Storage of Tires......

[Car Guy]

When storing tires on rims what is the best psi to have them at, and these will be off the vehicle laying on the side.....


Thanks

[Grant@Tirerack]

You can just leave them at the stock pressure for storage. The key is to keep them out of extremes of heat and sealed in a trash bag. You also want to keep them away from any electric motors or other ozone generating devices.

[Car Guy]

What about extreme cold, is that just as bad?

Thanks

[CapriRacer]

Yes, extreme cold can be just as bad.

I agree with Grant as to what the key points are, but if you can store the tires off the ground, like putting blocks of wood between the wheels so the tires don't touch anythign, including themselves, then reducing the pressure to 15 psi is a good thing - reduces the amount of internal oxidation that takes place.

[Car Guy]

What if I put pieces of thick cardboard between the tires themselves and between the tires and the ground, do I put the psi at 15? That's what I've always done as a precaution but just left the psi at 32......

Thanks

[CapriRacer]

The purpose of getting the tires off the ground is:

1) to prevent distortion

2) To assure the tires are at the ambient air temperature. Putting the tire in contact with anything mean that part of the tire could get hotter or colder than the air.

3) to prevent contamination for oil, gasoline, and especially whatever is soaked into the ground.

So to answer your question. No if you use cardboard between the tires, you want to use the full pressure to prevent distortion.