My Tires are Boated ? !

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Never made it to Edmonton... but we are having a local show and 1/8 mile drag race right here in my little home town.
Drove the car out to the "track" ( airport ) this evening, to get teched. I'll refrain from commenting in regards to the MHDRA member who looked at the car... but he did notice something that evidently developed on my way there ( it's about a 3 mile drive ). Seems that one of my slicks in particular, has become somewhat "puffed up". The outer side wall had started to rub against the upper fender/wheel-well lip on the inside. Never had this before. It is now simply too close.
My M/T tires are 4 years old now. over the past winter, I left them deflated.
Is this normal ?... for these tires, as they age a bit, to stretch out some ?

just wondering

No, I did not attempt to object. The tech guy was right. It WAS rather embarassing.
Car is running GREAT !!!! ... but it won't be going down the track until I get some fresh tires.