A smart, savvy tyre buyer saves money by storing tyres, but that process can be completely fruitless if the tyres are stored incorrectly. Tyres can develop deformities, damage their tread or lose essential lubricating compounds if left without the proper care and treatment. As much as you’d like to dump them in a room and forget about them for 6 months, you don’t want to abandon them just yet.
As tyres are generally split by summer and winter variants, it’s generally accepted that you’ll have to store them to save money. (Unless you go for an all-season variant.) This doubly applies if you choose a great brand, such as Goodyear, as you should make the most out of them. There are plenty of “tyre hotels” dotted around the UK, but many people prefer to store them in their own property to save time and money. It’s a no brainer really, so learning how to store them correctly should be at the top of your list.
Keep Them Clean
Tyres tend to love travelling. So much in fact, that they bring parts of the environment back with them. Stones, dirt, dust and other variants are all present on previously used tyres, which can damage the tyre over time if they are stored without removing them. You’ll be happy to know that they’re relatively simple to clean, as some soap and warm water will do the job nicely. Tyre brushes are available too from most dealers to give you a helping hand. Once you’ve given them a good scrub, you should leave them to dry completely, as storing them with excess moisture can also damage the tyre.
It’s a Wrap
Once your tyres are squeaky clean, you should think about how you’re going to store them. They should be placed in dark plastic bags if possible, such as a large garden bag. This is due to the detrimental effects that UV can have on the tyres, but the bag should provide adequate protection. As well as this, you should make the bags as airtight as possible, which will slow down or even stop the evaporation of the lubricating oils within the tyres. This ensures that they remain usable for many years.
Stacked or Sideways?
Once you’ve cleaned and packed your tyres for their vacation, you need to decide their seating arrangements. If your tyres don’t have the rims attached, you should store them on their treads. This prevents deformities and stops excess pressure being applied to the tyre. If possible, you should rotate them every once in a while to avoid distortion. If you’re only storing your tyres for a short period of time, any slight distortion should sort itself out once the tyres are back on your vehicle.
Tyres with rims should be stacked on top of each other, as you’d save space and there’s little chance of a deformity. If you have to stack rimless tyres on top of each other, you should occasionally move the bottom tyre to the top to ensure that it doesn’t become affected by the weight of the other tyres. For this reason, you shouldn’t stack your tyre tower too high. We’re not playing Jenga here. (Although, it would be fun!) You can also hang tyres with rims on hooks, but do not do this with rimless variants. This will cause problems that make your tyres unusable, which defeats the purpose of storing them in the first place.
Things to Consider
There are several other important factors to consider to make your tyre’s stay as comfortable as possible. The location and climate are of particular importance, but there are other issues that could apply:
Keep Out of the Sun – As previously mentioned, tyres are susceptible to UV damage so you should keep them away from the sun. You should also store them indoors, away from environments in which debris could damage the tyre.
Stay Cool – Your tyres should be stored in an area with a moderate temperature between -5°C and 25°C. It should be away from boilers and radiators too, as heat and sunlight tend to age the tyre quicker.
Avoid Ozone – Machinery that emits ozone can damage your tyres. You should also keep them away from solvents and petroleum products.
Get Off the Road – If you’re storing your car for long periods of time, you should remove the tyres from the vehicle. The weight of the vehicle will damage the tyres over time, reducing their effectiveness and breaking them beyond repair if left immobile for an excessive amount of time.
Change for the Better
Ultimately, regularly changing your summer and winter tyres for each season increases performance, improves safety and gives you peace of mind. Now that you know how to store your tyres, you’ll save time and money long-term. Both your car and your pocket will thank you for it.
For more details about maintaining your tyres, head on over to our blog. We’ve also got a huge range of tyres from the best brands too. If you’re looking for some new wheels to take you on your next adventure, choose Asda Tyres.