Tyre storage is a task for which drivers make particularly thorough preparations during the winter months. At this time of year, we swap our winter tyres for summer ones, whilst also looking for a safe place to store them. Some opt for the services of contractors who are willing to provide tyre storage facilities at their garages. Others, however, prefer to organise a dedicated tyre storage space themselves, taking care of both the equipment and the conditions within it. In this article, we focus on storing tyres outdoors and offer advice on whether this is acceptable, what the recommended place for storing tyres is, and why they should not be stored in just any old place.
Storing tyres outdoors – environmental and weather conditions
Although storing tyres outdoors may seem like a good idea, it is generally not recommended. First and foremost, tyres stored outdoors are susceptible to various influences, including weather and environmental factors. The most serious of these include:
– solar UV radiation, which leads to the gradual deterioration of the tyre compound, loss of elasticity and surface cracking,
– damp, rain and snow, which contribute to both tyre deterioration and the corrosion of steel components; furthermore, prolonged exposure to damp encourages the growth of mould, which exacerbates the harmful effects of these factors,
– low and high temperatures, which weaken the tyre’s structure and thus lead to deformation and distortion; it is recommended that the storage temperature for tyres should not fall below 10 degrees or exceed 25 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, tyres stored outdoors are at risk of potential mechanical damage caused by objects carried by the wind, animals, theft and other human activity. To avoid these situations, tyres should be stored in a covered, locked area.
Can tyres be stored outdoors?
To answer the question directly: tyre change This should not encourage owners to store them outdoors. A better solution would be to make use of a spare cellar compartment, a utility room or simply to use a tyre storage facility. However, if you are unable to store your tyres indoors and storing them outdoors over the winter is the only viable option, we recommend following a few guidelines.
First and foremost, it is advisable to store car tyres in specialised bags designed to protect them from moisture and sunlight. Choose a shaded spot for storage, one that is not exposed to excessive sunlight, and ideally one that is simply covered.
Furthermore, tyres should not be stored directly on the ground, as they could absorb moisture from it. Instead, we recommend creating a raised platform to prevent the tyres from coming into direct contact with the ground. This can be any type of structure that keeps the tyres above ground level.