SharkboyEI

Sorry if this is in the wrong section, but I need some of yall to chime in on storing tires. Last night I found a deal on Nitto Ridge Grapplers that I couldn't pass up. My current tires have about 20,000 miles left on them which I will continue to drive on unless someone buys them from me. It will take approximately a year to reach 20,000 miles. So, how should I store them? I am planning on putting them in my grand -parents air conditioned basement; I have read a climate controlled area is the best. My question is, should I mount them on old rims that I have laying around, or should I stack them horizontally on each other? Hopefully, some guys from up north see this, since they normally run two different sets of tires in the summer and winter. Thanks very much in advance

SALEEN961

iTrader: (1)

A climate controlled area away from any direct sources of heat and out of direct sunlight will be best. You can stack them up in a corner and won't have any issues. Sometimes the bottom tire will pancake pretty flat when tires are stacked 15 high, but with only 4 you won't have any issues.

Spiky

They are going to smell. I put mine in bags to reduce that issue. 55 gallon or so lawn bags should fit. Cheaper than "tire storage bags", and those are hard to find big enough for truck tires, anyway.

SharkboyEI

What about cleaning them when I get them? However, I would imagine they should be fine how they are. I read somewhere not to put tire shine on them, but i wouldn't do that anyway.

RLXXI

In addition to what Saleen said, I'd put them in those hd contractor trash bags they sell at home depot, one bag might hold all 4 depending on what size they are.
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Ricktwuhk

Keep in mind that a tire has a life of 6 years. You are giving up 1 of those.

RLXXI

There is no life span for a tire, new tires can be stored indefinitely. 6-10 years mixed use/storage depending on climate in which they are used.
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SALEEN961

iTrader: (1)

I like to think of 5 or 6 years from the manufacturing date as the "best by date", depending on how they were cared for they may much last longer without even showing signs of age, but I've seen many that had bad dry-rot at the 6 year mark that needed to be removed from service.

I wouldn't throw my tires away after 6 six years regardless of condition, but I'd take a close look at them to determine whether or not I should still use them. I swap my wife's tires twice a year to remove/install her snows, and each year I inspect them to make sure I still want them on her car before installing them.

Ricktwuhk

Lots of sources would disagree with you, but you know that as a mechanic. An indefinitely is not correct, you stated the correct "6 - 10 years".

I don't buy any tire, or any tires on a vehicle, that are over 90 days old, and I won't drive any tire over 8 years old - and examine them very carefully if they reach 6.

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging

RLXXI

I stated correctly new tires can be stored indefinitely. Once exposed to the climate, uv etc that's when tires just like people begin aging. How fast they age also depends on how long they are exposed to the climate, if new tires are stored away from heat, direct sunlight, uv, they will last forever, noting that, what good is a tire that's never used? LOL.

There is NO real life span as the variables are many.
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