How to Prevent Tires from Dry Rotting

Tire dry rot occurs when the moisture in the rubber is lost, causing the rubber to no longer be elastic. As a result, the rubber will show visible signs of cracking or chipping on the sidewalls or in between the tire’s treads. 

What causes tire dry rot?

There are several different causes of dry rot tires that cause the rubber compound to dry out and break down. Some of the more common causes include:

• Improperly inflated tires that either are underfilled or overfilled.
• Excessive exposure to direct sunlight where the UV rays degrade the rubber. 
• Leaving a vehicle parked for an extended period of time. 
• Storing tires in a non-climate-controlled storage area. 
• Putting a vehicle into storage and leaving all the weight on the tires.
• The tires are exposed to extreme temperatures. 
• Tires that are more than five years old. 

CTA: Are your tires dry rotting? Get a set of new tires at Newport Motors Service and Auto Repair Center today. 

What do dry-rotted tires look like?

Dry rotted tires will exhibit various signs that indicate they need to be replaced as follows:

• The sidewalls will have cracks that you can break off. When you touch this area of the tire, pieces of rubber will chip off. 
• The rubber will feel hard and not have any give to it. Since dry rotting causes the moisture in the rubber to be lost, it becomes hard.
• There will be cracking in the tire’s treads and in between the treads. If you look at the tire’s treads and in between the treads and see crack lines, it means the tires are dry-rotted.
• The sidewalls start to turn grayish due to UV exposure to direct sunlight. If you notice your tires’ sidewalls are lighter than the rest of the tire, it indicates dry rotting. 
• There will be multiple cracks in the tire’s sidewalls. When you start to see multiple cracks in the sidewalls that could extend further into the tire’s treads, it means the tires are dry-rotted. 

How to prevent tire dry rot?

Preventing tire dry rot is not possible, especially here in Las Vegas, where summers can be very hot. Eventually, dry rot will occur as your tires get older. However, there are several things you can do to slow down dry rotting and make your tires last longer, including:

Regularly inspect your tires. 

Get into the habit of inspecting your tires for signs of dry rotting whenever you fill up with gas or wash your car. When you can notice cracking is beginning, you will know you need to start planning on getting new tires fairly soon.

Ensure your tires are properly inflated.

Another good habit to get into is verifying your tires are properly inflated. You can check the air pressure in the tires when you do your tire inspections. Even if your vehicle has tire pressure monitoring, you should not fully rely on the pressure readings it displays on your dashboard. Sometimes there can be a few pounds variance between what is displayed and the actual tire pressure. 

In addition, you should check the tire pressure on cold tires before you drive. You can often find the correct tire pressure on a sticker inside the driver’s door or look on the tire’s sidewall to find the maximum tire pressure. 

Try to park your vehicle in shaded locations out of direct sunlight. 

It can be challenging to find a parking location out of direct sunlight. Yet, if you are on the Strip or downtown, you can often find a parking garage to park in where your vehicle will be out of direct sunlight. 

At home, park your car in your garage if you have one. If not, you may want to invest in a car canopy to provide some protection from the sun. Depending on which kind you choose, these can range from a couple hundred dollars on up, but it’s an excellent way to protect the even greater asset that your vehicle represents.

Prepare a vehicle for extended parking or storage.

If your car is going to be parked or stored for an extended period, it is best to store the vehicle elevated off the ground on jack stands. It also helps to use a car cover that fully covers the tires. 

Another option is to remove the tires and store them indoors in a climate-controlled location. If you cannot elevate the car or remove the tires, you should shift what part of the tire is sitting on the ground about once a month by moving the vehicle. 

Keep your tires clean. 

Cleaning your tires regularly helps remove road and brake dust from your tires and extends their life. You can also use non-petroleum-based tire cleaners and UV protectants to make your tires last longer. 

When to replace dry rot tires?

Tires that are showing signs of dry rot should be replaced as soon as possible. It is dangerous to continue to drive on dry rotting tires. Your tires could blow out, causing you to lose control of your vehicle and get into an accident. 

When your tires are showing signs of dry rot, get new tires for your car, truck, SUV, crossover, or minivan at Newport Motors, located on East Sahara in Las Vegas. Our Service and Auto Repair Center technicians have years of experience and training working on all types of vehicles. 

Schedule a service appointment to get new tires for your vehicle today. 

Sources:

How to Wash a Car Like a Pro. (2020).

Szymkowski, S. (2022). Best Tire Shine Spray and Gel for 2022.

When and How to Check Your Tire Pressure. (2019).