kpinnc 12,066 #1 Posted March 6, 2023 (edited) I'm not sure what new tires are made of, but they just aren't the same stuff from even 20 years ago. My 310-8 has Carlisle fronts and Titans on the rear. They were all four matching Titans, but the fronts started to leak down so regularly that I had to replace them. So much for Carlisle quality... They aren't 5 years old. And none of my machines sit on dirt. I park my tractors off the ground religiously. I have other machines with decades-old tires that don't dry rot, but new tires rot in 5 years? Makes no sense... Anyway, I put a tube in the rear tire. Then decided to do the old "soapy water" trick to find the leak on the front. The tire would leak down in just over a week. Then is saw the leaks- all over the sidewalls. The cracks are so small that I couldn't see them, but they are there. I put a tube in it, but at $16.99 for an 8-inch tube? Bleeping ridiculous! Tires cost too much for this crap! Edited March 6, 2023 by kpinnc 5 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blasterdad 2,692 #2 Posted March 6, 2023 (edited) I picked up these at a swap meet last year for next to nothing, still have the original dirt from 1970 on them, Lol. I put them on a C-160 I picked up to make it a roller, (it had the wrong 6" wheels on it & the tires were shot). I put 12 lbs. of air in them & haven't touched them since. Original "MayPop" on my 1986 417 A, Never leaks... Brand new tire on the front of one of my C-81's, was flat in 2 days, have to air it up every time I use it. Sadly the quality just isn't there anymore. I don't even have to tell you which side.... Edited March 6, 2023 by Blasterdad 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,066 #3 Posted March 6, 2023 3 minutes ago, Blasterdad said: Brand new tire on the front of one of my C-81's, was flat in 2 days, have to air it up every time I use it. Sadly the quality just isn't there anymore. The original front tires on my 701 still hold air. No dry rot, still look great! 64 year-old tires, and they are still going strong. Now 5 year-old tires dry rot and they cost near $50 each. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blasterdad 2,692 #4 Posted March 6, 2023 2 minutes ago, kpinnc said: Now 5 year-old tires dry rot and they cost near $50 each. That's why I jumped on the swap meet ones, couldn't believe someone didn't snag them before I did. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,066 #5 Posted March 6, 2023 10 minutes ago, Blasterdad said: That's why I jumped on the swap meet ones, couldn't believe someone didn't snag them before I did. Makes sense to me. I won't let another set go, I assure you! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #6 Posted March 6, 2023 Oh, it gets even better - you know that tube you were going to buy?? Also made in the "Offshore Facility" and can have the same issue. Bought a TSC tube about 6 years ago - similar problem. Now when I buy new tubes I inflate them to 8 PSI and let them sit for 3-4 days and recheck them before use..... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,136 #7 Posted March 6, 2023 Rubber has been an issue since the 90's Back in my Napa days we sold 16,18 and 20" winter wiper blades in bulk. You could get 3-4 years out of them unless you ripped them on ice. Then about 94 they started to crap out before the season was over. Crappy rubber combined with UV rays from depleted ozone was the reason. Same thing with trailer tires. They sit and the sun attacks the thin rubber. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #8 Posted March 6, 2023 What if they are out of the sun during storage? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,136 #9 Posted March 6, 2023 Also a lot less oil and natural ingredients are used in todays tires. It kept the sidewalls more pliable. 3 minutes ago, Pullstart said: What if they are out of the sun during storage? I got some tires a couple of years ago that were stored in a loft for years out of the sun. The natural outgassing of the oil had taken it's toll and some were cracked without ever being mounted. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #10 Posted March 6, 2023 26 minutes ago, squonk said: Also a lot less oil and natural ingredients are used in todays tires. It kept the sidewalls more pliable. I got some tires a couple of years ago that were stored in a loft for years out of the sun. The natural outgassing of the oil had taken it's toll and some were cracked without ever being mounted. another reason I’m a firm believer in steel roofing. The shingle companies cut oil content in their formulas… 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,594 #11 Posted March 6, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Pullstart said: another reason I’m a firm believer in steel roofing. The shingle companies cut oil content in their formulas… Excellent point. My shingle roof is only 9 years old but I can see signs... I'll be surprised if i'm not doing a roof in 5-6 years. If and when it will be metal... On tires, I posted previously about new Carlisle's that were USA. I was shocked... put them side by side with the "offshore" and they were notably bigger and wider... same stamped size... Edited March 6, 2023 by SylvanLakeWH 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 12,066 #12 Posted March 6, 2023 4 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: On tires, I posted previously about new Carlisle's that were USA. I'm betting that only certain "models" or lines of tires are USA made. My Carlisles are visibly smaller than the 16x6.50-8 size printed on the sidewall. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
