TIRE
INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN
Volume 23, Number 4
Page 1 of 4
TIRE STORAGE RECOMMENDATIONS
INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE
Tires are designed and built to provide many thousands of miles of excellent service but
must be maintained properly. Tires are composed of various materials, including rubber, that
have performance properties essential to the proper functioning of
the tire. Properties of tire materials can evolve due to their service
and storage conditions. Tires can be damaged as a result of poor
storage conditions and such damage may eventually lead to tire
failure.
Stored tires should be protected against environmental effects
such as sunlight, ozone, and other potentially damaging condi-
tions. An important thing to remember about tire storage is to first
use the tires that have been in stock the longest period of time.
The purpose of this bulletin is to outline recommendations—the
“Do’s and Don’t’s”—for the proper storage of unmounted and
mounted tires. Some specialty, application-restricted type tires
(such as racing, or semi-racing tires) may require specific storage
conditions. Please refer to the tire manufacturer’s storage recom-
mendations for details.
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Tel: 202.682.4800 • Fax: 202.682.4854 • Web: www.rma.org • E-mail: info@rma.org
TISB Vol. 23 No. 4 Page 2 of 4
DOs FIGURE 1
• Do store tires where the area is clean, dry and well venti-
lated, but with a minimum of circulating air.
• Do store tires in an area with temperate ambient condi-
tions (mild temperatures, shaded or dark).
• Do store tires raised off the storage area’s surface to min-
imize exposure to moisture or damage, such as on a pallet
or a storage rack.
J Pallets should be in good condition and free of protrud-
ing nails or sharp burrs from metal bracing. Damaged
pallets should not be used.
J Pallets should have flat, smooth surface—not a grated
surface. Grated surfaces may leave an indentation on
the tire if stored over long periods of time. FIGURE 2
• Do store unmounted tires sidewall to sidewall to help
maintain tires’ shape; to prevent staining, store whitewall
to whitewall; for example:
J Stacked horizontally (“stovepipe”) as illustrated in
Figure 1. For stability, do not over stack unmounted
tires. Too much weight can also damage the tires at the
bottom of the stack.
—OR—
J Racked sidewall-to-sidewall as illustrated in Figure 2.
Indoor storage is recommended, however—
If tires are outdoors— FIGURE 3
• Do store tires where they are raised off the ground (or on
storage racks).
• Do protect tires with an opaque, waterproof covering with
some type of vent openings in order to avoid creating a
“heat box” or “steam bath” effect. See Figure 3 for an
example of an outdoor storage cover.
If tires are mounted on a vehicle—
• Do store the vehicle such that all weight is removed from
the tires.
• If the vehicle cannot be stored with weight removed and
off the storage surface, completely unload it so minimum
TISB Vol. 23 No. 4 Page 3 of 4
weight will rest on the tires. Be sure to maintain the rec-
ommended inflation pressure for all tires, including the
spare. The surface where the vehicle is parked/stored
should be firm, reasonably level, well drained, and clean.
Move the vehicle at least every three months to prevent
ozone cracking/weather checking in the sidewall flex area
and also to prevent a “flat spot” from developing (due to
strain from deflection). If tires do develop a temporary
“flat spot,” it will usually disappear in a short period of
time (for example, after about 25 miles of service).
• For vehicles equipped with high performance tires with a
nylon belt overlay, to prevent “flat spotting” it is recom-
mended that the vehicle be moved every 30 days and that
the tires be temporarily inflated to the maximum inflation
pressure molded on the tire sidewall. When the vehicle is
returned to service, adjust the inflation pressure to the
recommended inflation pressure printed on the vehicle
tire placard.
DON’Ts
• Do not store tires where the area is dirty, wet, and poorly
ventilated.
• Do not expose tires to petroleum-based products
(such as gasoline or oil) as well as other volatile
solvents/substances.
• Do not store tires in an area with extremely hot
temperatures or exposed to direct sunlight.
X
• Do not store tires in an area with extremely cold
temperatures.
• Do not store tires in the same area as electric motors,
battery chargers, generators, welding equipment, or other
ozone-generating sources. If there is a question, check
ozone levels to be sure they do not exceed 0.08 ppm (parts
per million).
If outdoors—
• Do not store tires in contact with black asphalt or other
heat absorbent surfaces.
• Do not expose tires to highly reflective surfaces
(e.g., sand or snow covered ground)
• Do not store tires unprotected on piers, ship decks, open
fields or other exposed outdoor areas.
TISB Vol. 23 No. 4 Page 4 of 4
PLACING STORED TIRES IN SERVICE WEATHER / OZONE CRACKING
Before placing stored tires in service, a professional tire
dealer should conduct a visual and tactile inspection to be sure
those tires are clean, dry, free of foreign objects, and/or do not
show any signs of damage. Improper storage may result in var-
ious tire conditions, some examples of which are shown in the
photos at right. For more information, refer to the Passenger
and Light Truck Tire Conditions Manual published by the Tire
Industry Association (see RESOURCE). SIDEWALL DISCOLORATION
If vehicle and/or tire manufacturers make recommendations
regarding tire service life, please contact those manufacturers
with any questions regarding those recommendations in con-
nection with stored tires. The last four digits of the DOT tire
identification number (TIN) are the week and year the tire was
manufactured.
Once mounted on the rim/wheel, the tire should be inflated
to the vehicle’s recommended inflation pressure, which is list- VENEER CRACKING
ed on the vehicle’s tire placard. If placing a spare tire into serv-
ice, be sure it is inflated to the recommended inflation pres-
sure. Note that a compact, temporary spare (T-type) tire may
have a higher operating inflation pressure.
TREAD GROOVE CRACKING
RESOURCE
Tire Industry Association • Bowie, Maryland
Phone (800) 876-8372 • Fax (301) 430-7283
www.tireindustry.org
TIA is an international association representing all segments of the tire industry, including
those that sell, service, manufacture, repair, recycle, or use new or retreaded tires, and also
those suppliers or individuals who furnish equipment, material or services to the industry. PHOTO SOURCE: Passenger and Light Truck Tire Conditions Manual
COURTESY OF THE TIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
This Bulletin Replaces Volume 23, Number 3
This is a publication of the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced in any form without the express written permission of RMA.
To order RMA publications, call (202) 682-4800 or go online www.rma.org and click on Publications.
Copyright © 2011, Rubber Manufacturers Association TISB 23/4-0611
