Dying from being scorched by the sun!? The secret of tire lifespan you didn't know #38

Wait... there's still plenty of tread left, but why are there cracks in the tire?

Yes, it's just like the shock of looking in the mirror and seeing wrinkles that weren't there yesterday!

That's right, tires are just like people; they get more wrinkles as they age!

Why is this happening even though I haven't been driving much?

You might be thinking that, right?

Actually, it's not just mileage that determines a tire's lifespan.

The keys to longevity are light, heat, and wear!

1. The culprit is the sun! Light (ultraviolet rays) attacks the tires!

It's not just humans that get sunburned.

The rubber used in tires is actually very sensitive to ultraviolet rays.

Continued exposure to UV rays causes the rubber to break down at the molecular level, becoming hard and cracking.

It's truly a silent attack by the sun!

2. Appearing here again! Heat is a tire's worst enemy.

Just like a washing machine motor, tires are also vulnerable to heat.

In the summer, asphalt road surfaces can reach temperatures of nearly 60°C.

And that Arrhenius equation comes into play here too!

For every 10°C increase in temperature, the rate of deterioration doubles.

In other words, on asphalt in the middle of summer, tire deterioration is accelerating at breakneck speed.

3. Wear isn't just about the grooves!

"I should replace them when the grooves are gone, right?"

If you think that, you're half right, but half wrong.

While it's true that the grooves wear down, the rubber itself also loses its softness due to friction with the road surface.

Just like muscles stiffening up, tires get harder the more you drive, preventing them from performing as they should.

Checklist of "NG behaviors" that shorten lifespan

"I might be doing that..."

If you think that, stop immediately!

• Leaving the car in the scorching sun

• Leaving it parked for long periods without driving

• Not checking tire pressure

Especially those of you who don't put your car in a garage and leave it parked outside!

That's like subjecting your beloved car to solar torture!

"So, what should I do?"

"God-tier techniques" to make your tires last longer using the power of science

This is "hospitality" to help your beloved tires stay healthy for as long as possible.

• Park in a covered parking space or carport

• Drive the car regularly

• Check tire pressure once a month

Tires are not just rubber rings.

They are your precious partners to whom you entrust your life.

Conclusion: Tires die from 'time' rather than 'mileage'!

You might tend to think that tire lifespan is determined by 'mileage,' but in reality, they often reach the end of their life due to 'time' first.

Even if there is plenty of tread left, the reason it is said that they should be replaced in 3 to 5 years is because of this chemical deterioration caused by light and heat.

Are your tires okay?

Please take a good look at your car's feet once in a while.

Because...

'Having a blowout and calling roadside assistance is super exhausting!'