Tire
Tech Facts
The sidewalls of tires which are parked
for extended periods, dry check and eventually crack and split. Annually, tire
"dry-rot" is a multimillion dollar problem for RVers, trailer boaters and owners
of classic cars. This engineering memorandum is a scientific examination of the whys of
this process and explains in detail how 303 Aerospace Protectant is an answer to the tire
dry-rot problem.
Tire manufacturers blend into the tire
polymer certain chemical ingredients which inhibit damage from ozone and ultraviolet
light, the main environmental degradants of tires and all other types of synthetic and
natural rubbers. Ozone is an odorless gas, but is commonly thought of as the
"electric train smell". Though more severe in cities and manufacturing centers,
ozone is part of the air we breathe everywhere on earth. Hastened by the hazardous effects
of UV light, ozone eventually causes rubber to dry and become brittle no matter the
locale.
Ultraviolet Light
The need to protect rubber against UV damage is
why tires are black. For this purpose, a common type of UV stabilizer called a
"competitive absorber" is used. Competitive absorbers work by capturing and
absorbing harmful UV light wave energy (instead of the adjacent molecule of tire
polymer..that's why it's called "competitive"). Competitive absorbers have the
added ability to convert harmful UV light wave energy into heat so it can dissipate
harmlessly. All tire manufacturers use the same competitive absorber, carbon
black...an extremely inexpensive compound. All other UV stabilizers are prohibitively
expensive. This is why tires are black and why tires are not available in designer
colors. All UV stabilizers are sacrificial, meaning they are gradually "used
up" to where they can no longer protect against UV damage. As carbon black loses the
ability to do its job, it turns gray. This is why rubber grays as it ages.
Ozone
Tire manufacturers use waxes to protect against ozone. When
tires are in use (regularly running up and down the road for example) they flex. Flexing
causes the protective waxes to migrate to the surface where they form a physical barrier
between the air (ozone and oxygen) and the tire polymer. This process...the waxes
migrating to the surface of the tire during flexing..is called "blooming". When
tires are not regularly used ( a parked RV, boat trailer, or classic car, etc), blooming
does not occur. Ozone begins eating away the protective wax and before long reaches the
tire polymer. Often by this time, the surface carbon black has lost its ability to protect
against UV. With UV light and ozone working in concert, degradation starts. The tire
dries, checks, and will eventually crack.
Other Degradants
Petrochemicals and silicone oils can remove the
protective waxes and increase the rate of degradation. Common automotive
"protectants" and "tire dressings" are typically devoid of UV
stabilizers of any type and contain petrochemicals and/or silicone oils which dissolve
away the protective waxes and can actually aggress the sidewall. In the event of warranty
sidewall failure, one of the first things tire manufacturers look for is evidence of the
use of these types of products. When found, this is often cause for not warranting the
sidewall failure.
303 For Tires
303 Aerospace Protectant contains no
petrochemicals or silicone oils and does not remove the protective waxes. 303 is actually
absorbed into tires, delivering its unique set of powerful UV stabilizers into the tire
polymer, supplementing and surpassing the UV protective action of the carbon black, and
leaving a long-lasting flexible protective finish that is water repellent, detergent
resistant, and will not attract dust. Ozone must eat through the 303 before it can get to
the wax. 303 is an extremely effective anti-oxidant and anti-ozonant. 303 is the longest
lasting, most powerful protective and beautifying treatment for tires and all other
synthetic and natural rubber.
Tips For Tires
303 treated tires have the rich, waxy, almost
vinyl-like, dark black look of new rubber. 303 tires look and feel like brand new, not
greasy new. For Maximum Tire Beauty: Spray 303 Aerospace Protectant directly on a
clean and dry tire until the sidewall is thoroughly wet with 303. Without touching the
rubber, easily wipe any 303 overspray from the rim. Do each tire the same way. After 10-20
minutes, wipe around each tire once or twice with a dry rag to pick up unabsorbed 303.
Your tires will have the look and feel of fresh new rubber.
First Time Use: On
sidewalls that are excessively dried out, two treatments may be necessary the first time.
To note: A) The regular use of 303 can entirely prevent the UV and ozone damage associated
with parked tires. Reapply 303 every 20-30 days. B) 303 is 100% safe for all types of
wheels, all alloys. Wheels regularly treated with 303 repel water, road grime and brake
dust and clean up far easier than untreated wheels.
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