tires that are nice and was just curious as to how to keep them nice. after all they are 26 year old tires ...and never been of my uncles bike.

Keep them, clean, full of air, out of the sun, off the ground and away from welding and hope for the best.

**remsandpets** · 10-02-2012, 11:51 AM

For me, I ride the hell out of it and try to wear them out before the damn dry rot has a chance to set in. Ride good and replace them when needed, what else can I say? Ya have to ride in the sun and fresh air. There is just no getting around it. Use it or loose it.

**RapidRick** · 10-02-2012, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by remsandpets

For me, I ride the hell out of it and try to wear them out before the damn dry rot has a chance to set in. Ride good and replace them when needed, what else can I say? Ya have to ride in the sun and fresh air. There is just no getting around it. Use it or loose it.

I like this idea the best

**Micahdogg** · 10-02-2012, 03:40 PM

I've heard of people parking bikes on plywood sheets to keep the tires off the concrete.

**dustrunner** · 10-02-2012, 07:14 PM

ya, i have stands that keep them off the c ment when stored...

**honda200x1987** · 11-30-2013, 12:16 AM

I know this is a older thread but better than staring a new one, I never thought Armor All, tire shine would be bad for tires. Guess I need to wash mine clean but I heard Vaseline is recommended. I can't remember but I think Mike from Vintagemotorsports coats his NOS tires with something . I really would like to know for sure what is BEST to keep the NOS tires I have stored away and the set I have on my 200X from dry rot. Vaseline?

**barnett468** · 11-30-2013, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by honda200x1987

I know this is a older thread but better than staring a new one, I never thought Armor All, tire shine would be bad for tires. Guess I need to wash mine clean but I heard Vaseline is recommended. I really would like to know for sure what is BEST to keep the NOS tires I have stored away and the set I have on my 200X from dry rot. Vaseline?

Petroleum based products are not the best. i would use meguiars endurance tire dressing in the hand pump bottle not the aerosol or gel. the pump is water based. then wrap them in a good plastic bag to keep the air off of them.

**tri again** · 11-30-2013, 04:24 PM

yupp x2 w/ elcam
also a great place to store stuff is behind the air compressor..NOT!!

anything that generates UV or ozone is bad.
I have full spectrum lights in my garage to ward off winter blues..can't be good for tires.

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tires and dry rott ?