How to Store Rims and Tires
The proper care and storage of your automobile rims and tires can prolong the quality and lifetime of these vital parts of your vehicle. Often you may have two sets of wheels for your car, with one set stored in the case ofinclement weather. With risk factors of ultraviolet light and ozone damage that can cause cracking and deterioration, proper storage is critical.
- Wash your rims and tires to remove any dirt, grime or brake dust that may have accumulated. Car wash soap diluted with warm water and applied with a towel works great for cleaning wheels. A tire brush may also be necessary to scrub the sidewalls of the tires. Ensuring that the tires are clean will help them last longer by inhibiting cracking and deterioration. After cleaning the tires and rims, be sure to let them dry thoroughly before putting them into storage.
- Place each wheel in its own opaque plastic bag (garbage, lawn, or garden bags work great). Try to remove as much air as possible from the bag. This can be facilitated with the use of a vacuum to draw out excess air. Tape the bag closed as tightly as possible. This process will help prevent any oil evaporation that may occur.
- Store the tires in a dry, cool location such as a basement or workshop that is climate-controlled. Garages, storage sheds, hot attics and the outdoors do not offer such temperature regulation.
Special considerations:
Tires that are mounted should be inflated to a minimum of 10 psi while in storage.
If you choose not to place your tires in plastic bags but stack them on top of one another, take care to not place white rubber (as in lettering or stripes) directly onto black rubber. The two are compounded differently and staining can occur if the two are in contact with each other for long periods of time. Always store white-to-white and black-to-black.