Tire deterioration is caused by natural aging, oxidation and ultraviolet damages. When tires are being used, the oils in tires come to the surface protecting it from ultraviolet light and hardening. People living in places where there’s a lot of snow in winter will have the dilemma of storing tires during this season. Here are some tips on how to store tires to prevent them from being damaged while not in use.
1. Before storage, each tire should be cleaned with soap and water to get rid of brake dust, dirt and grease and should be dried thoroughly.
2. Tires should be stored in a clean, dry, and well ventilated place that is away from direct sunlight or extreme temperature. An example of this would be a dry basement or a climate controlled storage area. Air should be able to circulate along all sides of the tires, and tires should be stored in a way that any water or moisture would not collect inside.
2. It is recommended for tires to be individually stored in opaque and airtight plastic bags. Most tire retailers sell storage bags made specifically for this purpose. If this is not possible, cover the stacked tires with sheets of black polyethylene sheets. This is to limit the tire’s exposure to moisture, oxygen and ozone and to reduce oil evaporation.
3. Tires should be stored away from equipments that are sources of ozone such as motors, furnaces, switches or generators.
4. As much as possible, never place the tires directly on the floor specially heat absorbent surfaces such as black asphalt. Put the tires on a low table or place a clean piece of wood on the surface where they are going to be stored to prevent it from getting into contact with solvents, grease or oils in case of spills.
5. Tires should be stored vertically rather than horizontally. Storing tires vertically will reduce stress and tire distortion. If space is an issue and tires have to be be stacked horizontally, make sure not to stack them too high to prevent distortion.
6. Even when they are not in use, the pressure of tires in storage should be maintained. Tires stored while mounted on rims should be inflated to a minimum of 10 psi. Tires that has been put in storage during warm weather months should be inflated to a minimum of 15 psi to make sure that they will still have enough pressure when the cold weather months arrive.
Tires will age regardless of precautions taken during storage, but these procedures are going to help slow it down.
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