Your Shed Isn't The Ideal Spot For Storing Spare Tires. Try This Instead

If you have seasonal tires, you need to find a good place to store them when not in use. You may consider storing spare tires in your outdoor shed. It seems like a perfect storage spot for tires, right? Storing them in a shed keeps them out of the way and protects them from sun, rain, or snow. But tires are items that you really shouldn't store in your shed. Most sheds aren't climate controlled. The heat during the summer can cause dry rot, which can make your tires dry out and crack. Leaving your tires in a storage shed during the winter is just as bad. The frigid weather can cause the rubber to freeze and crack.

If you want your tires to last, you need to store them indoors in a clean, cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Storing your tires in such a place helps improve their longevity and appearance. The best places to store your tires are either in the basement or in a climate-controlled shed or building. To properly protect them, you'll want to store tires in an airtight or specially designed tire bag. Let's take a look at how to store your tires properly.

Before you store your tires, it's important to clean them. This helps remove any rocks, grime, or debris. Use soap and warm water to wash your tires, then take a tire brush and scrub each one. Storing tires that are even a little wet can decrease the lifespan of the tire, so make sure the tires are completely dry before you do anything else. Once the tires are dry, place each one in a large plastic bag. You can buy tire bags designed for this purpose from Amazon.

Find the ideal location to store your tires. As mentioned before, you'll want to avoid outdoor sheds. Don't store your tires in your garage, either, since most garages aren't climate controlled. Plus, most people store chemicals in their garages that can damage tires. A basement is ideal for tire storage, but don't store the tires near anything that generates ozone, such as a furnace or sump pump, as ozone can damage tires.

If your tires are mounted on wheels, the best way to store them is to stack them. You can hang mounted tires from hooks. If the tires are not mounted, place them standing next to each other. This puts less strain on the tires. If you stack unmounted tires, don't stack them too high — otherwise they might topple over.