The storage location of your tyres matters. According to experts, the correct storage temperature is the most important factor. You can also extend the service life of your tyres by protecting them against moisture, chemicals, and UV radiation. A tyre hotel is the easiest choice.
Should I store my summer tyres in the garage, basement, on the balcony, or outside next to the house? According to Martin Dražík, Product Manager for Nokian Tyres Central Europe, the storage temperature is the most important factor.
– Back in the day, some people used to store tyres nearby their central heating boilers. That is too hot, as heat will have an adverse effect on the rubber compounds. The tyre will begin to dry out, harden, and develop cracks. It may even combust, Dražík explains.
– The ideal tyre storage location is a cool space, below 15ºC, where the tyres stay dry. Dark spaces protected from sunlight are preferable, as UV radiation will reduce the tyre’s durability, adds Dražík.
Storing the tyres under the right conditions will extend their service life, Dražík emphasizes.
A carefully maintained high-quality tyre will last up to six years. If your tyres were manufactured over ten years ago, you should not use them at all. You can see the date of manufacture in the four-digit number on the tyre: the two first digits indicate the week of manufacture, whereas the two latter ones tell you the year.
A storage location with all the wrong features can damage your tyres beyond repair during a single season.
Powerful pressure washers can damage tyres
The storage recommendations for winter and summer tyres are similar. Before putting your tyres into storage, you should carefully wash and rinse them. Remove the largest rocks from the grooves and check the tread and sidewalls for cracks or abnormal bulging.
– When washing your tyres, keep the point of the pressure washer’s water jet away from the tyre, as it may disconnect the rubber from the web below it. This may cause the tyre to break once it is used again, Martin Dražík says.
Before storing tyres, ensure that they are completely dry. The tyres should not come into contact with oils, solvents, or other chemicals at the storage location.
The tyres should not be under heavy load and tension; in other words, you should not pile other things on top of the tyre stack.
– When storing tyres on top of each other, I would increase the pressure slightly before storage, as the bottom tyre is under quite a heavy load, Dražík says.
Tyre storage in a nutshell:
- Check the age of the tyres and purchase new ones at the latest every 6-10 years
- Check the condition of the tread and remove any larger rocks from the grooves
- Wash the tyres and allow them to dry completely before storage
- Store your tyres in a cool, dry place
- Protect the tyres against sunlight and chemicals
Tips were provided Martin Dražík, Product Manager for Nokian Tyres Central Europe.
