How many years does it take for tires to dry rot?
4. Dry rot – If your tires show any signs of dry rot, a.k.a. sidewall cracking, it's time to replace them. All tires that are 5-6+ years old are at risk for dry rot, but it may happen sooner or could happen a little later. Click here to learn more about dry rot.
Resins in the tire compound are designed to protect the rubber, but only if it's actively engaged and in motion. The longer a vehicle sits unused, the more likely dry rot will develop. This is especially true if the tires are outside and exposed to fluctuating temperatures and direct sunlight.
Your tires' age and how they're stored will have a big impact on how long it'll take them to dry rot. In arid climates, tire dry rot can set in after as little as five years.
All tires will eventually dry rot but they shouldn't do so within the 6-8 years tires normally last. Dry rot will occur faster if you continuously expose your tires to harsh conditions such as sun, rain, and snow.
Once dry rot appears in a tire, you only have a short period of time to attempt to repair the damage before the tires become unsafe for driving. Minor dry rot can be addressed by a professional using a tire sealant. Tires with advanced dry rot must be replaced.
Tires are pretty flexible, and will probably get back to normal within about 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes, though, those flat spots can be permanent, especially in the case of a very heavy vehicle that's parked for extended periods of time, such as a truck.
Deterioration. While most manufacturers recommend that you replace your tires within six years, letting your vehicle sit for too long is one way to ensure early tire deterioration. Even if you're not actively driving on the road, your tires are still bearing the full weight of your stationary vehicle.
It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.
After cleaning your tires, apply a few drops of tire dressing to protect them from ultraviolet rays, which are a common cause of dry rot. You should also make sure your tires are properly inflated, which will prevent them from blowing out if there is any dry rot on them.
Tire rot is caused by ambient heat, UV radiation (which has a similar effect on your face), ozone in the atmosphere, road salt and time. These factors are mostly worse if your car lives outside, but even garage queens can't sit on one set of tires forever.
How do you prevent tire dry rot?
Cover the vehicle and tires to protect from any unnecessary UV rays. If the weight cannot be removed from the tires, move the vehicle at least every three months to shift the weight on the tires. Store the vehicle and tires in a clean and dry area away from any chemicals or large temperature shifts.
Ozone and ultraviolet (UV) light are the primary environmental causes of tire dry rot. Tire manufacturers blend chemical ingredients into the tire during the manufacturing process in an effort to combat dry rot caused by ozone and UV exposure. Carbon black is added to the rubber to protect the tires from UV light.
The tires can go flat.
But when a car is left to sit, they can become warped, flat and deflated. Definitely check your tires' air pressure before you resume driving. Bubbles may even appear in the tire and could cause a blowout while driving at high speeds.
Tire Deterioration
Your wheels carry the full weight of the car, so when your vehicle is left in one stationary position, your tires can soon become deflated, flat, rotten, or warped. While inflating the tires can help, it's not always safe to drive on tires that sat in the garage for too long.
Leaving a car unused for 3 months—or even 3 weeks—is not ideal. If possible, start your vehicle a couple of times per month when it is not being used. It's best to not only start the vehicle, but to also drive it for about 10 miles before putting it back in storage.
On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.
Even though the tires were never used on a vehicle, they are still several years old. Every tire has a birth date—the day it was manufactured—and an expiration date that is six years from that manufacture date. Most automobile manufacturers warn drivers to replace vehicle tires after six years.
Some automakers suggest that tires be replaced as soon as they turn six years old. Some tire experts contend that tires can last anywhere from six to ten years if they're stored and cared for properly. We recommend replacing tires aged 6-10 years, no matter how much tread remains.
Most auto manufacturers recommend replacing tires over six years old regardless of tread depth. Some tire manufacturers like Michelin and Continental give a 10-year limit. As rubber compounds age, they deteriorate and become weaker like other rubber and plastic components on your car.
Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there's no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. Old tires have been the culprit in fatal accidents.
Can tires dry rot in 2 years?
Video: Tire rot can dry out rubber long before the tread is gone. Six to 10 years is about all a tire is good for, regardless of miles. Inspect the sidewalls for tiny cracks on the surface of the rubber. It will look like cracks in the glaze of a piece of pottery.
Natural but significantly altered materials, like leather and rubber can take a lot longer, leather shoes for instance take 25-40 years to decompose, while rubber shoe soles 50 to 80 years. Synthetic fibers take a lot longer since they are predominantly made from plastics.
Rubber trees are capable of contracting dry rot, but rubber itself is not. The rot that natural rubber experiences is more of a flaking, cracking, and drying phenomenon.
Cover the vehicle and tires to protect from any unnecessary UV rays. If the weight cannot be removed from the tires, move the vehicle at least every three months to shift the weight on the tires. Store the vehicle and tires in a clean and dry area away from any chemicals or large temperature shifts.