Plastic Wrap?

[kingmod5]

Why is everyone wrapping their tires with plastic wrap? Does this actually provide a benefit or is it just a fad? You see everyone wrapping their tires when storing them in trailer as well as when they are on the car so was just curious on the reasoning.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Why is everyone wrapping their tires with plastic wrap? Does this actually provide a benefit or is it just a fad? You see everyone wrapping their tires when storing them in trailer as well as when they are on the car so was just curious on the reasoning.

Any dirt on the tire will draw oils out. If you treat them, it will also keep the chemicals from evaporating as quickly, lol

[billetbirdcage]

Also keeps them out of the sun light and UV rays and etc. Just because you see a tire wrapped don't mean it's treated with dope. Most serious teams wrap their tires after cleaning and they dry just to keep them clean and protected and allows you to move the car around if needed without getting dirty. We usually leave ours on until we race, meaning we leave it on when we push or drive the car thru tech just to keep them clean.

[a25rjr]

Also keeps them out of the sun light and UV rays and etc. Just because you see a tire wrapped don't mean it's treated with dope. Most serious teams wrap their tires after cleaning and they dry just to keep them clean and protected and allows you to move the car around if needed without getting dirty. We usually leave ours on until we race, meaning we leave it on when we push or drive the car thru tech just to keep them clean.

Yep....I watched Josh Richards team member cut off the plastic right before he rolled onto the track for qualifying.

[riddle28]

keyser sells it or you can get it at office supply stores

[kingmod5]

Thanks guys, just have noticed this trend here recently and didn't know if it actually was a benefit.

[cjsracing]

riddle28 just use cheap seran wrap from the grocery store it does the same thing and is cheaper.

[let-r-eat]

There is UV protection in saran wrap?

[a25rjr]

Uline sells a 1500ft roll for $20, in a variety of colors. You have to buy 4 rolls though.

[Matt49]

Regular Saran wrap or any clear wrap isn't going to block UV at all. If that's your goal, wrap them in black plastic which is available. If you're trying to keep your tires safe from UV, keep them completely covered any time you're welding in the shop (if that's where you store your tires). Welding puts out crazy amounts of UV radiation even compared to the sun. Anybody that's ever welded without proper skin protection learned this the hard way. That is assuming they figured out that UV radiation (not visible light) is what literally burns your skin just in case the spatter didn't also get them.

[a25rjr]

Regular Saran wrap or any clear wrap isn't going to block UV at all. If that's your goal, wrap them in black plastic which is available. If you're trying to keep your tires safe from UV, keep them completely covered any time you're welding in the shop (if that's where you store your tires). Welding puts out crazy amounts of UV radiation even compared to the sun. Anybody that's ever welded without proper skin protection learned this the hard way. That is assuming they figured out that UV radiation (not visible light) is what literally burns your skin just in case the spatter didn't also get them.

Good post....I think it wont be long until we will be shrink wrapping them.

[RacerX10]

Good post....I think it wont be long until we will be shrink wrapping them.

Somebody is *definitely* going to start selling "tire wrap" and charging a stupid amount of money for it, because other stupid people will line up to buy it.

See also : "Voltage booster for MSD ignitions ! 200% HP gains !"

[billetbirdcage]

I always shake my head at many racers, they treat the engine or some shiny part 10 times better then they do their tires. Tires are one of the most important things on the car, they need to be washed by the next morning and properly cared for and maintained/worked on or you might as well just race with the same tires all year.

Your tire program (not talking doping/cheating them) is a big key to being successful

[a25rjr]

I always shake my head at many racers, they treat the engine or some shiny part 10 times better then they do their tires. Tires are one of the most important things on the car, they need to be washed by the next morning and properly cared for and maintained/worked on or you might as well just race with the same tires all year.

Your tire program (not talking doping/cheating them) is a big key to being successful

Of all the great posts you post on here, this one has the most TRUTH ever.

