Dry rot is part of the aging process of every tyre. But there are factors that can activate dry rot in a tyre earlier than expected.
No matter how well you maintain your tyre the rubber compounds will break down due to ageing at some point. The life circle of a quality tyre is about 8 to 10 years but it's normal if tyres start experiencing dry rot around six years from the year of manufacture.
Dry rot is degradation of rubber compounds in a tyre. This happens when the resin oil in a tyre leaks which causes the rubber to be hard and brittle. Your efforts as a vehicle owner is to prevent this happening to your tyres prematurely.
Early signs of tyre dry rot are shallow cracks on the sidewalls of your tyres. If not attended to, these cracks become deeper making it difficult for the tyre to hold the air from escaping. You also begin to notice cracks on the tread blocks and grooves. The tyre will start turning gray, becomes brittle and hard.
When you begin to see these signs, your tyre is dry rotting already. To prevent dry rot from attacking your tyre earlier than expected you need to understand the unhealthy practices that start early dry rot in tyres:
1. Excessive exposure to direct sunlight
2. Abrasive and corrosive chemicals
3. Extreme weather conditions
4. Regularly packing beside ozone generating equipment
5. Under inflation
6. Leaving tyre idle for a long time
HOW TO PREVENT PREMATURE DRY ROT
1. Avoid Exposing Your Tyres To Direct Sunlight.
Always park your car in a garage or find a cover to cover your car to prevent direct sunlight. Even when buying new tyres don't take from tyres on display. Many tyre sellers in Nigeria display some tyres directly in the open where they are exposed to ultraviolet rays.
How a tyre seller stores the stocks is very important. When you buy tyres exposed to sunlight for a longtime, your tyres will soon be cracking.
2. Don't Leave Your Car Idle For a Longtime.
Regular driving keep resin oil in the tyre active and make the rubber compounds flex properly. If you have a car you don't drive for months, find time occasionally to move the car around for just few kilometres to keep the tyres in good shape. Idleness kills tyres.
3. Avoid Parking Close To Ozone Generating Equipment.
Equipment like generator, welding machine etc generate heats that are harmful to your tyres. Find a safe place away from any equipment that generates Ozone to prevent your tyres from early tyre dry rot.
4. Avoid Harmful Chemicals.
Petroleum-based substance, motor oil and some tyre sprays (not all) are harmful to your tyres. You need to check what the spray is made from before applying on your rubbers.
5. Maintain Proper Inflation Level Always.
Proper inflation of your tyres will save you a whole lot of tyre troubles. Understand the recommended pressure for your car and maximum PSi for your tyre to help you maintain safe boundary.
For quality tyres call us at SWINGSTAGE LIMITED
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