How to Store Tires Properly (updated)

With the winter finally being over – at least officially – our automotive pets surely can’t wait to be properly cleaned, to have their fluids checked and replenished and other major systems being examined by your trusted mechanic. However, the first thing that comes to mind for most drivers when the season change is replacing seasonal tires. Given the size of the investment, high-quality tires can, and it’s important to store tires properly after taking them off to make sure they don’t lose their characteristics and thus prolong their lifespan.

1) During normal use, tires accumulate brake dust, dirt, and road grime, which can cause tire damage if it sits on your tires for a long time. That’s why before storing them, you should grab soap, water and a tire brush to clean your tires. If the tires are still mounted on the rims, it’s also a good time to clean the wheels (use an approved wheel cleaner). Wipe the tires and wheels down with a towel, leave them to dry completely and don’t apply any type of tire dressing.

2) After cleaning, place each tire in its own large, airtight plastic bag (lawn and leaf bags work well here) for storing. Avoid moisture in the bag and remove as much air as possible (you can draw out air with a vacuum cleaner). Close the bag tightly with tape to create a personal space for each tire to reduce oil evaporation from the tire compounds. Avoid using tire totes as they don’t necessarily protect tires from the atmosphere (even though they make tires easier to move around.

3) Keep tires out of direct sunlight. The sun’s ultraviolet rays and heat are detrimental to rubber since they tend to soak up a lot of solar heat because they are black. They can easily heat up to over 50°C!

4) Place the tires in a cool, dry location. A basement or climate-controlled garage or workshop works best while a standard garage, shed or attic often sees a wide range of hot and cold temperatures as well as precipitation and humidity. Also, make sure to store your tires away from things like electric motors, furnaces, switches and sump pumps because they are sources of ozone.

5) If your tires are NOT mounted on rims, the best way to store them is standing upright – it puts less stress on the tires. If you have to stack your tires, try not to stack them too high to avoid them toppling over and damaging themselves.

However, if your tires are mounted on the rims, you should store them stacked, not upright. Also, hanging them from hooks is a great storage option. But unmounted tires should never be hung – the stress can cause distortion and damage.

6) If you don’t store your tires in individual bags, and instead stack them, make sure to stack them “white to white” and “black to black” to prevent staining of the white rubber as white and black rubber are compounded differently.

7) If you can, avoid letting a vehicle sit on tires for extended periods of time as the constant weight can cause them damage. Make sure to move the vehicle or take it out for a short drive every once in a while – you’ll relieve the stress on the tire and help keep the tire’s rubber compounds lubricated and supple.

Difference Between Passenger And Light Truck Tires

The rules for storing tires of a passenger vehicle and a light truck is the same, but you will need more room to store the truck tires. When you stop at a traffic light in your car and a light truck stops in the next lane, you immediately see the difference in vehicle size. Clearly, there are differences in tire size as well, but what are they?
Passenger vehicle tires. Passenger vehicles are generally fitted with P-metric tires as they are designed for coupes, crossovers, sedans, and other lighter vehicles. These tires are created for paved roadways and standard load sizes and perform well under dry and wet conditions. P-metric tires offer a smoother, quieter, and more comfortable ride than LT-metric tires generally used on light trucks. They are, however, not intended for off-road use on rough terrain. Many SUVs, vans, and lightweight pickups also leave the factory with P-metric tires.

There are three main types of passenger tires, Low Rolling Resistance tires, Touring tires, and Performance tires. Low Rolling Resistance means the tires can go further than conventional tires while using the same fuel and energy.

Touring tires are known for their road comfort, superior responsiveness, noise control, and longer tread life. Depending on the manufacturer, they offer mileage warranties and higher speed ratings. Performance tires, as you might use on your Mustang GT Coupe, have a bold appearance, increased traction, and high degrees of responsiveness.
Light truck tires. Whether you store tires upright or flat, these tires are bulky and need more storage space than passenger tires. Light truck or LT-metric tires have deeper treads and more rigid sidewalls than P-metric tires. They are designed to navigate off-road terrains and haul heavy loads, so they handle better tough driving conditions. Due to their heavy-duty construction and rolling resistance, they are heavy on gas while giving you a noisier drive on the highway. If you do a lot of highway driving, consider installing P-metric tires on your truck, your wallet will thank you.

Car and Truck Tire Services In Hamilton

At CRS Automotive in Hamilton, you will find a full-service vehicle care facility specializing in passenger cars as well as light and medium-duty vehicles and trucks. We know how to store tires, as we also offer tire services that include rotation, balancing, rim repairs, and flat tire repairs. Do you drive a Ford, Nissan, Land Rover, Chevrolet, Mercedes, Audi, Hyundai, or Mercury? We specialize in these and other brands. Correctly storing tires in a garage at home and maintaining them regularly is a choice that keeps you and your loved ones safe. And your safety is important to us.

Finally, for whatever type of vehicle maintenance , come to CRS Automotive. We are expecting you in our repair shop in Hamilton!