[RCJ]

A little history to show how things change.It started in the late 90's, a tire dope company recommend wrapping after treating.You would remove the wrap,roll the tires across the driveway to get some dust on them,then hand rub it in to hide the shine that the treatment left.You would never let anybody see a tire wrapped.
Now days pressure wash ,hand wash with a non voc cleaner, wrap with a colored plastic.Make sure everybody sees your tires wrapped.

[stockcar5]

Monkey see monkey do.

Why roll your car around the shop all week with tires you plan on running on race night? Those tires are in the shop or trailer ready to go (unwrapped).

[let-r-eat]

Kinda like having "Can't Touch This" on your spoiler. Makes people feel better.

[Kromulous]

Tire Programs?

I thought most people, that i see anyway, just buy new ones every run. You dont need much of a program, cleaning wise anyway LOL.

[cjsracing]

let-r-eat, I for one don't worry about the UV protection aspect because i keep my tires inside so seran wrap is cheap and works for me. After I grind them I wrap them and it keeps them from drying out and getting dusty. Grind 2 tires on Sunday, wrap one but not the other let them sit in your shop until Thursday and then unwrap the wrapped one and you will see a difference in the 2.

[Bubstr]

The plastic protects against Ozone, which attacks rubber. Any electrical devise produces Ozone. Especially a welder or air compressor. Never store tires close to anything electrical.

[lindsey97]

What about storing them in your trailer? Hot and cold? But if I wrap them, it's ok to store in my shop? Hard for me to believe the ozone and UV produced from these items in your shop can damage tire that quick. I figure most tires are worn out before that could happen.

[RacerX10]

Hard for me to believe the ozone and UV produced from these items in your shop can damage tire that quick.

I think your skepticism is fully justified .. I'm calling BS on the "ozone" and UV damage thing, short of any reviewed sources.

[billetbirdcage]

I think your skepticism is fully justified .. I'm calling BS on the "ozone" and UV damage thing, short of any reviewed sources.

Highly debatable if any of the wrapping actually does anything and if it does is it so minute that it matter?

A quick search in google (it's the internet I know) does show there is at least something there as far as degrading the tire. Not saying it does or doesn't make a difference but.....

What causes a tire to dry rot?

There are several factors that cause a tire to become dry rotted. The environment the tire is exposed to, the age of the tire and the frequency of use will all contribute to this condition. Although the rate at which a tire becomes dry rotted can be slowed, eventually over time all tires will expire.
The environment in which a tire lives in is mostly responsible for dry rot damage. When a tire leaves the manufacturing plant it is immediately exposed to three unavoidable components of our environment: ozone, UV light and oxygen. These three components immediately begin breaking down the rubber molecules the tire is comprised of. This is deterioration is caused by two chemical reactions known as crosslinking and chain scission. Cross linking increases the density of the rubber, causes color fading and reduces the strength, flexibility and over all durability of the tire. (7) Chain scission results in a loss of elasticity in the rubber. (10) The combination of the two chemical reactions produce cracked, frail, faded rubber.
UV Damage

The sun exposes your tires to a form of radiation called UV light. Both natural and synthetic polymers absorb UV light produced by the sun. Since tires are made up of a rubber compound, which is a mixture of polymers, mainly natural rubber and synthetic rubber, photo degradation immediately takes place when tires are exposed to the sun.
Ozone Damage

Ozone, a type of oxygen, occurs naturally in the stratosphere high above the earth and close to ground level in the troposphere. The most destructive ozone, that we and all our things are exposed to, is formed as a result of manmade pollution. This type ozone production happens through a process initiated when sunlight merges hydrocarbons from oil refineries with unburned car exhaust containing nitrogen oxides. (8)
The damaging effects of ozone on tires first became apparent during the 1950’s when tire manufactures observed that rubber was deteriorating sooner in Los Angeles than other parts of the country. The link between ozone and tire cracking was then confirmed by researchers from Cal Tech. (8)
Oxygen Damage

