Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

[Clark K.]

I have a set of five original size, type, and brand tires mounted on my original 1975 wheels. I have removed them from the car and will store them for at least 10-12 months. What is the best way to store these tires?

I washed and dried them. Do I remove the air from the tires and stack them on the concrete garage floor with a sheet of plastic under them?
-Clark

[Terry M.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

That is what I do, except I used cardboard under and between the tires -- and I store mine for decades, not a year.

If you have and electric motor in your garage you may be best to find another storage location for the tires. The ozone produced by an electric motor can damage the rubber. Keep the temperature moderate and sunlight to a minimum.

Something else to consider:

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/category.jsp?category=Tire+Storage

[Stuart F.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

Clark;

On the rims it probably doesn't make much difference whether they are stacked on top of each other or on end (normal). I stored a set of 4 tires once for about 5 years by coating them with Armoral, then wrapping them in plastic and standing them on end (vertical, not laid down flat) on a rack in my garage. They survived fine when I remounted them with no apparent aging or flat spots/distortions. I was trying to duplicate what mfgr's/stores used to do with new tires, but without the wrapping.

Stu Fox

[Paul S.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

Armorall is about the worst thing you can put on tires. The silicone breaks down synthetic rubber.

If they're whitewalls, if you can, stack or store them so you don't have rubber to whitewall. Other than that, store so it's off concrete (whether on cardboard, plastic or on a rack).

[Duke W.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

Armorall is about the worst thing you can put on tires. The silicone breaks down synthetic rubber.

What are your bases/sources for this claim?

Duke

[Pat M.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

The thing I noticed years ago is that when I wiped a clean tire with Armorall the towel would be black, almost as if some of the tire's components were being removed.

Son-of-a-Gun does not do that, for whatever reason. That's why I've been using it for years, if for no better reason than to keep my towels cleaner.

[Steven B.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

I stack my originals like Terry states except I store them on a furniture mover, carpet covered wood platform on casters, so I can move them as necessary.

Steve

[Duke W.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

What you are probably seeing is mold release compound. All new tires have a film of this stuff on the surface, but since it's basically clear, you don't see it.

As the tire ages dirt gets embedded and it turns brown.

I usually order tires over the Web delivered to my house, and before I have them mounted I clean the outside of the tires with mineral spirits, old rags, and old toothbushes. This removes most of the mold release and it's much easier to keep the tires black with soap and water, but you can never really get it all off.

I've used Armor All for most of the 30 plus years it's been around. I only use it on tires and dilute it 50/50 with distilled water. I have tires that have been in service for up to 20 years that see an occasional application of this solution and they have no cracks.

I definitely don't use it for interior surfaces as it leaves a greasy, slippery film on vinyl. For vinyl I use a carnuba wax emulsion such as Pledge funiture polish.

Polydimethylsiloxane, the active ingredient in Armor All, is widely used in many products including cosmetics and even food and is a key ingredient in "silicone" greases that are formuated especially for natural and synthetic rubber products.

I have, never, ever seen any independent test by a reputable lab that even hints that Armor All damages rubber, yet I've heard this claim bandied about for years.

Everyone has their favorite coatings and Armor All may not be one of them for some, but that doesn't mean it damages rubber no matter how many guys try to tell you that or how many times you read this myth on the Internet.

I basically stand it up next to the "they took all the zinc out of oil" myth.

Did you hear about the nearly new Corvette for sale for $5000. Yep, a guy died in it and they can't get the smell out!

The first time I heard that one I was about 14 growing up in Seattle. This nearly new '61 Corvette could be had for only $500. It was supposedly over on Bainbridge Island.

I ran and told my dad thinking I could convince him to buy it.

He just laughed and said the first time he heard that one it was a Stutz Bearcat!

Duke

[Paul S.]

Re: Storage of Original Tires & Wheels

What you are probably seeing is mold release compound. All new tires have a film of this stuff on the surface, but since it's basically clear, you don't see it.

As the tire ages dirt gets embedded and it turns brown.

I usually order tires over the Web delivered to my house, and before I have them mounted I clean the outside of the tires with mineral spirits, old rags, and old toothbushes. This removes most of the mold release and it's much easier to keep the tires black with soap and water, but you can never really get it all off.

I've used Armor All for most of the 30 plus years it's been around. I only use it on tires and dilute it 50/50 with distilled water. I have tires that have been in service for up to 20 years that see an occasional application of this solution and they have no cracks.

I definitely don't use it for interior surfaces as it leaves a greasy, slippery film on vinyl. For vinyl I use a carnuba wax emulsion such as Pledge funiture polish.

Polydimethylsiloxane, the active ingredient in Armor All, is widely used in many products including cosmetics and even food and is a key ingredient in "silicone" greases that are formuated especially for natural and synthetic rubber products.

I have, never, ever seen any independent test by a reputable lab that even hints that Armor All damages rubber, yet I've heard this claim bandied about for years.

Everyone has their favorite coatings and Armor All may not be one of them for some, but that doesn't mean it damages rubber no matter how many guys try to tell you that or how many times you read this myth on the Internet.

I basically stand it up next to the "they took all the zinc out of oil" myth.

Did you hear about the nearly new Corvette for sale for $5000. Yep, a guy died in it and they can't get the smell out!

The first time I heard that one I was about 14 growing up in Seattle. This nearly new '61 Corvette could be had for only $500. It was supposedly over on Bainbridge Island.

I ran and told my dad thinking I could convince him to buy it.

He just laughed and said the first time he heard that one it was a Stutz Bearcat!

Duke

Ever notice the brownish color on your sidewalls between applications? Use a product not named armor all that has no silicone and it doesn't brown.

That's a byproduct of silicone based products. Rather than repeat it, you might go over to carcareonline.com and read his article on tire care and feeding.

Ozone attacks the wax in the tire compound, and more is drawn to the surface-silicone tends to dissolve all wax, and is not ideal for tires, because the wax is what slows down the cracking caused by ozone exposure.

Use a product that has no silicone, you aren't sacrificing the wax forced to the surface as the tire blooms, which seems bettter to me.

I am well familiar with your article on oil and ZDDP. But if you can choose a tire product that has no silicone or other agents like formaldehyde that do nothing good for tires, the reason to use armor all, is an intellectual hunger for independent scientific studies?

Pick another product and have no brown and no silicone, seems like a better choice and using armor all a bad choice.