Clean and fully dry the tires, bag each one airtight, and keep them somewhere cool, dark and dry — away from sunlight, electric motors and solvents. Tires on rims can be stacked or hung; tires off rims should stand upright. No room at home? We store them for $200 a season and inspect them at every swap.
How it rests depends on whether the rim is installed.
- On rims
- Stack flat or hang
- Off rims
- Stand upright
- Before storage
- Clean, dry and bag
- Location
- Cool, dry and dark
Where at home works — and where doesn't
The best spots in a house are a basement corner or an interior storage room — steady temperature, no sunlight, nothing running nearby. A garage can work too, as long as the tires sit on a cool, shaded side.
- Not on a hot garage floor in direct sun — heat and UV are the two fastest ways to age rubber;
- Not outdoors, tarp or no tarp — temperature swings and moisture get in anyway;
- Not next to the furnace, a freezer or power tools — electric motors give off ozone, and ozone cracks tires;
- Not near solvents, paint or fuel — the fumes soften and degrade the rubber.
On rims vs off rims
Tires on rims — a winter package on its own wheels — can be stacked flat or hung on wall hooks. The rim carries the load, so the tire keeps its shape either way.
Tires off rims must stand upright, like books on a shelf, and get a quarter turn every so often so no single spot carries the weight all season. Never hang a bare tire — the hook slowly pulls it out of round.
When shop storage makes sense
Here is the Markham reality: plenty of our customers live in condos and townhouses where four tires simply have nowhere to go. That is exactly what our tire storage service is for — $200 for one set of four tires for one half-year storage season, including:
- Tires kept in climate-appropriate storage — no sun, no ozone, no frozen garage floor;
- Inspected at swap-in and swap-out — tread, age and condition checked every season;
- Your next seasonal changeover books faster, because the tires are already on site — drive in, swap, drive out.
Not sure whether your set is worth another season? Bring it in — we will tell you straight at the counter, or start with a quote.
Prepping tires for storage, step by step
- Label each tire's position (FL, FR, RL, RR) before it comes off the car — chalk or masking tape works — so next season's rotation carries on correctly.
- Wash with water and mild soap, scrubbing off brake dust and road salt — both eat into the rubber over a season. Dry completely.
- Skip tire shine or dressing before storage — clean, dry rubber keeps best on its own.
- Bag each tire airtight — a large garbage bag works: squeeze the air out and tape it shut. It slows the rubber's protective oils from evaporating.
- Pick the spot: cool, dry, dark — away from direct sun, ozone sources like electric motors and furnaces, and any solvents or fuel.
Common questions
How long can tires be stored?
Stored properly — clean, bagged, cool and dark — tires do not meaningfully age over the off-seasons. But rubber ages with time regardless of use, so we check the age and condition of every stored set at each seasonal swap.
Do I really need to bag the tires?
It is worth it. An airtight bag slows the evaporation of the rubber's protective oils and keeps ozone away. A large garbage bag with the air squeezed out, taped shut, does the job.
Can I store tires outside under a tarp?
No. A tarp keeps rain off but not humidity, temperature swings or ground moisture. Outdoors is the fastest way to age a set of tires — find an indoor spot, or let us store them.
Why label the tire positions before removal?
Tires wear differently at each corner of the car. Marking FL, FR, RL and RR before removal lets next season's installation continue the rotation pattern, so all four wear down evenly.
Sources
- Every day — tire storage — Michelin Verified
- Taylor Tire storage service, price and inclusions — Taylor Tire Verified
Questions about your own car? Bring it to Taylor Tire for a clear answer, an all-in price and same-day service when the schedule allows.