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Tire storage?

sabre67

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I have bought a new set (4) tires and new rims. They are going to be stored in a inside, dry, heated space in my house. My question is is there any difference if I mount them on the rims and air them up ready to go, or leave them unmounted? They could be in storage for up to a year.Any thoughts? Thanks
 
I can't see what the difference would be, being stored mounted and aired or unmounted and unaired as opposed to being stored mounted, aired and on the car, in the garage.
 
Tires are better stored cool and damp.
Wheels dry and warm.
But I don't think a year is a big deal especially if the tires are kept out of sunlight.
 
Cover tires if in a lighted area. Bought a pair of Nitto's said fluorescent light wasn't good for them.
 
Also have them inflated with nitrogen. Commonly available now and should be done on all of your cars/trucks tires. Slower losses of pressure, rims and inner tire stays moisture free. Inexpensive about $5. per tire out here. You still need to be aware of the tires actual age. Keep track of your D.O.T. cdate codes. After 5 years they become more likely to fail on the hiway. UV and temp are good but like storing food, every thing eventually spoils.
 
I have bought a new set (4) tires and new rims. They are going to be stored in a inside, dry, heated space in my house. My question is is there any difference if I mount them on the rims and air them up ready to go, or leave them unmounted? They could be in storage for up to a year.Any thoughts? Thanks

Either/Or......Just try to keep them away from Heat sources along with direct Sun and the natural oils in the rubber should stay Happy.
 
As far as Nitrogen is concerned, I dont know so much about that. The air we breathe is over 70% Nitrogen to begin with. Really dont see how 100% Nitrogen is gonna make much difference.
 
I have found rim's rusty on the inside and I have seen a lot of moisture emitted from service station air hoses. I assume airing up the tires on the rims will also introduce water vapor and possible rust issues. Maybe don't mount them yet? Just my thoughts.
 
If the shops maintained their compressors and receiver tanks properly, that moisture wouldn't be an issue. Installing a relatively inexpensive moisture trap and draining the receiver tank weekly like the manufacturers recommend as well as keeping clean inlet filters installed goes a long way towards providing a clean dry source of air for the shop. Good for the customers and all the shop's pneumatic tools and jacks.
 
Cover tires if in a lighted area. Bought a pair of Nitto's said fluorescent light wasn't good for them.
Any kind of light isn't a good thing.

Also have them inflated with nitrogen. Commonly available now and should be done on all of your cars/trucks tires. Slower losses of pressure, rims and inner tire stays moisture free. Inexpensive about $5. per tire out here. You still need to be aware of the tires actual age. Keep track of your D.O.T. cdate codes. After 5 years they become more likely to fail on the hiway. UV and temp are good but like storing food, every thing eventually spoils.
After 5 years, it becomes more of a legal issue if one fails going down the highway but most tires do not fail until they are much older. The oldest tire that failed on me was 20 but have had ones that were only 3 that shredded themselves in regular service on a car or SUV that never had any loading other than the vehicle itself and that was a BFG. In my experiences, General Tires have been the worst offender with 3 failures with two doing damage to a car. The 3rd one I got pissed and filed a claim and they actually paid me for damages. I refuse to run any General tire on any vehicle.

Either/Or......Just try to keep them away from Heat sources along with direct Sun and the natural oils in the rubber should stay Happy.
Even indirect sun light works on them....

As far as Nitrogen is concerned, I dont know so much about that. The air we breathe is over 70% Nitrogen to begin with. Really dont see how 100% Nitrogen is gonna make much difference.
Imo, 100% nitrogen is better than 70%.....but nitrogen is better than plain oxy/nitro for keeping psi constant too. Other than that, keep them covered up and in the dark. Can't hurt.
 
Nitrogen is used in sealed food packaging because it displaces moisture. Used in aircraft tires since WWII because of pressure loss and variations when at altitude pressures and temps. If you want to know why Nitrogen for tires ?? Simple to look up on line. My advice is from over 40 years in the tire business.
 
Good tire shops have proper air driers and dry air is about 99% as good as nitrogen
Yes oxygen molecules are smaller it is only 20% of volume and cheaper
Gas station air may have moisture and is less good try to avoid if you can
 
Any kind of light isn't a good thing.
Light has nothing to do with a cured tire. The moisture in standard air compressor is the only culprit. I built tires at Bridgestone/Firestone. An unmounted tire is preferable, if mounted stack flat.

After 5 years, it becomes more of a legal issue if one fails going down the highway but most tires do not fail until they are much older. The oldest tire that failed on me was 20 but have had ones that were only 3 that shredded themselves in regular service on a car or SUV that never had any loading other than the vehicle itself and that was a BFG. In my experiences, General Tires have been the worst offender with 3 failures with two doing damage to a car. The 3rd one I got pissed and filed a claim and they actually paid me for damages. I refuse to run any General tire on any vehicle.


Even indirect sun light works on them....


Imo, 100% nitrogen is better than 70%.....but nitrogen is better than plain oxy/nitro for keeping psi constant too. Other than that, keep them covered up and in the dark. Can't hurt.
 
....and if you cover them make sure its a natural substance like hessian or similar.....contact with plastics etc will also shorten their lives.
 
Ultraviolet light breaks down natural and synthetic rubbers (vulcanized or not) and all plastics as well as paint. Just look at older plastic dashboards/interiors (dry out, crack, turn to dust), headlight/taillight assemblies, vinyl tops, even the later polymers used in paints and finishes.
 
Oxygen must also be a factor. I find things I have packed in plastic bags in storage tubs, obviously out of the sun, where the plastic bag disintegrates when I pick it up. I find plastic tops to various liquids I have stored (out of direct light) that just split open.
 
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