Oxygen has been noted in Introduction to Rubber Technology (1959) to be the most destructive rubber degrading element of our environment. Unlike UV light, oxygen attacks a tire from the inside and the outside. The majority of cars on the road utilize compressed air, which is composed of approximately 21% oxygen, to maintain factory recommended tire pressure. The oxygen level of the compressed air degrades a tire from the inside, while the same destructive process is occurring on the outside of the tire.
Tire Age

No matter how much care is taken to reduce a tires exposure to UV light, oxygen and ozone, tire age will always come into play. Protectants mixed with the tires rubber compound designed to shield the rubber from UV oxygen and ozone do not provide indefinite protection because they are consumed by these elements as the tire ages. Another uncontrollable result of tire age is inner liner thickness. The thickness of the inner liner will decrease with age from constant exposer to oxygen and heat. As the thickness of the liner decreases, oxygen increasingly passes through the liner, seeping into the rubber of the tire exposing it to even more oxygen.
Lack of Use

The rubber compound that makes up a tire contains a protective wax that is intended to protect the tire from oxidation. The protective wax provides protection when it reaches the surface of the tire through a process called “blooming”. Blooming is a process where protective wax works its way to the surface as the rubber tire flexes and compresses during use. When the tire is not in use the wax protection left at the surface from the previous use is consumed by oxidation, leaving the tire unprotected. When a tire is not in use the protective wax is not replenished because blooming only occurs when the tire is in use. Therefor tire degradation can vary depending on how often the tire is used.
What do tires contain to help prevent dry rotting?

In the earliest days of car manufacturing tires were not black, they were white, which is the natural color of rubber. Since white tires where highly vulnerable to UV damage and oxidation they were constantly needing to be replaced. To combat this problem manufactures began adding a filler called carbon black. Blending carbon black with the rubber compound used to produce a tire increased structural integrity making it less susceptible to rapid UV light damage. This ultimately resulted in a tire with a greater lifespan.
In addition to carbon black, manufactures added a special wax and other protectants called antioxidents and antiozonants to provide even more protection against ozone, oxidation and UV damage.
Maximize Tire Life

Although tire aging is unavoidable there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your tires.

Avoid tire shine. Most tire shines contain petrochemicals and silicone that will dissolve the wax protectant, antioxidant and antiozone added by the tire manufacture leaving your tire with less protection from dry rot.
Avoid excessively washing tires. Overly washing your tires with harsh cleaners might make your tire look nice in the short term, but what’s really happening is you are removing the protectants needed to preserve the tire.
Drive vehicle frequently and never let your tires site unused. Regular use will ensure that wax protectant is constantly moving to surface of tire where it is needed to protect against ozone damage.
Use an aftermarket product that will add additional protection from harmful elements. 303 Protectant is ideal because it does not contain harmful petro chemicals or silicone oils that strip away the tires manufacture added protectants. 303 Protectant will enhance protection from UV light and is long lasting because it absorbs into the tire. Your tires will also stay cleaner because of the water repellent and anti-dust protection provided by 303 Protectant. Best of all your tires are left with that new tire appearance rather than the unnatural glossy look left by most tire shine products.

References:

303products.com
www.litigationandtrial.com/files/2012/03/Tire_Aging_NHTSA.pdf, NHTSA Research Report on Tire Aging to Congress 2007
Introduction to Rubber Technology 1959, M. Morton
http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/Archives/History/marchcov.html, LA ozone study
http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_5_1.htm
http://www.thcnet.com/downloads/techozone.pdf, Ozone Can Cause Serious Problems for Natural Rubber Latex Gloves
http://web.mit.edu/roylance/www/Hihara_Degradation.pdf, Environmental Degradation of Traditional and Advanced Engineering Materials
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/4302788, Is Nitrogen Better than Air in Car Tires
http://www.bridgestonetrucktires.com/us_eng/real/magazines/02v7iss1/ra7.asp, What do We Need to Make a Tire
http://www.bouncing-balls.com/chemistry_tech_conservation/ageing.htm, The Aging of Rubber Vulcanizates
http://www.hallstar.com/techdocs/ANTIOZO.pdf, The Use of Antioxidants in Rubber Compounding
http://www.drb-mattech.co.uk/uv%20degradation.html, UV Degradation Mechanisms

[billetbirdcage]

^^^if that wasn't clear that is a cut and paste from a google search^^^^

[Punisher88]

These aren't plastic but is on topic. Popped up on my Facebook feed yesterday.

