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The ultimate guide to prevent tractor tires from cracking and dry rotting



If your tires are made with low-quality materials, you can bet on dry rot to set in easily. Tires face different elements as well as static friction between them and the road. If the rubber and other components are substandard, the cracking process will happen much faster causing your tires to deteriorate at an alarming speed.




how to keep tractor tires from cracking




Tires with advanced dry rot must be replaced. Dry rot allows air to escape the tire, making it difficult or even impossible to keep the tire properly inflated. Dry rot can also cause unnatural rubber expansion while driving that actually breaks the tire apart. Tires with dry rot are much more likely to develop leaks, holes, and blow outs. In extreme cases, the tread may separate from the rest of the tire entirely.


Tire dry rot is also known as sidewall cracking. As the term suggests, dry rot is primarily characterized by cracks in the tire rubber. If one or more of your tires has developed dry rot, you may notice the following warning signs:


To keep your tires healthy, park your vehicle out of direct sunlight in an area with mild temperatures whenever possible. If you park in a garage, keep chemical solutions, heaters, and electrical equipment away from your car.


Jason Sheehan, Your actions seem entirely appropriate. Continuing to run a tire in that condition exposes yourself to huge liability issues. Replace the tire ASAP with whatever other brand you choose, and submit the bill to Michelin. Be forceful. This thread is extremely interesting to me, and especially your diligence about keeping the tire pressure up. But also all the other 'mysterious' sidewall cracking issues with Michelin ag tires. The part that is so very interesting is that Michelin doesn't follow the Tire & Rim Manufacturer Association's guidelines for recommended inflation pressures -- Michelin often recommends *less* inflation pressure than TRMA guidelines for many (all?) of their ag tires. Titan/Goodyear and Firestone both follow TRMA guidelines closely, as far as I'm aware. -- btw, you often need the 'Extended' table of the TRMA guidelines for the heavier loads and higher speeds used on many 'modern' sprayers, tractors, combines, etc.


It is important to maintain proper tire inflation for a lawn tractor to prevent premature wear or cracking sidewalls, and improve maneuverability while conserving gasoline. A tire that is leaking unbalances the cutting blades and scalps the lawn down to the grass crown, which invites lawn diseases. Proper removal of the front rim and tire includes following safety procedures.


You should be inspecting your tires before you use your trailer, every time. As you inspect your tires, keep in mind the following areas that need to be inspected for indications that your tires should be replaced.


Oxygen is the main element responsible for rubber deterioration, as it breaks rubber down from both outside and inside. Most tires are inflated with compressed air, which is 21% oxygen. So, unlike UV and ozone damage, the process of oxidation is twice as fast.


Tires have to be stored in a place without ozone-producing equipment, which includes electric motors, fluorescent lamps, generators, etc. Anything that can make electric discharges has to be taken away from the room. Excess exposure to ozone can cause cracking when any pressure is applied.


Your concern Charlie is valid even though the risk of hitting a piece of retread is very, very low. There is real danger if a vehicle collides with pieces of rubber parts from a retread and that impact can cause significant damage to a vehicle. Fun fact: Those pieces of retread tires that come apart are called road gators because they look like the back of an alligator.


Kane and his organization have identified over 250 incidents in which tires older than six years have experienced tread and belt separations, most resulting in loss-of-control and rollover crashes. Cracks in a tire's rubber begin to develop over time, appearing on the surface and inside the tire as well. This cracking can eventually cause the steel belts in the tread to separate from the rest of the tire. Improper maintenance and heat accelerate the process.


Internal Tire PatchWill took the tire half way off, unseating one bead from the rim, and removed the old inner tube. He cut it up and cleaned off a section to make patches for the outer tire. Using rubber cement we patched the outer tire with not one, not two but three patches, each larger than the other. The first one covered the hole and a bit. Each larger patch provided more coverage. This is to keep sticks and rocks from coming in to puncture the new inner tube.


No part of your car is meant to go weeks or months without upkeep, and that includes your tires. Not only could neglecting your tires mean replacing them too soon, but it can also be a safety hazard if tire bubbles or flat spots have formed during inactivity.


