Tires

How to Store Tires Between Seasons: A Simple 4 Step Guide

Oct 2,2017

Tires face tough road conditions almost daily. Rain, snow, dirt, heat, road debris—the list goes on. Make sure they don't face the same hazards when you store them between seasons since these conditions could shorten their life! Keep your investment in tip-top shape by learning how to store tires in four straightforward steps:

Clean the tires. Once your summer tires have been swapped for winter tires or vice versa, it's time to clean them. Give them a good scrubbing with a tire brush, soap, and water to remove road grime, dirt, and brake dust. This gunk may look harmless, but it can be deceptively corrosive. Now is also a good time to inspect your tires for signs of wear like cracks, bulges, and uneven tread wear.

Identify and clean/clear storage space. If at all possible, do not store your tires outside or in an area that's subject to swings in temperature. Even covered, tires stored outside are exposed to harmful environmental changes. Your best bet for storing tires is in a climate-controlled basement, garage, or workshop. Keep your tires in an area that...

is cool and dry.

experiences minimal variation in temperature and humidity levels.

does not have a motor nearby. (This includes a furnace, hot water heater, or sump pump. Such motors produce ozone which can harm the tires.)

Cover each tire. You can pick up tire storage bags from a variety of local and online shops. Prices vary widely, from $8 to $50. The goal is to place each tire in its own opaque wrapping that is well sealed and airtight. Large, heavy-duty garbage bags work in a pinch, too. Before sealing each bag, use a vacuum cleaner to get out as much air as possible.

Carefully stack the tires. Without rims, lay the tires flat and stack them one atop the other. With rims, place them vertically next to one another. In each scenario, rotate their position every four weeks to help reduce pressure either on the other tires or the rim.

Pro-Tip: Think twice before you assume you don't need winter tires. Winter tires boost a car's ability to handle cold weather—not just ice and snow. Placing winter tires on your vehicle is almost like getting an upgraded ride. That holds true even if you don’t live in a snowy climate. That’s because the rubber used for winter tires is formulated to deliver optimum performance in cold, dry weather, as well.

Here at Firestone Complete Auto Care we believe that when you change your tires, you change your car. Shop new tires online to see how affordable a winter set can be and stop by your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care for a quick tire inspection, installation, or pressure check. When it comes to tires, we do it all.

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