Best way to store tires for winter is. . .

[skiteton]

What is the best way? I'm thinking about making a rack so I can stand them up side by side, but in prior years I've just stacked them. I just wondered if there are any ill effects to leaving the wheels and tires stand up all winter in a cold garage.

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[nhluhr]

best to put them in plastic bags and stack them on their side. The plastic bag is to prevent them from ozonation and UV damage during storage.

Some would argue that standing them up for long term storage could cause flatspots - I'm not so sure about that, but just to be safe I always store them stacked on their side anyway. If you think about it, two tires stacked on their sides takes up the same space that 2 tires standing on their end next to each other would take.

So you can build your rack and just stack them like this:

= =

or like this:
||||

ascii diagrams own

[ChrisL2]

Always bag the tires/wheels.

If you are only storing tires, stand them up and don't hang them on hooks of any sort.
If you are storing tires mounted on wheels, stack them on their side or hang them on a wheel-tire stand/hooks on the wall. Don't store them on standing up.

Got this info from a tire/wheel dealer when I lived in Germany.

[KIMUTAKU]

by on the side, do you guys mean laying them flat?

i have them standing like how they are on the car..

[wrrrx]

Yes, they mean "laying them flat" on their sides.
Don't forget the bags!

Russ R

[fliz]

Why are the bags so important?

I have three sets of tires stacked in my basement, and only one set has bags on them.

I don't see what difference a bag is going to make if the tires are dry and out of the sunlight?

[roybfr]

I have stored them mounted and unmouted stacked = and side by side |||| and never had an issue with either. Personally I prefer |||| as it is just easier to get at a single wheel/tire if needed and I don't have to move the whole stack if it's the last one.

[balajc]

I stored my tires/wheels in bags and then stack them on the side...the only thing I had to do when I took them out was to pump them up again (all 4 of them lost about 6-7PSI after 6 months of storage)

[enewtabie]

I put mine in garbage bags and stack them..

[KIMUTAKU]

interesting..

i have my \\\\ to the wall.. don't know if that's a no no..

[chris84bond]

By shipping them down to me *grin*

Better than the steelies I got now...lol

[reaubideux]

Does it matter if they're laying on concrete, such as in your garage? I've always been under the impression that it's best to keep them off the ground in addition to keeping them wrapped in bags. I didn't see that mentioned in this thread so I wanted to ask. When I had a spare set I kept them in bags and on a wood pallet. I never had any issues but they were only stored for a few months.

[WR^2X]

Bump for the garbage bag question. Why? I also have mine sitting in my basement.

[nhluhr]

Rubber, as used in tires, contains oil and other liquids that allow the rubber to remain flexible without cracking. Leaving them unbagged not only opens them up to environmental contamination (Radon from your basement, Ozone from the air, Mildew etc) but also allows the rubber's natural liquids to be depleted. The plastic bag keeps the nasties out and keeps the good stuff in longer.

[WR^2X]

Interesting... So leaving them in the basement without bagging them would be as bad as or worse than driving on them without some kind of tire protectant like armorall? (Ignoring usual wear from driving)

Just tried to bag mine, and the bags are too small. I'll have to pick some up tomorrow.

[enewtabie]

I use the Hefty cinch tie bags..Large size I think..
Fits the 16" wrx wheel/17" plus size.

[Johnzim63]

I put a piece of carpet under my stack in the garage. Not sure if it does anything beneficial, but they sure look cozy!

[nhluhr]

Originally Posted by WR^2X

Interesting... So leaving them in the basement without bagging them would be as bad as or worse than driving on them without some kind of tire protectant like armorall?

No, driving them is harder on them because you are heat cycling them, letting them sit in the sun, etc... but at least when you're driving on them they are being used as intended.

The point of long term storage is to get the item back in the same condition you put it in. You can store them long-term without huge penalties, but when it's so easy to toss a bag around them before you stack them, why wouldn't you?