By Goran Alben
If you need to store tires, you should take proper storage precautions to prevent them from getting degraded and damaged. Storing tires properly can be a little complex because of the additional steps required and their size. Most people don’t know that their tires need special care when storing them. This is why it is common for people to find their tires being rendered pretty useless after having stored them for a few months.
Your car’s tires will degrade eventually. However, if you avoid certain storage mistakes, you can keep their structural integrity and form intact for longer. It is important to know that tires are affected by time, weather, temperature, and sun. Here are 5 mistakes to avoid when storing tires.
1. Storing Tires in Sunlight
Your drive on your winter tires during daytime. It may seem normal to store these tires in the sunlight. However, prolonged exposure to sunlight, for any type of tire, can cause irreversible damage. The UV rays in sunlight can destroy rubber over time. If you want to use their tires for two or more seasons, avoid storing them out in the sun. If your garage or storage space has windows and you can’t block out the sun, use tire storage bags to protect your tires.
It is important to avoid exposure to both sunlight and artificial light. Direct exposure for long can cause damage to the rubber and even cause peeling.
2. Not Controlling Temperature
Avoid storing your tires in conditions that are too hot or too cold. These conditions can accelerate the degradation of the rubber. For example, your winter tires are meant to be used in freezing temperatures. That doesn’t mean that you can store them out in the cold. It is best to store them in a properly ventilated and dry area with temperatures in the range of 10 to 25 degrees Celsius.
3. Storing Dirty Tires
Many times, people store their tires as such with all the dirt, brake dust, slush, and salt on it. These contaminants can cause damage to your tires, speeding up the degradation process. Besides, they will be difficult to clean off and remove when you move your tires out of storage.
Before you store your tires, make sure to clean them.
- Make sure any stores in the tread are carefully removed
- Wash off the contaminants
- Dry the tires before storage
4. Not Considering Humidity
Many vehicle owners don’t know it, but humidity can also damage their car’s tires. It is recommended to use a hygrometer in the storage space to monitor the humidity. The air humidity should ideally be maintained in the 50% and 60% range. If the room has higher humidity, you should ventilate it regularly. It is also important to check the tires for any formation of condensation. When using tire storage bags, it is important to choose an area with controlled humidity. Else, moisture can build up inside the bags.
- Store your tires away from heat sources or damp areas
- There should be no water in the vicinity
- If you don’t have a closed and covered space, you can stock the tires outside in a waterproof covering
Once your tires become warped, tire alignment may not help fix the issue.
5. Storing Tires on the Ground
It is common for people to store tires on the ground. It is something that should be avoided.
- It is ideal to store tires on warehouse shelves
- You may also keep them on a waterproof tarp spread if space on shelves is not available
Tires should never be stored directly on the ground.
So, when it comes to storing your tires, make sure to avoid the mistakes mentioned above. Following proper measures can help you preserve your tires and save you money.
