So, long story short, while transferring used motor oil from one container to another in the garage, I accidently spilled a bunch on a couple of used, unmounted RA-1's I was hanging on to as emergency spares just in case I caught a flat or corded a tire at the track. The oil completely coated about 1/3 of the tread on both tires. I wiped them down as quickly as I could, but obviously the oil soaked into the rubber anyways.

These are basically trash at this point, right? I can just imagine trying to take them out on track, and as they heat up, the oil coming out and I'm driving around on a rolling oil slick.

Any way of saving them? Or write them off and avoid any risks, which is the way I'm leaning.

 

Hmm. Good question. I've definitely gotten oil on tires and still used them, but maybe not to the same extent as you. I'd say put them on and drive around to test them/get the oil out, but if they're unmounted and garbage anyway...

 

Have you tried to wash them with Palmolive or Dawn

 

oxyclean?

 

heat them up with a torch and see if the oil "bleeds out" or do a big burnout or something?
i'd say since tyres are made from oil that there has problem been a chemical change on a molecular level that has left these tyres changed forever.

 

HELL NO!!!!!!!!!! dont wash them, seriously they are fine!! just wipe the oil off and put them in storage.

Seriously I coat my stored used tires with oil ( usually wd40, but i have used motor oil ), then wrap them in garbage bags for storage.

They dont dry out that way and I have been doing this for years with everything from Kart tires to slicks to RA 1s. Did you ever notice when a tire sits the little rainbow like colours on the edge,,, its the tires natural oils and waxes coming out ( and is usually a sighn of a tire drying out )

The light coating of oil will keep the tire in much better shape as its natural oils will not be "drawn out " to the surface and off into the atmosphere. Any excess will be gone within the first lap. ( assuming you stored them with no really big excess of oil )

Washing them with detergent will remove oil for sure and leave them in a much harder drier condition.

I run most of my tires till corded and dont have the fall off that other experience, I am a finatic about tire management

 

Excellent knowledge Renan.... Im sure Formula Integra is very relieved!
For that I have a decal for you.
Since you used to drive vipers....
I have something that we used to put on our trucks when my brother inlaw used to track his viper.
I'll post a pic later.

 

cool ill look forward to that.

Ya my tire budget ( or lack of ) has made me preserve tires like a ****

 

You should see what he does with his condoms....
The last race he stored his nomex underwear the same way. OH THE STANK!!!!!!