Car enthusiasts, newbie drivers, or auto experts—almost everyone knows that it’s the tires that have probably the toughest job among all car parts. They’re the ones that are constantly in contact with the road, plus they would have to withstand all kinds of harsh weather and hazardous conditions. Though there are all-season and seasonal tires and wheels available on the market to suit every car’s needs. However, it’s important to know not only which type of tire to choose but also how to store seasonal tires properly to maximize their lifespan and performance.
That is why, we understand how you’d like to make the most of your investment in seasonal tires. For too long, we’ve unfortunately witnessed all those vehicles that have been victims of accidents and disasters because their tires weren’t maintained well. You don’t want that.
So if you want your seasonal tires to be in tip-top shape not only to get the most out of your hard-earned money but, more importantly, to ensure your safety, stay on this page and read on ‘til the end of this article.
We’re here to share with you some tips on how to properly care for your seasonal wheels and tires and the best place to store them. Follow these five best practices:
Do a Spot Check
Since you’re only using these during summer, winter, and other harsh weather conditions, it is always advised that you inspect each of your seasonal tires to the tee.
First, check if they all have the correct tire pressure. Whether they’re in your car or not, correct air pressure should always be maintained to avoid premature wearing, safety, and longevity.
Second, see if any of them have any kind of damage. You wouldn’t want to see the tire damage exactly at the time you need to use them, right? Keep in mind that it’s better to address all of these issues before use and storage.
Keep ‘em Clean
Not because you’re not using them, that means you don’t have to be clean. As a matter of fact, if you’re planning on storing them, because the weather conditions in your location have gone back to normal, that’s the time when you really must clean them up.
Using a good tire brush, clean water, and the right kind of soap, carefully wash each once to remove road grime, brake dust, and all the dirt. All of these may seem normal and harmless to you but know that they can be your tires’ worst enemies because they can cause corrosion and of course uneven tread wear.
Protect Each Tire
You have to keep all tires away from extremely fluctuating temperatures as well as grease, gasoline, and solvents that may cause the rubber of the tires to deteriorate while in storage. Thus, we recommend that you cover and protect each one of them.
Today, there are already a variety of tire storage bags available in stores and online. But if you’re trying your best to be frugal, then that’s not a problem. You just have to look for large, opaque, airtight plastic bags that you can seal afterward. Opaque garbage bags will do, but make sure that you can vacuum the air out of them and tightly tape them shut afterward.
Now before placing each tire inside the bag, make sure that they are clean and dry.
Find the Most Suitable Place for Storage
Finding the perfect place to store your individually covered tires is vital to ensuring their perfect condition up to the time that you need to use them again. And even though they are all covered and protected, remember that it’s never advisable to store them outdoors. They need to be away from direct sunlight, nearby running motors (e.g. water pump, furnace, water heater, etc), and water or rain.
If you’re asking where is the best place for storing tires, that’d be a climate-controlled garage, a dry basement, or an enclosed workshop with normal room temp. Keep in mind that you should never allow them to rest in a place that’s subject to swings in temperature. Because if not, all your cleaning and covering efforts will go in vain, and you could still end up harming your seasonal tires.
Stack ‘em Up the Right Way
Before we forget, just in case you have no idea, it is advised that you always protect and store each of your tires without their rims. They should be laid flat and then stacked one on top of the other.
Should you really have no choice but to store them with their rims, you can’t stack them up and have to place them vertically next to each other. In this case, you would check on them at least once a month to rotate their positions and ensure proper pressure.