Storing tyres at the right temperature is the single most important element in extending their life and keeping them safe from damage or ageing.

According to Martin Dražík, Product Manager for Nokian Tyres Central Europe, the storage temperature is the most important factor and ideally they need to be kept somewhere that is cool, dry and dark. He said: “Some people used to store tyres near their central heating boilers. That is too hot, as heat will have an adverse effect on the rubber compounds. The tyre will begin to dry out, harden, and develop cracks. It may even combust! The ideal storage location is a cool space, below 15ºC, where the tyres stay dry. Dark spaces protected from sunlight are preferable, as UV radiation will reduce the tyre’s durability.” A carefully maintained high-quality tyre will last up to six years. If your tyres were manufactured over ten years ago, you should not use them at all. You can see the date of manufacture in the four-digit number on the tire: the two first digits indicate the week of manufacture, whereas the two latter ones tell you the year. A storage location with all the wrong features can damage your tyres beyond repair during a single season. The storage recommendations for winter and summer tyres are similar. Before putting them into storage, you should carefully wash and rinse them. Remove the largest stones from the grooves and check the tread and sidewalls for cracks or abnormal bulging. If you use a pressure washer, keep the point of the water jet away from the tyre as a very powerful one may disconnect the rubber from the web below it. This may cause the tyre to fail when you next use it. Before storing, ensure they are completely dry. The tyres should not come into contact with oils, solvents, or other chemicals at the storage location. These days, you can buy tyre bags for protection. They should not be under heavy load and tension so although it is OK to stack one on top of the other, don’t pile other things on top of the stack. If you are going to stack them, increase the pressure slightly as the one at the bottom has to bear the load of the ones above it. Tyre storage checklist:

• Check the age of the tyres and purchase new ones at the latest every 6-10 years
• Check the condition of the tread and remove any larger stones from the grooves
• Wash the tyres and allow them to dry completely before storage
• Store them in a cool, dry place
• Protect against sunlight and chemicals