How to Store Tires Over Summer or Winter (Without Ruining Them)
Proper off-season tire storage adds 1–2 years of life to your tires. Here are the rules Shah Tire uses in our climate-controlled storage — and how to replicate them at home.
Most tire damage happens off the car. Sun, heat, ozone, and bad storage habits dry-crack rubber faster than driving does. Here's how to keep your winter or summer set fresh for next season.
Step 1: Clean First
Brake dust, road salt, and tar accelerate rubber aging. Before storing, rinse each tire with water and mild soap and let it fully air-dry. Never use tire "shine" products — the solvents dry out the rubber.
Step 2: Bag Them
Use opaque, airtight bags (lawn-and-leaf bags work fine). The goal is to block oxygen and ozone. Suck as much air out as you can and tape the bag shut.
Step 3: Pick the Right Spot
- Cool, dry, indoor. Garages and basements are ideal in most Canadian homes.
- Away from furnaces, hot-water tanks, dryers, and compressors — ozone from motors ages rubber.
- Away from direct sun and any window UV.
Step 4: Position Matters
- Tires on rims: Stack flat, or hang from a wall hook. Don't stand them upright — the bottom rim will oval over months.
- Unmounted tires: Stand them upright, side-by-side. Rotate a quarter-turn monthly to prevent flat-spotting.
Don't Have the Space?
We offer climate-controlled seasonal tire storage at Shah Tire. Drop your set off in April or November, we inspect, bag, and store them in our warehouse, and they're remounted for you at the next changeover — for less than the cost of a pizza per month.