How to Store Your Tires in the Off-Season
Twice a year, drivers in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph swap between winter tires and their all-season or summer set. That leaves four tires to keep somewhere until next season. How you store them matters: tires that are stored badly can dry out, crack or get damaged before you ever put them back on. Here's how to store your off-season tires the right way.
Before the tires come off
Michelin Canada recommends a few simple steps before you put a set away:
Note each tire's position on the vehicle (front left, rear right and so on). That way the tires can be rotated properly when they go back on, which helps them wear evenly.
Inspect each tire for damage or uneven wear.
Clean the tires and wheels with water and dry them well to limit corrosion.
Remove any stones or debris stuck in the tread grooves.
A marker on the inside of each tire, or a strip of tape labelled with its position, makes the next swap easier.
Where to store tires
Michelin says tires should be stored in a cool, dry, clean, indoor place, away from direct sunlight and away from sources of heat and ozone, such as hot pipes or electric generators. Make sure the floor or shelf is free of grease, gasoline, solvents, oils or anything else that could deteriorate the rubber.
Outdoors is a last resort. Michelin warns that tires left outside unused for a month or more can dry out and develop surface cracks. If you do have to store them outside for a short time, raise them off the ground and cover them with a waterproof cover that has holes so moisture doesn't build up.
On wheels or off: stack or stand?
The right position depends on whether your tires are mounted on wheels:
Tires on wheels: hang them up or stack them flat. Michelin says not to store them standing upright.
Tires without wheels: store them standing up, side by side. Michelin says not to stack or hang them.
If your tires have white lettering or whitewalls, Michelin suggests storing them with the white sides facing each other so the black rubber doesn't stain them.
Parking a car for a long time?
If a vehicle will sit for a long stretch with the tires on it, Michelin says to take the weight off the tires by jacking the vehicle up or removing the tires. Leaving the full weight on them for a long period can cause damage that can't be reversed.
When the tires go back on
Storage is also a good time to plan ahead. Transport Canada recommends installing winter tires in sets of four, with the same type, size, speed rating and load index on all four wheels, and putting the tires with the deepest tread on the rear. The Government of Ontario also says to install four winter tires and never mix different types of tires on one vehicle. If one tire in your set is damaged or worn out, you'll want to sort that out before the season starts, not on the first snowy morning.
Skip the basement: tire storage at SVS
Don't have room in the garage, basement or on the balcony? SVS Tires & Wheels offers seasonal tire storage at our Cambridge shop for $80 per season. Just ask about storage when you book your seasonal tire swap. We put on the tires for the season ahead, and your off-season set can stay with us instead of going back home with you. Have a question about storing tires that are on wheels? Ask us when you book, or give us a call.
If a set is worn out, the changeover is a good time to replace it. Browse our winter tires, use the Find Tires by Size search, or look at our new economy tires if you're on a tighter budget. We never sell used tires. Putting your winter tires on their own wheels makes every swap simpler, so ask about a wheel and tire package. Every install is balanced with Road Force balancing equipment, and we service TPMS sensors as part of every tire installation.
Visit SVS Tires & Wheels at Units 7-8, 990 Bishop St N, Cambridge, ON N3H 4V7. We're open Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Call 519-267-4200 or book online.
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