You’ve done the winter tire swap. Now what to do with the all-seasons or summer tires you took off. Obviously, you have to store them for the winter months. But there is more to this than you might think if you want to protect your investment in those round black things.
Tires are like humans, they age! Proper care during storage will extend their life.
Take the time to prepare for storage and think about where to put them. A little planning will ensure they are in good shape and ready to provide safe motoring in the spring.
Winter tire storage tips and tricks:
• Have a close look. Now that they are off the vehicle, you have an opportunity to look at them closely. Study both sides and the complete diameter. Look for bulges, deep divots and/or cracks. All require a close examination by a professional.
• Clean them. Break out the hose, brush and a bucket of suds. Give both tire and wheel a good scrubbing. Brake dust contains corrosive chemicals that will eat away at the finish on the wheels, if left on over the winter. Make sure they are dry before putting them away. Blow the moisture off with the exhaust end of a vacuum, if you don’t have access to compressed air. Finish with a towel or other absorbent material. Don’t apply any “tire dressing.”
• Dark and tight. Heat, ozone and exposure to the elements accelerate a tire’s aging process. Avoid this by storing them in a dark, airtight bag. Lawn, leaf or dark green garbage bags work nicely. Suck as much air out of the bag as possible – a vacuum cleaner works – before sealing the bag. If you are using tire totes place the tire in a sealed plastic bag before putting them in the tote.
• Store the tires in a clean cool and dark spot. Avoid direct sunlight, and any source of ozone – electric motors, furnaces, central vacuums, air exchangers, generators, hot water pipes etc. Avoid storing them outdoors or any place that can be wet, humid or very cold. Tires can actually freeze!
• Upright is right – if your tires are not on wheels, store them standing upright.
• Lying down is OK – if tires are on wheels, you should store them stacked, not upright.
• Use blocks – If the tires are on the vehicle and it is to be stored for months, put the entire thing up on blocks to take the load off the tires.
Come spring it will be time to do this all over again – taking care of your winter tires.