[Punisher88]

Ok that didn't work. But there is a guy making covers for dirt late model and modified tires on Facebook. Complete set for 180 for late models. They look pretty nice.

[Matt49]

One thing to keep in mind that I think a lot of racers take for granted is that just because a tire punches the same as it did when new on the durometer, that does not mean that tire will behave the same on the race track. The oil inside the tire that are lost over time will cause the tire to not respond to heat the same way. So it may punch the same but when heated not chemically change the way it is supposed too to maximize grip.
This is where the tire dope comes into play. Good tire dope will not change how the tire punches at room temp but will change how it responds to heat on the race track.
And no, I do not use tire dope (anymore)...I used to race karts which taught me everything I needed to know about it. The main thing being that it makes you sick just being around it and I'm not going to puke every week and constantly expose myself to carcinogenic chemicals to win races.

[Kromulous]

In my experience, the breaking down of the sidewalls (stiffness) after repeated races, particularly on a harder compound tire will trump all other factors.

Soft tires wear so fast i dont hardly see a point.

Maybe we can try to start wrapping our hard tires.

[lindsey97]

Man I don't think I can afford a climate controlled "Tire Cave". But proper care is crucial. Are we on to vacuum sealing in a black bag? I guess we have to figure out what works for each situation.

[cjsracing]

I don't know what's the correct thing to do, all I know is I do my tire work (grinding and siping) for the upcoming weekends races on the Sunday or Monday before. If I grind and sipe on Sunday and don't wrap them and they sit in the corner of my shop all week they look like they need to be ground again come Friday. If I grind and sipe on Sunday then wrap them when I get to the track Friday and unwrap them they look like I just ground them 10 minutes ago. And I just use cheap seran wrap.

Add in that I have a open trailer and live on a gravel road the wrapping keeps the dust from the road off them.

[Bubstr]

I can see where you might think, wrapping tires is a waste of time for something that is going to wear out that quick. It just seems like a little prevention, where testing could get very expensive and time consuming. As hard and expensive as tenths come, anything is worth a try. One thing is for sure, if you do it, you will know it isn't that taking that tenth.

[Kromulous]

CJS, you said they look like they need grinding again, do they feel different to the touch? You know how a freshly ground tire feels real tacky etc?

If so, you pretty much told me what we need to be doing LOL.

Were low budget racers here, still working on getting 2 or 3 sets of usuable rims. Then i could prepare them in sets for the heat race / feature etc.

[RacerX10]

I'm not going to puke every week and constantly expose myself to carcinogenic chemicals to win races.

filthy casual


:) :) :)

[lindsey97]

CJS,

I'm pretty much on the same program you are. Wash them Sunday after race night, let them dry, grind them on Monday or Tuesday. Wrap back up in grocery store saran wrap and store in my shop until Saturday. They will just have to endure the air compressor and a little welding every now and then. And a fridge. Good luck at your next outing guy's.

[cjsracing]

Krom,

The unwrapped tires also feel like they need to be re-ground whereas the wrapped ones still have that tacky feel.

Like you mentioned, I usually prepare a set for the heat and set for the feature for weekly. If I am going to a special where I run hotlaps (I usually don't at my weekly stuff) I'll use older unwrapped tires for hotlaps and have wrapped ones ready for heat, B main (if needed) and feature.

[FlatTire]

Maybe we need to purge the air out and fill with embalming fluid to best preserve til raceday. Anybody know a funeral home that wants to sponsor?

I read the other day that Yokahoma is adding orange oil to their tires for enhanced traction.