Cost-Saving Storage
Mark Putz
Associate Editor
Proper tire care and storage is part of any serious cost-management program. You must keep good records regarding the hows and wheres of your "stored" tires.
Mounted Tires
Anytime a tire is idle for a significant amount of time you can consider it "stored." And if it's attached to a trailer, you're probably violating the basics of tire storage. It's not easy to control the environment of your tires if they're still attached to a truck or trailer. For one thing, you can't help but violate No. 1 on the list of storage basics: Keep tires away from sunlight. What you can do is unload a trailer so that as little weight as possible rests on the tires. Keep tires inflated to recommended operating inflation pressure. And pick an area that's reasonably level and on firm ground - avoid loose soil, or areas prone to standing water. Avoid leaving tires for long periods of time on blacktop or oil-stabilized surfaces. Finally, move the vehicle at least every three months to prevent ozone cracking in the bulge area and also to prevent developing a flat spot. If tires do show a flat spot, it's probably temporary and it will disappear within the first 25 miles of rolling.
Unmounted Tires
Everybody knows the basics when it comes to storing unmounted truck tires. Unmounted tires should always be stored indoors. Tires like the dark. Store them in a cool area out of direct sunlight. Keep them away from electrical motors and compressors, since the static electricity will dry out the rubber. And rack tires a reasonable distance from any chemicals or petroleum products (such as oil), since contact can soften or rot the rubber.
Keeping unmounted tires dry is crucial for two reasons. One, damage in the form of corrosion of steel belts inside tires can go undetected; and Two, any moisture inside the tire at mounting will permeate into the casing of the tire when it's pressurized and cause severe deterioration of the steel cord. This is why technicians must inspect the inside surfaces of the tire and remove all foreign material and moisture. And it's much easier and cost-effective to prevent moisture than it is to remove it.
In The Shop
Tires can be protected from sunlight by painting nearby windows. Sunlight causes ultraviolet (UV) damage by breaking down the rubber compounds. The elements, such as rain and temperature changes, also slowly break down the rubber compounds. This type of damage is visible in the form of surface cracking or weather checking. UV damage may not be visible.
Tires should not be allowed to come in contact with oils, greases, solvents or other petroleum products that cause rubber to soften or deteriorate. And if you have a choice, pick an area of the shop free from fluorescent lights or sparking electrical equipment that could produce ozone.
You can further reduce the chance of deterioration by lining up your tires based on age - so the older tires will be used first. Tire age can be determined from DOT manufacture date on the tire sidewall. Tires are best stored vertically in racks and according to size. Make sure the edges of the racks are smooth, so the tread does not rest on a sharp edge.
Beyond these basic care guidelines, definitive prescriptions for tire care and storage can't be generalized because every fleet differs in its tire needs. But recognize that all of your tires - whether on a truck or in the shop - are part of your program of consistent and accurate data acquisition. You can't start saving money until you know where you're losing it.
Often, a fleet's tire storage practices have been grandfathered down from one maintenance manager to the next without much thought. Or maybe a fleet manager is mimicking the practices of a fleet he likes. But what's right for one operation is not necessarily good for yours. And while storage may seem basic, data regarding your practices should be integrated into any software you may be using. This will help in your overall analysis of tire performance, and it will allow you to make accurate comparisons with different vehicle configurations and tire types. You don't want poor tire storage protocols corrupting the data you're relying on to make decisions regarding specifications changes.
