Tire storage question
- Thread starter LckydevL
- Start date
Yes. As the oxygen in the bag is used up, the bag slows down the replacement of that oxygen. Try to find the coolest spot.
Interesting and I never really gave it much thought. I usually just toss my motorcycle tires up in the loft of my shop until I'm ready to mount them, rarely more than a year. It gets warm up there in the summer so maybe my basement that stays cool year round would be a better choice.
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@CapriRacer - Would the same apply for storing winter tires/wheels? I currently have the winter set in my shed, which is not climate controlled. I Iive in central Texas, where 100+ degree days are normal in the summer. Should I risk the wrath of my wife and find room in a spare bedroom in the house? If I do, both the tires and I may be staying in the shed.
Should the tires/wheels be stored "upright", as in the same orientation as on the car? Or is it okay to stack? Thank you.
Should the tires/wheels be stored "upright", as in the same orientation as on the car? Or is it okay to stack? Thank you.
Petroleum products continue to "cure" throughout their life, and heat accelerates this process. Think of the haze that appears on the inside of your windshield when you park your car out in the sun all the time. "Off-gassing" is chemicals leaving the compound, some of which are there to maintain pliability and strength. It's far more preferable to store tires in a dark basement than it is a hot garage, but I've never found that there is anything to worry about if it's not an extended period of time (years). My brother in North Central Florida has an early '90s Bronco that spends its life sitting in his garage, and he took it out to drive it a couple of weeks ago and the right front tire came apart and blew. The tires are about 15 years old. He replaced it with something, drove it again and the left rear blew. He's waiting for his tax return to buy a new set of tires.
I damaged the right front tire on my 2018 Mustang, but bought a pair to put on the front, leaving me with one very good, nearly new tire that I didn't want to throw away. I cleaned it and hosed it down with 303 Aerospace and tossed it in the attic. A year later, it seemed to be fine and I donated it to a local tire shop. Tires are designed to withstand heat, humidity and abuse, but long spans of time are your enemy.
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I bought cheap tire/wheel bags from Amazon for our Tellurides snow tires and I have them stacked in the corner or our garage for the time being. Once the pontoon and fishing boat are out of our barn I'll put them in the corner and store them upright. I did inflate them about 3psi above normal.
@Wiley6G72 is right. But allow me to expand on that:
Here's an archived version of a webpage I wrote about 2 years ago. Barry's Tire Tech: Archived Tire Storage
It doesn't have the pictures. I guess I'm going to have to update it to the new format.
I used large contractor trash bags and vacuumed most of the air out and then twist tied them closed. Overkill but the person that bought that winter tire setup later benefited.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Also, on wheels, lay them down. Without wheels, position them vertically like they are on the car resting on the contact patch.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
I also give the sidewalls a treatment with Aero Cosmetics Rubber Care. In theory it feeds the rubber & it will slow the onset of dry cracking or dry rot. Good enough for Boeing, Airbus, and Air Force One works for me. It keeps the spare tires in trunk wells looking new well past their supposed calendar life.
Have spare new tires for 2 of my beaters. Couldn't beat the price. They are not on rims. Through research, learned to double bag them, seal them, and store in a cool, dark place. They are in an area of my basement that is used for storage, standing up on a slight angle.