If you’ve a different set of tyres for seasonal shifts and driving style, it’s obvious of you to store the unused pair in the home garage. And so far you’re probably keeping them the wrong way such as leaving the tyres out in the open,haul them roughly in the car trunk or simply throw them in the garage as if reducing the load from your shoulders. Since tyres are an expensive investment, prevention can go a long way to keep them in top condition. Here’s how you should store them!
Clean before you store
It probably sounds like an advice from your mom but, a mother always knows best. When in normal use, tyres collect dust, dirt, grime and experience some tear and wear due to braking. All of this, if left untreated for a long time can damage the tyre.
You can easily clean them off using simple water, soap and special tyre-cleaning brush. In case the car tyres are still mounted on the rims, wheel cleaning solution is the best choice. After the water treatment, wipe with a large, clean tower and allow them to dry before you put them in the garage.
Seal them up
Once cleaned and dried, place them in a large and dark airtight plastic container like the typical lawn and garden bags. Before sealing them, remove as much air from the bags as possible so as to secure the tape properly and preventing the lubricant present in the tyre compound from evaporation. Go a step further by vacuuming the bags to draw out the air completely!
Upright, hang or not-to hang
The best position is vertical which puts less strain on the tyres but, if you really need to stack them on top of each other, don’t do it too high. If the tower eventually gets too tall, tyres can topple and damage but, if they’re mounted on the rims, stack them on top of each other. You can even hang the tyres from hooks only if they’re rimmed.
“Tyre totes” actually exist
Some prefer using “tyre totes” for storage and convenience of carriage. Although tidy and offer extreme convenience, totes aren’t airtight which means the tyres would eventually remain exposed to atmosphere.
Avoid sunlight
Tyres should be kept away from direct sunlight because the rubber can soak heat which eventually raises the temperature to almost 120-degree Fahrenheit. The intense heat along with the UV rays from the sun can breakdown the rubber compound. Still, if you’ve no other choice but to keep them in the open, the least you can do is cover or keep them in a wood canvas for protection against sun, rain and snow.
Say no to ozone
Ozone damages the car tyres significantly so it’s always recommended keeping them away from machinery and items that can generate ozone. These include furnaces, central vacuums, electric motors and machinery or the basement’s water pump.
Conclusion
Wish those tyres good health and long years by storing them properly following the above tips.