How To Protect Tires On An Unused Car

An unused car in storage or sitting on your property still needs to be maintained to prevent wear and damage, and this is especially important for the tires. Left alone, the tires can get damaged by sunlight, the weight of your car, heat, and improper tire pressure. If you have a car you don't plan on using for some time, here's how to keep your tires in excellent shape.

Keep Your Tires Inflated

Despite car tires being mostly airtight, they'll inevitably lose some air over time, even when they're not being used. There are several reasons this can happen, from the regular passage of time to minor damage to changes in the weather; significant changes in weather can bring about noticeable changes in your tires' PSI, even if your car hasn't moved at all.

When in storage, it's important to keep your tires inflated to the correct PSI. If you aren't able to drive it to a nearby mechanic, you can use an air compressor to fill your tires as needed. Check inside your driver-side door frame for a sticker that should tell you what the correct PSI should be. Check your tires about once a month to make sure they're where they should be, especially during shifts in weather. Tires in storage with the wrong PSI could wear down more quickly and have issues like cracking.

Clean and Cover

Tires are built to withstand a beating, but long-term damage can drastically lower your tires' life spans. Chemicals on the road get picked up and sit on your tires, and any car sitting outside will be constantly exposed to UV rays and heat unless covered. This can cause dry rot and other damage, not only to your tires but to your car itself.

Before you put your car wherever you'll be storing it, wash it with soap and water, including the tires. You don't need to use any special chemicals; tires are made with protective sealants, so your goal is to make sure they're clean.

Next, try to make sure your car is stored where the tires are touching a solid surface like concrete. Concrete is somewhat porous, but overall will keep your tires cleaner than dirt or grass.

Finally, use tire covers to protect your tires from direct sunlight. This is important even if your car is only in direct sun for a few hours each day. The heat and UV rays can quickly wear down tires and cause them to start cracking, especially tires that are in the same position at all times. It's still a good idea to check on your tires every so often to make sure they're still clean and sitting at the right air pressure, but this will go a long way toward keeping them safe.

Keep the Weight Off

Part of the problem with keeping a car in storage is that all the weight of your car will be focused on the same place on all four tires for a long period of time. With regular use, this weight is spread out, but when left to sit, this can cause uneven wear and tear, often called flatspotting. This is where keeping your tire pressure where it should be will help, but you can also try using jacks.

Storing a car on jacks is a good way to keep the weight of your car off your tires completely, and makes it easier to remove the tires if you want to take them off and store them separately. This is a step that requires some care because you don't want to damage the frame of your car with the jacks. If you decide to use this method, research how to use jacks on the type of car you have and where their proper placement should be. Your car's manual likely has placement information as well. Don't forget to make sure the jacks themselves have a solid foundation to rest on; even on concrete, consider a non-slip material that will make the jack more sturdy.

If in doubt, ask a mechanic for advice on how to store your car on jacks. Make sure also to keep up with the other steps as well to ensure your tires stay safe and in good shape for when it's time to use them again.

For more information about tires, contact a business like King George Truck & Tire Center.