The recent issue of Road and Track magazine reiterates that tires that
are more than 5 years old should be replaced. They say that the rubber
dries out, even if stored in a plastic wrap, and that the tires lose
their original grip. They quote test results.

I believe what they say, but I am now concerned about the tires on my
classic car. About 7 yrs ago I bought up the last ones which were
available in the US at that time as spares. The ones on my car are just
as old. So are the tubes which I bought for the tires.

Are there any approved protection techniques for tires? Or can the
essential oils be replaced with a swab of some kind? Why shouldn't
storage in plastic help? After all, the vapor pressure should build up
inside the wrap and help retain the volitles in the tire.

The problem is oxidation and degradation of the rubber. Rubbers contain

"Al" <no.spam@here.com> wrote in message
news:no.spam-85C257.08534515092003@news.verizon.net...
The recent issue of Road and Track magazine reiterates that tires that
are more than 5 years old should be replaced. They say that the rubber
dries out, even if stored in a plastic wrap, and that the tires lose
their original grip. They quote test results.

I believe what they say, but I am now concerned about the tires on my
classic car. About 7 yrs ago I bought up the last ones which were
available in the US at that time as spares. The ones on my car are just
as old. So are the tubes which I bought for the tires.

Are there any approved protection techniques for tires? Or can the
essential oils be replaced with a swab of some kind? Why shouldn't
storage in plastic help? After all, the vapor pressure should build up
inside the wrap and help retain the volitles in the tire.

The problem is oxidation and degradation of the rubber. Rubbers contain
antioxidants but after they are consumed, the oxygen in the air attacks the
rubber. Wrapping in plastic like Saran may help somewhat but plastics are
permeable to oxygen too. The only absolute way to preserve tires is to seal
in metal containers with air displaced by an inert gas. Heat and light are
also enemies of rubber. I've had cheap bicycle tires on kid's bike in
garage crumble in less than 3 years. Maybe the best you can do is wrap in
aluminum foil and store in a cool place.