So, back to dry rot and tires. Dry rot in tires is not caused by moisture or a fungus. Tire dry rot refers to the aging process and breaking down of the rubber and polymer materials. It's also more accurately known as sidewall weathering and sidewall cracking.


Rubber can be made from organic and synthetic materials, both of which eventually will dry out. We've all found dried up, old rubber bands in the deep recesses of our furniture. They look and feel dry and cracked, and it doesn't take much effort to snap them into pieces, right? The same effect happens on all types of tires -- bicycle tires, vehicle tires, trailer tires, etc.


Vehicle tires have finite life, typically 5 to 6 years. People who live in arid climates, like the deserts of California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, can experience sidewall cracking sooner than people who live in four-season humid climates. Their tires might not last 6 or more years. So, in reality, it's a combination of age and weather that affect how long the tires will last and start to crack and dry.


If you take two identical tires, made on the same day, and place one on a vehicle that's driven every day and one on a vehicle that's stored in a garage, the tire that is driven on every day will last longer than the one in storage (under "normal" driving conditions). Tire rubber is engineered with protective compounds that activate when tires are driven (Polymersolutions). When tires are used regularly, they stay more flexible and more resistant to sidewall cracking. That's one reason why it's important to drive vehicles regularly, even collector cars and seasonal vehicles. Not only does starting the motors help lubricate the parts of the vehicle, but driving on the tires helps prevent tires from drying out.


This is also why tire sun protection or tire preservatives are not effective at protecting tires so they don't dry rot. Today's tire manufacturers build tires with protective materials that preserve and prolong tire life. As long as they are cared for properly, and driven regularly, your tires should not suffer from sidewall weathering.


We do not recommend that you repair or patch tires that have dry rot. Tires that have started to crack and dry are beyond their useful age and should be replaced. We're not saying this just because we're in the business of selling tires. We'd say this no matter what business we were in: If the sidewalls of your tires show signs of drying and cracking, they are aging and dangerous. Don't drive on weathered tires. They are in danger of blowout.


Once tires have dried and started cracking, it's time to replace them. You can prevent tires from becoming dry by caring for them: Drive on them regularly, keep them properly inflated, and rotate your tires as the manufacturer recommends.


During actual use, trailer tires release lubricants that are beneficial to a tire's life. Using the trailer tires often also helps prevent flat spots from developing on the tires. Trailer Tires sitting on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt for extended periods of time can develop flat spots that can lead to tread separation once you put them back into service, no matter the thickness of the tire's tread. Since your entire trailer's performance is based largely on the tires, it's a good idea to keep your trailer tires well maintained. Be sure to periodically inspect your tires, especially before and during long trips. A good time for this inspection is while checking tire inflation pressure.


If you are storing your trailer for an extended period, it is always best that you store the tires in a cool dry place with tire covers to protect your trailer tires from the harsh effects of the sun. Lifting and blocking the trailer just enough to get the weight off the tires and reducing air pressure for storage, can also increase the overall life of your trailer tires. Keep your tires clean by washing them with a soft scrub brush, mild soap and water. Use caution when selecting tire care products, and do not use any that contain alcohol or petroleum distillates, which can actually accelerate breakdown of the tire compound.


Agricultural tyres are designed for regular use and should not remain immobile for prolonged periods. Using your tractor or agricultural vehicle every day allows your tyres to perform the regular flexion movements that will help them keep their natural flexibility and maintain the elasticity of the rubber.


If your tractor stays outside for long periods, without moving, the rubber which is in contact with the ground will deteriorate more rapidly. It will be exposed to rainwater as well as major variations in temperature between exposure to the sun during the day and cold nights with possible periods of frost. The part of the tyre touching the ground will stay permanently moist and the deterioration of the rubber will take place via a slow hydrolysis process. This may cause hardening or cracking of the rubber, leading to premature wear which may necessitate replacement after too long a period of immobility. 2ff7e9595c


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