How to Store Your Car Tyres
9 steps to keeping your tyres safe and stored correctly
- Clean your tyres to remove any dirt, salt, and brake dust.
- Dry off your tyres completely to avoid moisture build-up.
- Seal each tyre in an airtight plastic bag to protect against humidity and evaporation.
- Store your tyres upright or stack them flat if they’re mounted on rims.
- Keep your tyres off the ground using racks, shelves, or wooden boards – never directly on concrete or soil.
- Choose a cool, dry, secure indoor space away from sunlight and extreme temperatures.
- If you’re tight on space, consider a tyre storage facility like Kwik Fit’s Tyre Hotel.
- Check your tyres for cracks or damage before refitting tyres after storage.
- Seek help from a professional when refitting your summer or winter tyres.
As the seasons change, it is wise to change your tyres accordingly. Some people choose to change their tyres biannually, alternating between summer and winter varieties. But if you use both summer and winter tyres for your vehicle, you’ll need to store the ones that aren’t in use.
Storing tyres correctly is important if you want to extend their lifespan, ensure they stay safe to drive on, and prevent damage from occurring in the months they aren’t being used.
Where is the best place to store car tyres?
The best place to store your car’s tyres when you’re not using them is a climate-controlled storage unit like Kwik Fit’s Tyre Hotel. However, for motorists with the space at home, tyres can also be stored indoors (such as garages or watertight, robust sheds) provided they are prepared and stored correctly.
As a general rule of thumb, tyres should be kept in a dry location that doesn’t experience extreme temperature fluctuations. At Kwik Fit, we’ll store your summer tyres safely for six months, for just £22 per tyre, and contact you when it’s time to swap your winter ones back out again.
How should you store tyres when they are not being used?
Before you tuck your tyres in for a few months, you should:
- Make sure that they’re clean and free of brake dust, salt (for winter tyres), and general grime. It’s easier to do this once you’ve taken the tyres off your car.
- Use some special cleaning detergent mixed with water and a tyre brush to get in the tread properly.
- Once this is done, either pat them completely dry with a towel or place them in a sheltered spot to dry out.
- Next, you should find a large plastic bag to put each tyre into. Once the tyre is in the bag, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the air and make it airtight, then tape the bag shut.
- Do this for all of your tyres.
Should you store tyres in plastic bags?
If you’re storing your car’s tyres at home, plastic bags are a good option if they are sealed air tight around the tyre. This is to protect the tyres from changes in humidity which may be harmful to the rubber.
An airtight bag reduces the evaporation of the natural oil in the rubber of the tyre. This is important, as tyres can dry out and crack over time, so storing them in this way can help to slow this process.
Should tyres be stored flat or upright?
Tyres should be kept upright to prevent distortion and flat spots, and to make mounting them on wheels easier. If your tyres have rims on, then you can store them horizontally by stacking them or placing them on shelves. The most important thing to consider when storing your tyres is supporting weight, reducing distortion, and limiting stress on the tyre.
What is the best surface to store tyres on?
Once sealed, your tyres should be placed on a suitable surface, ideally on a tyre rack or a clean, dry, wooden surface to avoid any damage. Tyres shouldn’t be kept directly on concrete or outside on soil, since this can lead to moisture build up and deteriorate the rubber.
How long do tyres last in storage?
A tyre should be changed approximately every three to 10 years, but this is the rule for those that are being used on a regular basis. If you aren’t using your tyres and they’re safely in storage, they should last for around six to 10 years, provided that they’re in an airtight bag and out of the sun or cold. If you plan to use your tyres after they’ve been in storage for a long time, you should check for signs of damage or cracking before having them re-fitted.
How to store winter tyres
It’s essential to find a suitable place to store your winter tyres to keep them free from damage. UV rays and the heat of the sun can have an impact on the rubber the tyres are made from, especially older tyres. Being in a plastic bag, the tyres could get very hot. Therefore, you should store your winter tyres out of the direct sunlight in a cool, shady spot. A garage would work well, but sheds should be avoided as they can get hot in the summer.
How to store summer tyres
Storing summer tyres in winter can be difficult, as the cold can cause all sorts of problems, including deflation and cracking. Summer tyres are made from a softer rubber than their winter counterparts, which makes them good for driving in the heat. They also have less elasticity than winter tyres, meaning that, if they get too cold, they could be more prone to cracking.
Because of this, it’s better to store them indoors. If your home has an internal garage, store them there as the heat from your home would prevent the temperature from dropping too much. Otherwise, a Tyre Hotel might be the best place to keep your tyres in tiptop condition.
Swapping out your tyres after storing them
Once the weather has changed enough for you to need to swap out your tyres - replacing winter with summer or vice versa - the process is simple. Make sure you inspect your tyres thoroughly after months of storing them, give them a clean while they’re off the car, and change the tyres according to our simple guide.
Rather not get your hands dirty? Book an appointment with our TyreSwap service and our experts can refit your tyres for you (whether you stored them at home or at our Tyre Hotel).
Store your tyres safely with Kwik Fit
If you have any questions about storing your tyres or tyre care, get in touch with our friendly team of experts today who can point you in the right direction. Noticed an issue with your tyres after storing them yourself? Speak to your local Kwik Fit today or book a free tyre check appointment.
In the meantime, if you’re in need of new tyres, why not browse our full range of premium options?
