If you run seasonal tyres, storing the off-season set correctly keeps them safe to use next year. The enemies are heat, sunlight, damp and contamination, all of which perish rubber. Get the conditions and position right and a stored set will be as good as when it came off. Get it wrong and you can ruin a perfectly good set.
Why storage matters
Tyres age even when they're not used, and bad storage speeds it up, see tyre age. A set left in sunlight, near a heat source, or in contact with oil can crack and perish over a single off-season, so they're no longer safe even though the tread is untouched. Good storage protects the investment in a second set.
The right conditions
Aim for cool, dry, dark and clean. A garage or shed away from direct sunlight is ideal. Keep tyres away from heat sources, and crucially away from oils, fuels and solvents, which attack rubber. Give them a clean before storage to remove brake dust and road grime, and let them dry fully so damp doesn't sit against them.
On wheels vs off wheels
The best position depends on whether the tyres are on wheels:
- On wheels (a complete set): stack them flat on top of each other, or hang them. Keep them inflated to roughly the normal pressure.
- Off wheels (tyres only): store them upright, standing in a row, not stacked, which can distort them over time.
Label before you store
Before they go away, mark each tyre with the position it came off (front-left, and so on) using chalk or a label. That lets you refit them in a sensible rotation next season so wear stays even, and it makes the swap quicker. A quick condition and pressure check before refitting is worth doing too.
We can swap them
We fit and swap seasonal tyres at your home or work across the UK, so you don't have to lug them about. Book a seasonal swap.
