10 rules for storing your tires

Storing your tires for extended periods can be tricky. Here are the 10 golden rules for taking care of your tires and making them last longer!

Whatever the reason for changing your Off-Highway tires - either seasonal or operational - storing them for extended periods can be tricky. What is the best way to store them? Here are the 10 golden rules for taking care of your tires and making them last longer!

1. It is important to clean your tires before storing them. Dirt, rocks and debris can infiltrate into the tread grooves. Cleaning them, especially around the bead area, will give you the chance to look for signs of wear and tear.

2. Where to stock your tires? Storing them in a warehouse is ideal. This avoids early wear due to ultraviolet rays and other adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately, this option is not always available. If you don’t have access to a covered, closed-in space, tires can be stocked outdoors, as long as they are protected by a waterproof covering.

3. Avoid exposing your tires to direct sunlight or artificial light.  Light is your tires’ number 1 enemy: direct and prolonged exposure can damage the rubber and cause peeling.

4. Keep your tires far away from damp areas and heat sources. No water should be in the vicinity as it could stagnate. Avoid storing your tires in warm or sunny areas. During spring and summer months, choose a cool and dry space to store them.  

5. Keep your tires away from chemicals including oils, fuels and resins. Do not store them near engines, electric generators or welding stations. Store far away from solvents and hydrocarbons as these elements can be absorbed by the rubber and can quickly damage your tires.

6. Avoid direct contact with the ground. Storing your tires on warehouse shelves is ideal, however also a waterproof tarp spread on the ground will do. Never place them directly on the ground.

7. How to store your tires? Now we have seen where to store them, let us find out how to position them. When it comes to naked tires - i.e. tires that have been removed from the rim and the vehicle - we recommend placing them vertically, alongside one another in order to avoid the deformation of the tire casing. Never stack tires one on top of the other.

8. Tires mounted on a rim can be stored either vertically, one next to the other, or lying horizontally maintaining operating pressure.

9. And finally ... rotate! In order to avoid stress on the same tire section all the time and resultant casing damages, we advise rotating your stored tires on a regular basis - one quarter of a "revolution" per month and you're done!

10. How about storing inner tubes and seals? For these components, we recommend storing them in their original packaging, or unwrapped, on shelves or racks.  Hanging these items is not recommended.

You’ll see that, by taking these easy steps, your tires will last longer. Try it yourself!