Hot Rods Blue Streak G.Y. DIRT TRACK TIRES

So ..... as mentioned elsewhere on the HAMB I received my tires via Pirate shipping & now reaching out to anyone that might have knowledge how to prolong their use in a static display format with only occasional use, primarily concerned with protectant etc. I do plan on using inner tubes & wondering if nitrogen is a viable option. I have left word with Tim Mathews the curator at Speedway Motors to see what they might do as their many vintage race examples have period correct age-old tires. Would also like to locate some smaller size 15" Blue Streaks mine are 800/820x15" Thanks, Ron

 

Use helium and they will have less weight on them creating flat spots.

 

Not to make light of the helium comment but that's a tasteless gas, lol was helium or hydrogen in the Hindenburg ?

 

Hydrogen, helium will not burn.

 

Hydrogen will leak out at an accelerated pace also due to the small molecule size.

 

Position the car in the museum such that it's not in direct sunlight.

 

Nitrogen is used for two reasons; it’s a processed gas so should contain no water vapour and it has no hydrogen or oxygen which can permeate through rubber. No idea if it makes any difference to aging but I’d say no. I’ve binned loads of tyres as they’re cracked from aging on the outside but never noticed it on the inside and I’m pretty sure none of them ever had nitrogen in them. Heat and sunlight are what ages tyres. Remove those and they’ll last longer.

 

Yeah, I knew it was one or the other of the two elements that were flammable, obviously a fatal mistake.