All season tires offer a smooth driving experience all around the year. Many people prefer having season-specific tires due to the superior performance and safety provided by them. Winter tires are essential to ensure a smooth and safe driving experience when the roads are covered with snow and frost. However, using different winter and summer tires means that you need to store the winter tires during the summer season and vice-versa.
While it might seem like an easy task to put away a set of car tires, there are certain things that one must take care of, to keep the tires in perfect condition and prevent any damages. Here are the steps that you should follow to ensure good condition of your winter tires during the summer months:
When being used, tires collect road grime, dirt and brake dust. All this dirt can cause damage to the tire is allowed to sit for a long time. So, when it is time to put away the tires, give it a thorough wash using water, soap and a tire brush. After washing the tires, dry them up properly. However, do not use a tire gloss or tire dressing before you are going to store the tires. You can also utilize this time to check the tire for any signs of bulges, cracks or uneven wear on the tread.
As far as possible, try to avoid storing the tires outdoors or in a place where the temperatures can fluctuate. Even if they are covered, tires can still be damaged due to the environmental changes. Do not store your tires in attics or normal garages which could become too cold, humid or hot. The best option to store tires is in cool and dry places where the temperature and humidity levels remain more or less constant. Some examples include workshops, climate-controlled garages, and basements.
Make sure that the storage place you choose has no machinery around it. Machines like furnaces, electric motors, central vacuums, etc. generate ozone that can harm the tires. In case you have no suitable place and have to store the tires outdoors, make sure to keep them out of the sun. The black rubber of the tires absorbs the heat of the sun and can quickly heat up. The heat and the harmful rays from the sun can damage the rubber, causing breaking.
For maintaining great condition, you should try to keep each tire covered. There are various options available for covering the tires. No matter what kind of cover you choose, the aim should be to keep the tires wrapped in an opaque material that is sealed properly and airtight. This prevents the lubricant in the tires from evaporating.
You can choose simple plastic garden bags for storing your tires and prevent as much air from it before sealing it. Custom totes or bags for storing tires are also available in the market. Further, if you are storing your tires outdoors, look for weather-proof canvases that protect the tires from rain, sun, and other natural forces.
The best way to store tires depends on whether the tires are mounted on the rims or not. If your winter tires are mounted on the rim, the best way to store them is to hang them from hooks. Alternatively, if you have tires without rims, hanging them is not a good option as it will exert a lot of stress on them.
You can also choose to store the tires either in an upright position or in stacks. Storing the tires vertically upright puts less stress on the tires. If you are stacking the tires one on top of another, make sure that you do not make the stack too high. This could cause the tires to topple over and incur damage. In both these scenarios, you must remember to alter the position in which the tires are stores at least once every four weeks. This will reduce the pressure on a particular side or rim of the tire, preventing severe damages.
If you are storing not just the tires but an entire vehicle, make sure that drive the vehicle for short distances occasionally. The constant weight of the vehicle on the tire can cause damage, which can be prevented by taking the vehicle for a drive, regulating the lubricant.
For tires that have white letters, stack them in such a way that the white touches the white and the black touches the black. This will keep the white parts of the tire clean. You can even wrap them up or place felts between them to protect the whitewash.
Following these simple steps will ensure that you maintain your winter tires in good condition during the summer when they are not in use.
Looking to buy the best tires for your small truck, but you are still either… Read More
The current pandemic has shaken our lives to the core and we can’t wait to… Read More
If you drive an SUV, you will want a tire which doesn't leave you high… Read More
An RV tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is an absolute necessity for every owner. Of… Read More
Rust. Every car or truck owner’s worst nightmare. But can you really get the better… Read More
White is a very unforgiving color and any scratches or blemishes are immediately conspicuous. Although… Read More