The Rubicon's Goodyear MT/Rs turned really blue after their last off road outing. My tyre guy says it's due to heat build-up. Used to get it on my BFG Mud Terrains sometimes, but not so colourfully! Since posting this, a couple of off-roading colleagues have been in touch to say they believe it's a reaction between something in the ground and something in the tyre's compound. Not exactly scientific, but quite plausible, as I've done quite hard and heat-producing off-roading on these tyres elsewhere without a sign of the "blue-ing".
UPDATE: A month later, the tyres had almost returned to their original colour.
UPDATE: A month later, the tyres had almost returned to their original colour.
My money goes on it being a chemical reaction
ReplyDeleteOn the same trip mine turned blue and have done so in that area previously. They also turn blue from the clay at Stadia IIRC. There is a lot of lime in that clay, it makes for such good insulation you damn near can't put a gas torch through it (not the tyres of course, that was on the exhaust).
ReplyDeleteAlan: Yes, I'm noticing the 'insulation' properties you mention. I might need to borrow your gas torch!
ReplyDelete