Safely Store Your Summer Tires for Winter: A Complete Guide

Summer tires off, winter tires on, summer tires go… where? Canada’s extreme weather variations mean most Canadian drivers need two sets of tires: snow tires for winter and all-season tires for the rest of the year. So, how do you keep your summer tires in good shape over the cold season? We’ll cover that here.

Storing your summer tires

Summer tire storage comes with two problems: space and environmental conditions. Improper winter storage can damage your tires. Dry rot, UV damage, and flat spots can all harm your tires, making them less effective in the warmer months and leading to faster replacement.

How do you protect your tires from air, sunlight, and gravity? Let’s walk through the process.

Preparing tires for storage

Before you can leave your summer tires for the winter, you need to prepare them so dirt and grime don’t get to sit in the treads and crevices for four to six months.

• Clean – Road grime, brake dust, and dirt affect the rubber in tires in ways you won’t notice until the damage has been done. So, with a regular car wash detergent and a stiff brush, clean your tires thoroughly. For unmounted tires, clean the inside. If your tires are mounted, clean the wheels. Do not apply tire dressings. Allow your tires to fully air-dry before moving on to the next step.
• Bag – Oxygen and ozone attack the rubber, accelerating dry rot and deterioration. Placing each tire in its own bag and taping the bag closed can help prevent this kind of damage. Try construction bags or lawn-and-leaf bags. Tire totes have convenient handles and can keep the bags from being punctured.
• Separate – Save those boxes from your online purchases. If you can’t bag your tires, slip a piece of cardboard between them to protect the wheels from scratches.

Where to store your summer tires

Because storing tires in the sun exposes them to heat and ultraviolet light, store them in a dark space. Basements can work as long as they aren’t too damp or hot. (Keep your tires away from the boiler or furnace, for example.)

Don’t leave your summer tires in the garage: with the frequency that the garage door opens and closes, the conditions in the garage vary too much for safe tire storage.

Once you’ve found the right place, select the best way to store your summer tires this winter:

• Stacking – This can save floor space and works best with mounted tires. Inflate them a few psi above normal before stacking them in a tower on a pallet or wood blocks.
• Standing – Prevent sidewall and bead deformation on unmounted tires by standing them side by side. Do not hang unmounted tires from a pipe, post, or nail.
• Rack – A wall-mounted rack is a great way to store summer tires.

Your local AUTOPRO centre will be happy to advise you on the proper way to store your tires.

Winter storage tips for your summer vehicle

Do you have a summer vehicle? Maybe it’s a classic, maybe it’s exotic, or both? Or is it a car you love driving on long summer road trips? Summer vehicles highlight the glory of summer sunshine and warm days on the road, but they need protection in winter.

It’s tempting to just park your summer vehicle and leave it until the roads clear again. However, this can damage the summer tires on your vehicle. Follow these tips to help protect your tires for the warmer weather.

Leave your summer vehicle on jack stands for the winter. Inflate the tires to regular tire pressure and keep them off the ground. Ideally, remove them so you can clean and store them as recommended above. Tires can develop flat spots after just a few days of sitting in the cold, and these can become permanent after a few months.

Questions about winter storage for summer tires?

Visit your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre for advice on storing your summer tires this winter and for your car’s routine maintenance and repairs. You can also read here for tips on storing your tires in any season.