How To Store Tyres Properly?

A common scenario that people face today,, is having to find a proper and suitable storage for tyres. This is a situation that arises when a person owns more than one set of tyres, and needs to preserve them for the upcoming weather patterns. While this is something that most people today are forced to do, this is not as simple a process as most people might imagine. There is far more to finding the right storage for your tyres than you might imagine.

There are certain things that you need to keep in mind for this:

1) Tyres are not suited to being stored for extensive amounts of time. In other words, storing tyres for long durations in conditions that are less than ideal, will inflict damage on the tyre. Therefore, when confronting the need to store tyres, it is vital to keep in mind that nothing but the perfect conditions will do. This is the only means of protecting the tyre for the duration through which it is kept stored.

2) Ozone bears a negative effect on the rubber that tyres are made of. The rubber undergoes a corrosive effect when exposed to ozone. In other words, tyres should not be exposed to sunlight for long durations of time. Furthermore, low temperatures are also bad for tyres.

3) They should be kept in upright positions, so that deformation does not occur over the extensive periods that they are stored. This ensures that when the time comes to use them, they can be mounted on wheels easily.

4) Keeping tyres mounted on wheels is a great option, as it prevents possibilities of deformation occurring, when the tyre is held stored. However, this requires that you possess an extra set of wheels to go along with the tyres.

How to store tyres properly:

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Now that we have these essentials put on the table before you, let's get to the core of how to proceed, step by step, for the best storage method for your tyres.

1) Before putting the tyres for storage, have them well cleaned.

This is a vital step to go before the entire procedure. When used normally, tyres accumulate dirt, dust, road grime and all other sources of uncleanliness. If this is allowed to settle on your tyres for long durations of time, it causes damage to the rubber and to the tyre as well. As a result, before settling the tyres for the long hibernation, it is important to have them cleaned. This can be done with the tyres still mounted on the wheels. Use soap and water, and brush the tyres from all over for relieving all of the dirt from it's surface.

2) Put them in airtight plastic bags.

Once the tyres have been cleaned, seal them in large airtight plastic bags. This is important because the least amount of air should be in contact with the tyre during the storage duration. As a result, after placing the tyres in the airtight bags, you can also use a vacuum to suck some of the remaining air out if possible. This ensures that the lubricating oil within the tyre's compounds does not evaporate over the long shelf duration.

3) Put them upright

As mentioned above, when stored for long periods of time, it is usual for the tyres to gather deformities. As a result, to prevent this from occurring and to ensure that the tyres preserve their overall shape and structure, it is important to keep the tyres stored upright and stable for the long nap.

4) Do not hang them

This could strike some people as a great option: to hang the tyres on hooks. However, as mentioned previously, tyres need to be kept from getting deformed over the long duration that they are stored, and hanging them on hooks places them under additional strain, thereby leading to distortion, damage and deformation.

5) Make sure that the place is cool and dry

As mentioned, make sure that the place where the tyres are being stored is not exposed to sunlight, and is also at cool temperatures. This is needed for longevity of the tyres. Find a cool and dry place, with a controlled climate, and store the tyres there. A good choice might be a garage or a workshop. Avoid typical places such as your attic. Any place with hot, humid and wet climates should be avoided.

Article submitted by Abhinav Chaudhary