March is here, and while winter is still hanging on in some areas, warmer weather is definitely on the horizon! Now is the time to schedule your appointment to have your winter tires changed out for your normal driving tires.
An important part of winter tire maintenance that is often overlooked is proper tire storage. Storing your winter tires the right way will keep them looking great and performing well.
Tires should be stored in a clean, cool and dry place. Keep them away from sunlight and be sure they are not exposed to strong air currents. It is true that the rubber used to make tires is engineered to resist the effects of sunlight, ozone, and water, however these elements still cause wear. Seasonal storage time provides a great opportunity to minimize exposure to these stresses and give your tires a break.
When storing your winter tires, follow these guidelines and you should get years of safe service from them:
- Tires stored while mounted on rims should be inflated to 10 psi.
- Tires that are put in storage during warm weather should be inflated to about 15 psi to offset the pressure drop during cold weather months.
- Cover or wrap tires for storage. Many types of covers are available from auto parts retailers.
- If tires are mounted on rims, they should be stacked four deep underneath a tire cover.
- Tires should be stored upright and under a cover if they are mounted on rims, rather than stacked or suspended from the ceiling.
- Tires with whitewall or raised white lettering should be stored with the whitewall or raised white lettering facing each other to avoid black rubber staining.
- It is best not to store tires outside, but it is unavoidable, keep them raised off the storage surface.
