Been meaning to follow up for a while... Without reading back, I can’t remember if I said I had two NOS early 90s Smoke & Dart tyres purchased a couple months ago which I planned to perform my post-cure method on, and I did so yesterday. With great results!
I bought the pair just for the Smoke, which is going on a build I’m midway through, so it needs to be treated because it looks awful. However, just to prove the concept and in true experimental style, I used the Dart for this purpose. The Smoke will follow in exactly the same way.
NOTE: I decided to use a higher heat than recommended in my original post (100°C/212°F instead of 80°C/176°F, so the time had to be cut from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. But 30 mins @ 80°C/176°F would work the same.
#DISCLAIMER: If, for any reason whatsoever, you follow this procedure and kill your tyre, oven, family or self, I take no responsibility, but if you follow this method exactly, you should have no detrimental issues!
There was minimal smoke upon opening the oven = almost nothing in fact, but I opened the kitchen window and door just in case. Some freshly baked rubber smell, but nothing acrid or toxic.
METHOD
1.
[IMPORTANT!] Ensure the missus is out.
2. Remove any trays, shelves or other ancillaries from the oven.
3. Set oven to 100°C (212°F), allow oven to warm up.
note: I used a separate thermometer due to lack of trust in the built-in thermostat, to ensure correct temperature was achieved.
note: if you have a fan oven, set it to 90°C (194°F).
4. Place tyre into oven.
i) Being a steel bead, I twisted into a figure eight to get it in. No way to avoid part of the tyre touching sides but take care not to directly touch any exposed heating elements (electric oven) or flame (gas). A Kevlar beaded tyre wouldn't have this issue, but I'd advise opening it out as big as possible for even heat distribution if post-curing Kevlar-beaded tyres.
ii) I also used some parchment paper to sit tyres on, so no molten or liquifies residue from tyre drips onto oven base or floor when removing.
5. ‘Bake’ for
10 minutes - Open the windows/doors for ventilation to the room - and remove tyre obviously
taking care and using PPE for handling, like a glove or towel.
6. Voliá.
BEFORE: Mega wax blooming/leaching.
DURING: What's cooking? A tyre!
You can see the wax "melting" and this is then reabsorbed into the rubber surface.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER REMOVAL: Some wet-looking patches. These dry off quickly.
The OG Dart label - unaffected. Just as it was before the procedure.
24h LATER (nothing else done to tyre; not touched, wiped, washed, cleaned or anything added. Simply just post-cured. Like brand new, factory fresh.
):
Almost a before and after, the untreated Smoke with the post-cured Dart.
