Signs & Symptoms of Dry Rotted Tires
Tire maintenance can greatly affect your vehicle's performance. Properly maintained tires can increase gas mileage and make the ride smoother. Bad tires can lead to a rough ride, blow-outs and accidents. Most car owners know to replace tires before the tread gets low enough to cause problems. However, dry rot can cause a bad tire, without depleting the tire's tread. There are ways to spot tire dry rot before further problems arise.
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Causes
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Before you begin looking for the dry rot, you must know what causes it. Essentially, time and the weather are behind dry rot. The rubber substance that comprises tires is made to rotate over thousands of miles. However, the tire is not created to operate this way forever. After being in use under the harsh Sun, bitter cold and years of age, the rubber becomes hard and cracks. If left unchanged, the cracks in the tire open up, causing a blowout as the air pressure pierces the thin material left in the dry rot crack. Dry rot can also occur in tires that have been sitting idle for several years.
Visible Signs
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Dry rot in tires is identified by the cracks along the tire's sidewall (the top or bottom of the tire) and within the tread. There are a few at first, but hardening spreads, causing cracks all over the tire. Some cases of dry rot that first appear within the tread often goes undetected.
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Tire Age
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Age plays a large role in dry rot. The hardening can only spread over time, when the tire is left in the conditions that helped the dry rot develop. The Law Firm of Pate and Brody suggests taking a look at the numbers that appear on the sidewalls of the tire. There, you will find a 12 digit number. Look for the last four digits. That is the date the tire was manufactured. According to AGCO Automotive Corporation, tires should be changed every six years. If your tire is more than six-years-old, you are at risk for dry rot and a blowout.
Prevention
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Check the tires and their manufacture date periodically. Change tires that are nearing six years of age and replace any that show signs of cracking. You can prevent a dry rot tire purchase by avoiding tires that have sat out in an open lot for an extended period of time. Check the dates on those tires as well.
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References
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