How to Store Car Tires in the Summer

If you have a set of winter tires and a set of summer tires for your car, you've got a lot of money tied up in tires, so taking care of them during storage is as important as regular tire rotations and balancing when they're on the vehicle. But finding a place to store them can be tricky. Trying to find a place where the environment is controlled and that allows you optimum room is essential for the longevity of the tires.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic tire bags

1. Request the garage technician that is removing your summer tires to mark them on the interior sidewall with a tire marker to indicate what position of the car they were on. For example, "LF" for left front, "LR" for left rear, "RF" for right front, and "RR" for right rear. This serves two purposes. First, it tells the technician which clean sidewall to place on the outside. It also tells the technician what position they were in last season, and depending on your mileage you could opt to have them rotated for the next installation. If you are swapping tires in rims, also request to have them marked on the interior sidewall.

2. Obtain tire bags from the tire center or garage where you're having the service performed. These bags will help protect the tires from elements like ozone, condensation and direct sunlight, all of which will deteriorate the rubber of the tire after time.

3. Locate a dry cool spot at your residence. The hardest part of the job may be finding that spot where they're out of the way, out of site and still not compromised for the next season.

4. Stack tires on their sidewall. Do not store outdoors under any condition. If you absolutely have to, keep them in the tire bags and invest in some type of waterproof and weatherproof tarp or cover. Tires should not be stood on their tread, especially if they're dismounted from the rims. This could create a flat spot in the tire and create a driving nuisance when they're reinstalled. Tires should be stored on their sidewalls and can be stacked. It is recommended not to go higher than four tires.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not going to be able to store your tires properly, you're going to compromise the life expectancy of the tires and diminish their value and quality. If you do not have the room to store tires properly, perhaps you should consider investing in a good all-season radial that can be used year-round. They may cost a little more, but chances are, one set of tires will be cheaper than two sets--and will be much easier to care for.