Racing tyres operate at an average of 200-260 degrees Fahrenheit. Antarctic tundra tires cruise through snow drifts at negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and the typical SUV tire rotates some 42 million times throughout its lifetime.
Tires are one of the most under appreciated parts of the automobile. Is it any wonder they break down?
A tire is an alchemist’s dream, a blend of rubber and filler reinforced by steel bands and somehow squeezed, pressed and extruded into a black donut with thick tread. The primary component in any tire is rubber, which could be natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, poly butadiene rubber, or butyl rubber.

WHY TIRES CRACK AND SPLIT

Oxidation
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Ozone Cracking
Tires may weather faster in urban areas. They degrade with exposure to ultraviolet radiation and ozone, a lightweight gas found in the atmosphere and caused by the partial breakdown of air from atmospheric electric discharges.
Bad Driving
Fast ‘n’ furious driving can cause tires to age too soon. So can scraping against a concrete curb. Also, under-inflated or over inflated tires place undue stress on tire sidewalls and cause fissures and flaws.
Most manufacturers recommend tires be replaced 10 years from the date of origin. Premature cracking can slice the life of a rubber tire in half.
Thankfully, there are ways to thwart early cracking.
HOW TO PROTECT TIRES FROM CRACKING

Drive Safely
The simplest solution to prevent tire cracking comes from mom: Drive safely. Skidding around corners raises the temperature of a tire, aggravating current cracks and egging on new ones. High-speed braking does the same.
Vacation Often
Much like bread is kneaded, a tire is “worked” when driven. Unfortunately, many fifth-wheel trailer and RV drivers only take to the streets a few times of year, leaving their tires to rot in the dryness of winter. Driving a trailer every other month can reap dividends over the life of the vehicle. Use covers for tire UV protection during the off-season.
CAN 303 AEROSPACE PROTECTANT TYRES CARE FOR YOUR TIRES?

303 Protectant is a water-based application used to dress rubber, plastics, vinyl and treated leather. The surface treatment lays down a thin, flexible shield that has tire UV protection.
Uses for the 303 Protectant are endless. Enthusiasts dab the non-oily spray on rubber, plastic and metal, while professional fishermen use it to protect their boats from premature damage and wear.

But most importantly, the product protects tires from cracking. A quick coating, reapplied every 4-8 weeks, is a quick blast of tire UV protection. The water-based tire airless douses the sidewalls in moisture, protecting them against dry rot and giving the rubber a rich, waxy gleam.
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