4 Ways To Prevent Dry Rot In Stored Tires

Published on 5/6/2021
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Have you heard of dry rot? This is when the rubber in tires loses moisture and becomes hard and brittle. Because there is no longer elasticity, tires with dry rot need to be replaced immediately. If they’re not, they can blow out on the road. 


Tires are particularly susceptible to dry rot when they’re stationary for several months. This means that tires in storage units are very prone to developing dry rot. Fortunately, there are some precautions you can take to prevent this from happening. Keep reading to learn more. 


1. Keep tires away from sunlight.
UV causes the oils and resins that keep tires moist to fall apart and leave the tire. Because of this, tires in direct sunlight are more likely to dry rot. If you’re planning to put your tires into storage, make sure they’re protected with a weatherproof cover.


2. Make sure your tires are clean before you put them into storage.
Muddy tires are more prone to dry rotting. Therefore, you should clean any dirt or mud from your tires before putting them into storage. 


3. If you are storing your car for more than 3 months, remove the tires.

Dry rotted tires can sometimes be restored, but only if there aren’t any cracks in the sidewall of the tire. These cracks happen more often if the tires are holding up the weight of a vehicle. So, removing your tires from your car will help ensure these cracks do not occur. 


4. Store loose tires in airtight bags.
If you’re storing spare tires, keep them in airtight bags. Oxygen contributes to dry rotting, so keeping them contained will help prevent dry rot from happening.