Hi;
Can anyone tell me whether or not it's true that you need to drive some minimum amount in order to keep the tires from "disintegrating"?
I read this in a Dean Koontz (yes, the fiction writer) book, and was just wondering where he got it from.

I just put a new set of Dunlop tires on my Subaru, and I am currently not using the car for commuting, so I am keeping it in the driveway a lot.
I do use the car at least once a week to drive a few miles, but I got to thinking about this after reading it.

Thanks

FW

That should probably be sufficient for your tires,what you are currently doing. The worst enemy of tires is atmospheric conditions such as the sun's UV rays , excessive heat and ozone. Also keeping hem properly inflated helps keep them in good condition.

I've always wondered how urban myths get started - and now I see an example!

While it is true that the waxes and antioxidants in the rubber compounds migrate more quickly if the tire is "exercized", doing so doesn't "prevent" the tire from "disintegrating".

In fact a modern radial tire is more prone to a separation as time goes on, and exercising the tire will not improve the risk involved. But as Venture said, proper inflation pressure will. Just keep in mind that rubber doesn't last forever - and it is temperature dependent. Some folks have said there is a 6 year limit in hot climates (AZ, CA, NV, TX, NM, and FL) and a 10 year limit in cold climates (MN, WI, ND, MT, etc.)

Just keep in mind that rubber doesn't last forever - and it is temperature dependent. Some folks have said there is a 6 year limit in hot climates (AZ, CA, NV, TX, NM, and FL) and a 10 year limit in cold climates (MN, WI, ND, MT, etc.)
As a matter of fact I just posted this new thread the other day:http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=903329. I saw the news report and it's quite scary about what is out there for sale. I agree there should be a six year expiration date on new tires for sale as "New". One of the garages I worked at many years ago had a tire shop attached. I remember seeing old tires there from the late '70s / early '80s still in the inventory ( usually way in the back out of sight, not popular sizes or styles.) These tires age and deteriorate as time goes on and while the damage is not apparent on the outside of the tire it can be present on the inside. Tires are one of the things we need to take seriously as that is what contacts the road as we drive and I would want the best ones if I'm doing 65 or 70 mph on the highway.