[Jubal Harshaw]

(1) The oxidized rubber does not fall into the inside of the tire; it's generally still in the tire matrix, but without the structural properties that helped keep the tire together before the rubber was oxidized. Perhaps I should not have used the word "dust" in this context; I was simply trying to provide a visualization of how the rubber fails after being oxidized. Your question illuminated the fact that I did a bad job. So, please forget the word "dust;" try "non-structurally stable rubber" instead.

(2) Tires do have inner liners, as well as antioxidants within the tires material itself. These are both subject to oxidation, and eventually wear out.

[Old Professer]

When the history of the world is finally written it will be revealed that it was oxygen that reduced it all to dust.