Miata Mailing List: February 1994, Message #39
sponsored by



     


   From: Jonathan Webb 
Subject: Old tires
   Date: Thu, 3 Feb 1994 11:30:53 -0500

So lets get this straight.

To enhace the lifetime of your tyres put them in a black plastic
bin liner in your 'fridge and make sure the light's off ? Putting the
hood up each evening is bad enough.   

- Jonathan

    In reponse to the story on tires:

    <<
     
    So-called "old" tires *do* harden. It's a chemical process, caused by
    reacting with ozone and hastened by exposure to UV light. Generally, as
    long as the tires are on the car and in use, you don't need to worry, as
    the hardened tread wears off as fast as it forms. If you store tires, you
    should:

    - put them in sealed plastic bags, and
    - store them in the dark.

    If you do this, your tires should last for several years in storage.



    <<

    Concur.  Rubber deteriorates with UV and is hastened by increase
    temp.  Ideally, you would also want to keep them cool (in fact
    high thread wear canvary by region in the US, highest in conrete
    roads on hot climates).

    YOu can also diminish if you can coat your tires with a UV [protectant,

    I hear armor all does a job.


    Marvin