When the temperatures become cool in autumn, you should equip your vehicle with winter tires. But what should you do with the tires that are removed from the car? Here are a few tips on how to properly store your tires. UV radiation, heat, ozone and moisture are just some of the factors that affect the aging process of a tire. However, you can extend the life of your tires if you store them properly.
1. Clean tires properly
When you take tires off your car, this is often the best time to clean them. Tires can be easily cleaned with mild soap and water. The wheels can also be cleaned with a non-corrosive, non-acidic wheel cleaner. Do not use a cleaner that needs to be removed in a few minutes, as this is usually an acid-based product. Do not use solvents such as tire shine before storing your tires. Make sure the tires are cool to the touch before cleaning and that they are completely dry before storing them.
2. Mark and pack in bags
Mark the tires with their position before removing them. This is best done with grease chalk on the inner tread and the markings VR, VL, HL, HR. “VR” stands for “front right”, “HL” for “rear left”, etc. This means you can later reassign or swap the positions of the individual wheels on the vehicle.
Pack the tires in large, airtight garbage bags (lawn and leaf bags also work well here). Professionals use special tire bags that protect both the tires from environmental influences and their base from dirt. The large range ofWorkshop supplies from HERMANNIn addition to tire bags, we also have other great offers for the wheel changing season. Once the tires have been packed into the bags, remove as much air as possible and seal the bag tightly with tape. If the tires are wet or covered in snow, allow them to dry completely before packing them up to avoid moisture in the bags.
3. Store in a cool and dry place
Tire rubber becomes porous and brittle when exposed to heat and light, so tires should be placed in a cool, dark and dry place. A basement, garage or well-air-conditioned hobby room works best, whereas a garden shed, carport or attic often has large temperature differences and high humidity. Do not expose the tires to direct sunlight. The UV rays and heat of the sun are harmful to tire rubber. Do not store your tires near electric motors, ovens, central vacuum systems and dirty water pumps as they are sources of ozone.
4. Store correctly with and without rims
While the tips given above for winter andSummer tiresare the same, different storage requirements apply to tires that are on rims.
Complete wheels – best stored horizontally
- must not be stored upright
- can be hung during storage
- can be stacked on top of each other
Tires without rims – it is best to store them upright
- should not be stacked on top of each other
- should not be hung up during storage
- should stand upright next to each other
If possible, store the tires without rims standing up instead of stacking them lying on top of each other to reduce the load. If you have an open shelf with a few empty compartments, it is best to store the tires there. They can also be leaned against a wall, but they need to be turned a little every week to avoid pressure points. Also place them on a clean wooden pallet and not directly on the ground to protect them from the cold of the ground.
DieMaterials ageover time, regardless of the stress. However, these few tips will help slow down the process and extend the life of your tires during storage. Before reinstalling your stored tires on your vehicle, make sure to have a tire professional inspect the tires first.
