Hard old slicks

[Ghoste]

How long are slicks typically good?  I don't mean based on usage but age.  Obviously the more passes made on them the more worn they become but isn't there a point where they are too old and hard to keep?

[b5blue]

I wouldn't think too awfully long, being a drag only car when I bought it my Charger had "Sticky Micky's" on it, they were about 4-5 years old and had lots of rubber left but even without doing burn-outs and beating them hard they crapped out quickly and had to be replaced.   

[Ghoste]

I wouldn't think too long but they seem to get hard fairly quickly.  I wonder if the compiound in the rubber to make it sticky "flashes off" somehow?

[elacruze]

I wouldn't think too long but they seem to get hard fairly quickly.  I wonder if the compiound in the rubber to make it sticky "flashes off" somehow?

That's exactly right. The aromatic hydrocarbons evaporate from the rubber, leaving the more dense and harder stuff behind.
Two things kill tires, mostly; Heat cycles and UV exposure. High temperatures don't help but make little difference in the dark.

VHT is made to replace some of the lost aromatics from the rubber, although it doesn't penetrate very deep and evaporates quickly itself. It's an easy way to extend the service of older tires.

I'm thinking I should be able to pick up good used slicks that are 'hard' but bigger than I need so they'll still stick...

[tan top]

with age the wall of the tire cracks & splits  ,

[Ghoste]

Yeah, I've seen penty of dry rotted tires over the years.  I was more interested in drag slicks when they are a couple or so seasons old and they still look fine but the contact surface has hardened.

[chargerman67]

How old are we talking here? I think that you would be fine if we are talking 5 years or so. Also like elacruz said if it was in the dark ie a warehouse or a garage i would venture to say it could be older and still work effectively. Nvmnd i see you said a couple of seasons old. I think you're golden. I would go for it