Just like the title says what prevents or slows down the dry rot process?

We have trailers that the tires dry rot before the tread is even close to being worn out. So does anyone have a good way to prevent or delay that?

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.

Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

I dunno? Castor Oil? or will that way over soften?
I've used this spray stuff called "Rubber Rejuvenator". great for the rubber rollers on printers. but - again - not sure if that would oversoften.....

I am gonna guess something like a silicone spray. I use that for the rubber seals on my cars to keep them soft, and it doesnt seem to "eat in" to the rubber.

Ultra Violate causes this. Keep the tires covered from direct sunlight.

One rarely wears trailer tires out in my experience, they almost always dry rot first unless kept from direct sunlight.

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Ron

quote Originally posted by blackrams: Ultra Violate causes this. Keep the tires covered from direct sunlight. One rarely wears trailer tires out in my experience, they almost always dry rot first unless kept from direct sunlight.

Right, park in a garage all the time and keep road salts and stuff off them.

Once it starts, it's too late. I keep mine covered and out of direct sunlight but I am used to having to replace them from aging before they are worn. A trailer blow-out just isn't worth it. I've had one and prefer to have no more.

This may sound strange, but tires also need exercise. The stress from use keeps the rubber pliable. When the tires sit for a long time, the rubber stiffens, and becomes prone to cracking.

If you happen to have a car that uses the same size wheels & tires, you can swap them back and forth occasionally, to make sure they all get some use. But if not, then it's probably best to find a source of cheap used tires, and cover them as mentioned above. At least then, you won't be wasting a lot of money.

Driving on them more frequently. Covering them, making sure to get the bottoms off of moist ground too. Not that I am any kind of expert, but we do have a couple trailers, of course we probably use ours more often.

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Fiddling knobs, touching keys, having fun with a full grown man.

I agree with last 2 posts. I never get dry rot on tires because I drive all my cars often. You can go to an RV store or auto paint store and buy some cloth or vinyl covers to protect them. I dont know of any preservative that helps prevent it. I know ArmorAll products CAUSE cracks/dry rot on tires and vinyl. I was part of a group lawsuit that collected from them about 20 years ago. They had to replace all my upholstery, dash and convertible top on my brand new Mustang. I used to believe their commercials and used it a few times a week and it only took like 8 months for everything to crack, split and fall apart. Id also avoid parking the trailers where the tires set on wet ground. Buy some patio stones or something to park the tires on. (not wood)

I've had 3 trailer tire failures in as many months... the first two were because of rot, the third was an over-inflation issue. One exploded in a spectacular fashion, the second just sort of disintegrated, and the third threw its tread at 70 mph.

Never lost control or damaged anything. Made for a long freakin' day, though.

quote Originally posted by skuzzbomer: I've had 3 trailer tire failures in as many months... the first two were because of rot, the third was an over-inflation issue. One exploded in a spectacular fashion, the second just sort of disintegrated, and the third threw its tread at 70 mph. Never lost control or damaged anything. Made for a long freakin' day, though.

Doesn’t it though. Melanie had a blowout delivering a cow a few towns away, with no spare. Wasn’t dry rot though. The links between the 2 axels had worn so bad when she took a corner one blew. I had to drive all the way there and change it the next day.

Trying to keep that from happening again.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.

Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

i always keep my tires lubed up, i use meguires shine stuff. i put some on my fiero tires before i parked it 5 years ago and the car has been outside sitting in a field since, and there is no rot yet

i beleive it is silicone based and it works and looks great

Any rubber will "rot" when expose to UV, Ozone, and many chemical in soil.

Want tire to last? Park on concrete and cover tires to keep sun off.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

quote Originally posted by $Rich$: i always keep my tires lubed up, i use meguires shine stuff. i put some on my fiero tires before i parked it 5 years ago and the car has been outside sitting in a field since, and there is no rot yet i beleive it is silicone based and it works and looks great

Sorry, but your fieros been sitting parked in a field for the last 5 years? If I read that right. Why? May I ask. Meguires on a lawn ornament?

Just wondering is all. Maybe you'd be apt to part with that ornament?

Aging tires can pose hidden — and deadly — danger

quote Experts warn that tires more than six years old can fail catastrophically

Tires should be replaced after six years whether or not they still look good according to the experts. If they were stored in a hot shed in Phoenix for a couple of years before installation they may not last six years.

Dunno what the answer is either, other than what was posted above, but my dad's old Ford Ranger was the only vehicle we kept when I got rid of all the vehicles here, and we parked it in the barn in late 2009. I looked at it the other day, and both rear tires have completely disentigrated from dry rot and it hasn't seen sunlight since we stopped driving it 3 years ago.

It 'may' help to use some sort of solvent on them, but stay away from mineral oil based stuff. I had some sprayed on my old work truck back in the mid 90s and within 24 hrs, the windshield wipers and most of the rubber trim around the windows crinkled up and turned soft.

My understanding is that ultra violent works similar to a micro-wave by cooking from the inside out. Don't quote me on that because I won't swear it is true but what I was told. Regardless, damage is most likely already present and working it way out on your dad's truck. Once that rubber starts getting hard or brittle, the tire is done. Kind of like my wife's bisquits.

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Ron

ive always been told to wax my tires "itll makem last longer!"

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I know ArmorAll products CAUSE cracks/dry rot on tires and vinyl. I was part of a group lawsuit that collected from them about 20 years ago. They had to replace all my upholstery, dash and convertible top on my brand new Mustang.)

Is this still true? I know alot of folks that armorall their tires.

They do still sell it obviously, and tires are far more forgiving to the chemicals than vinyl upholstery. Im guessing they have changed the chemicals in it somewhat to keep from being sued again.