Not a sales gimmick. Rubber hardens as it ages. Check the tread on a new and old racing tire. Tires are made from several layers of different components like in this case a natural rubber liner, fiberglass tread area belts, tread rubber etc... Like making a grilled cheese sandwich on a George Foremen grill, the green tire is put into a mold. The mold is heated which causes vulcanization at a certain temperature blending the raw materials onto one complete tire. As the tire ages it starts to harden and the different chemical layers start to lose their flexibility and adhesion of the different layers. The heaviest part of the tire is the tread package. As you drive faster, the tire starts to build up heat due to the tires now lack of flexibility at a certain point centrifugal force causes the tire tread to separate, or peal off of the tire body causing catastrophic tire failure. The tire disintegrates and whips around the fender area causing massive damage to your car as well as a possible accident depending on your speed and which tires give out first. Ever notice how much tread rubber is on the hiways in the summertime ? People get out their trailers and motorhomes that have been sitting for at least a year and have tires that are well beyond their designed life. They get on the hiway and Bamm, there goes a tire. Not on my car or with my family. Thank you.
