Tire storage is a reality for most vehicle owners in the northern hemisphere. Changing to a set of winter or summer tires is required to ensure optimal tire performance during all seasons. With limited storage space, tire storage can be a real challenge and lead to improper storage methods.
Tires should not be stored directly on a concrete surface. The concrete surface may become damp or frozen, or contaminated with spilled chemicals which may adversely affect the tire’s condition. Tires can be stored upright or horizontal but always on a flat, clean piece of wood or OSB.
The tire manufacturers design the rubber compounds to resist water and atmospheric damage and for the tire to last between four to five years or 60,000 miles. If you rotate between summer and winter tires and store the tires properly, the tire life and condition can be extended well beyond five years. Let’s look at some reasons not to store directly on concrete and the best practice methods.
Why Storing Tires Directly On Concrete Is Not Good?
Optimal tire storage conditions must consider temperature, humidity, deformation, ozone, and light exposure. The space limitations of your storage location may also be limited and require that the tires be moved occasionally.
Storing tires directly on a concrete floor will expose the contact surfaces to potential humidity from water spills or other chemicals and dirt on the concrete surface. The best practice is to place a flat piece of wood or OSB board underneath the tires to keep them off the concrete surface.
The chemical composition of the concrete surface would in no way react with the rubber chemistry of the tire. Raising the tires on the surface of the concrete will merely be to protect the rubber from contact with damp or contaminated surfaces.
The more important aspect of tire storage is to keep them out of strong light as this may cause ultra-violet light damage to the rubber. Exposure to ozone will also cause the rubber to oxidize and become hard and brittle.
There are some ingenious tire storage solutions available from online channels, but a DIY storage solution can be put together for very little money. For the six-month storage periods required by seasonal tire changes, tires can be stored either standing vertically upright or stacked horizontally on top of a tire rack or a piece of wood on the floor.
Store the tires away from strong light or liquids that may spill or leak onto them. Also, keep the tires away from electrical pumps as these produce ozone, which is not good for the tires. Tires should never be stored outside where temperature variations and weather will affect them.
How Best Should Tires Be Stored?
Once removed from the vehicle, the tires can be kept on the rims for storage. The tires and rims should be thoroughly cleaned with mild soapy water, rinsed with clean water, and properly dried off. Inspect the tires for any signs of damage or embedded objects while performing this cleaning.
Place each clean, dry tire inside a plastic bag. Special tire totes can be purchased for this purpose, but a black plastic garbage bag will also do the job. Force as much air out of the bag as possible and seal the bag with tape.
Store the tires in a cool and dry location. A temperature-controlled environment is better than the garage or outside shed, where large temperature variations and the potential for damp exist. Store the tires away from sources of ozone such as electric motors, furnaces, sump pumps, and switches.
The best orientation to store tires in is vertical as they have been designed to operate in this position and will thus experience the least stress and distortion in this orientation. Place the tires on two pieces of wood that will keep them off the ground. If tires are stored on the rims, keep them inflated to one-third of normal pressure.
Tires can also be stored unmounted but should never be hung in an unmounted state. The unmounted tires should be stores vertically, if possible, on some wood. If storing the tires horizontally, place some flat pieces of board on the floor and between each tire, making the horizontal stack more stable.
When storing tires with white lettering or white sidewalls, stack them with the white to white sides facing preventing discoloration of the white lettering or sidewalls. It is worth bagging these tires individually to eliminate all risk of blemishes on the white portions.
If your vehicle is stationary for an extended period, the tires will develop flat spots where the vehicle’s weight deforms the tire at the contact to the floor. To avoid this flat spot deformation, the vehicle should be driven occasionally to help the tires flex and maintain the chemical dispersion of the rubber compounds.
If long-term inactivity is unavoidable, place the vehicle on jack stands with the tires suspended slightly off the surface, eliminating the vehicle’s weight pushing down of the tires and suspension.
Where To Best Store Tires?
Many people do not have sufficient space in their garage or basement to store tires during the season where they are not in use. Professional Tire Fitment Centers offer seasonal storage facilities where the tires can be stored in optimal conditions. These centers also offer the tire removal and exchange services required when changing to summer or winter tires.
Tire fitment professionals will ensure that tires are removed, cleaned, and sored properly to maintain their optimal condition. They will also mark the position where each tire was removed from and reinstall according to the correct tire rotation positions. It may cost some storage fees, but you will be assured that experts care for your tires and service them to best practice.
Conclusion
Tires are an expensive maintenance component for the safe and efficient operation of your car. Proper tire maintenance and storage can extend the useful tire life to get the maximum benefit.
Tires should never be stored directly on concrete but should be individually wrapped in plastic bags and stored in a clean and dry place, out of direct sunlight and away from sources of ozone.
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