Do you know that car tires are not as tough as they look? Poor storage of car tires can damage them, and damaged tires are a huge accident risk (think tire blowouts) once you get them on the road. Here are some useful tips to keep your tires safe in storage.
Dirt and Debris
Tires gather considerable dirt and debris during normal usage. Some people assume dirt on tires is not a big deal because tires touch the ground all the time. However, the dirt and debris here include dust, fuel, oil, and other materials that can damage the tires. These contaminants will deteriorate the rubber and increase the risk of blowouts over extended exposure. Therefore, clean your tires (washing with soap and water will do) and dry them thoroughly before storing them.
Petroleum Products
The major material in tires is rubber (both synthetic and natural). Rubber and other carbon compounds, which are also part of tires, react with other chemicals such as motor oil, antifreeze, and fuel. Therefore, if you want to store tires as well as other products you use on the car, store them separately. Otherwise, the chemicals might spill on the rubber, react, and cause tire damage.
Air
Tires are flexible because the rubber is integrated with lubricating oils during manufacture. Over time, however, the lubricating oils evaporate and leave the tires stiff and susceptible to cracking. The longer you store your tires, the more they will dry up.
Keep the tires in airtight containers or wrap them up in airtight materials to prevent the evaporation of the lubricating oils. For long-term storage, you can even use a vacuum cleaner to suck all the air out of the storage bags so that you can keep the tires in vacuums.
Sunlight and Heat
Direct sunlight or unusually high temperatures are not good for your tires either. The heat can break down the rubber and accelerate the evaporation of the lubricating oils. Such deteriorated rubber will wear out faster than normal tires do. Therefore, store tires away from direct sunlight and ensure that the temperatures don't get unusually high.
Wrong Posture
Tires are flexible, but they can permanently distort if you store them in the wrong posture for a long time. For example, hanging tires (without rims) and stacking tires too high can easily distort them. Ideally, you should store tires vertically if they don't have rims and minimize stacking.
The above tips should help you store tires safely. Talk to the manager of your chosen storage facility for further advice on storing your tires.
For more information on good storage procedures, go to a website like http://www.ralphpalmisanomovers.com.