Tire Storage
How to Store Your Tires
The best place to store tires is a clean, cool, dry, sunless area away from strong air currents.
Even though the rubber used to make tires is formulated to resist the effects of sunlight, ozone, and water,
the life of a tire can be extended if exposure to these elements is minimized during storage.
- Stack tires flat so that the bottom tire will maintain its shape
- Wrap each tire with an opaque polyethylene covering to minimize the effects of oxygen and ozone.
Most Goodyear retailers have storage bags made specifically for this purpose
- If tires are being stored outdoors, they should be raised off the storage surface
- If tires are stored while mounted on rims, they should be inflated to 10 psi
- If they are put in storage during warm weather, the initial inflation pressure
should be about 15 psi to offset the pressure drop during cold weather months
How Not to Store Your Tires
- Don't store tires in an area that is wet, oily or greasy
- Don't store tires where they are subjected to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures
- Don't store tires near electric motors or other ozone-generating sources
- Don't store tires on black asphalt or other heat-absorbent surfaces
- Don't store tires on or adjacent to highly reflective surfaces such as sand or snow
Storing Your Vehicle Without Removing the Tires
Ideally, a vehicle in storage should be placed on blocks to remove all weight from the tires.
If the vehicle cannot be put on blocks, follow these steps for tire protection:
- Completely unload the vehicle so that minimum weight will be placed on the tires
- Inflate tires to recommended operating pressure plus 25%. Ensure that the rim manufacturer’s
inflation capacity is not exceeded
- Be sure the storage surface is firm, clean, well drained and reasonably level
- Avoid moving the vehicle during extremely cold weather
- Move the vehicle at least every three months to prevent ozone cracking in the tire bulge area,
as well as “flat-spotting” from the prolonged strain of sidewall and tread deflection
- Adjust inflation before putting the vehicle back into service