tire cracking, dry rott

[lvmci]

Hi All, my bus sits mostly east/west facing, in a spot between two newer motorhomes that are 2 to 3 feet taller than my 5A, on eitherside. The sun only hits the tires for a short period of time, each day. My question is, with such a short sun exposure, do tire covers offer protection and does just being open to the dry air suck the moisture from the oils, as much as if they were exposed to the sun all day. Lvmci...

[Van]

 Hi Tom, keep them covered the best you can. I made some covers for ours but will be adding some plywood to the outside when not in use. Our pick up still has plenty of tread lest but the cords let loose the other day and man what a ride lol, the sun and lack of humidity has taken it's toll. New tires are being put on tomorrow, along with our new jeep and finally getting the rest of the bus tires done next week. Ralph's tire pro here in BC has been very reasonable on their prices and will get our business for now on   New sneakers all around

 Van

[lvmci]

Hi Van, glad you got thru the blowout ok, down in Hollywood doing pilot, gonna put those great seats from Clifford on the bus, thanks Clifford, and come home Friday, tom...

[gus]

Any tire that sits will rot because the oils in the rubber need to be exercised and circulated throughout the rubber.

No, I'm not that smart, I just read it online:)

[Dave5Cs]

Also they need to be scrubbed down a few times a year. I use dish soap and a black scrub pad. After a good rinse we put the highest number skin sunblock rubbed into them . Right now they have number fifty. Here is a blog I was reading with a article he did on UV and tires.

http://www.rvtiresafety.com/2014/04/uv-tire-protection-facts.html

Dave5Cs

[Oonrahnjay]

Also they need to be scrubbed down a few times a year. I use dish soap and a black scrub pad. After a good rinse we put the highest number skin sunblock rubbed into them . Right now they have number fifty. Here is a blog I was reading with a article he did on UV and tires.

http://www.rvtiresafety.com/2014/04/uv-tire-protection-facts.html

Dave5Cs

    Thanks for that, Dave.  As expensive as tires are, it makes sense to keep them preserved as best as possible.   

[gus]

How do you know sunblock won't damage the tires?

[junkman42]

Michelin only approves protect 303!  I used on airplane tires for more years than I can remember and still use on My hotrod and vet tires.  My2

[lvmci]

What is protect 303? Is that a sun protectant? Lvmci...

[eagle19952]

What is protect 303? Is that a sun protectant? Lvmci...

Here it is:

http://www.amazon.com/303-Products-30350-Aerospace-Protectant/dp/B000XBCURW

[shelled]

I used to use ArmorAll on very delicate bicycle racing sew-up tires with excellent results.  I'm not certain there is a substantive difference between ArmorAll and Protect 303.  My "Riegel's Handbook of Industrial Chemistry" has a section on rubber compounds that seems to support this.  Since the total tread thickness on the sew-up tires was about 1/16th (that's one sixteenth) of an inch, I don't know if it would work same on bus tires.

edward

[Tikvah]

Are tires made of rubber?  Is that question relevant to this discussion?  Are rubber compounds always suitable for tires?

[wg4t50]

Oh yes, there is lots more than just pure rubber, the issue about the cracks is caused by time and curing of the rubber, rubber is curing all the time and when well into being cured it is hard and starts the cracking.  This is what I have been told by a rubber salesman.
True or not, Hell I have no idea but it sounded good.
Dave M

[lvmci]

Hi All, eagle, Dave & junk, thanks for all the info, I bought  spray bottles of 303, one for the bus, scrubbed and sprayed the tires on the truck and car that park outside, lvmci...

[Van]

Do they shine ?