Care of Tires for Long Term Storage

Thanks for the feedback RAS43.

I cover the tires in the winter and when we are home in the summer. I don't take the weight off them, never have. When parked at home I have the tires on rubber mud flaps I picked up at a truck stop that were removed form semi trucks/trailers. Does all of this help? I am not sure but I have gone 6-8 years on tires on every trailer we have owned over the years and have experienced only one blowout. And that tire, a Goodyear, may have had a leak as indicated by the remains.

FrankShore wrote:
Asphalt is the ideal parking surface. The asphalt already has petroleum oils in it, so the leaching is reduced ten fold.

On the contrary. Tire manufacturers recommend Not to store tires on asphalt.

ReneeG wrote:
Thanks for the detailed information laknox.

Easy and cheap. Now, if I had my druthers, I'd have covered storage, block the trailer frame up, pull all 5 wheels (spare included) and store them in a dark, climate-controlled, room, wrapped in rags soaked in 303 Protectant. :-)

Lyle

Dick_B wrote:
You might want to check out www.michelinrvtires.com for their advice.

Yeah. No need to do what the other guy says when reliable information is at your fingertips.

Thanks for the detailed information laknox.

ReneeG wrote:
In a recent article I read on how to care for tires during long term storage, it said to block the tires. Does this mean to lift them off the ground and support the axles? If so, does anyone do this? The alternative was to get the tires up off the ground to prevent absorption of ground moisture which also contributes to aging. This article suggested placing nylon blocks, similar to a nylon kitchen cutting board under each, or sheet metal over wood. What do most of you do for long term storage, i.e. over the winter, aside from covering them?

I got 2 8' redwood 2x6's, cut them in half and screwed one half on top of the other, with 2" set-back on one end. Working so far. In retrospect, I should have cut one 4" shorter and put it on top to keep the board from flipping up if I happen to go off the other end, where the "ramp" is the other way.

Lyle

FrankShore wrote:
Asphalt is the ideal parking surface. The asphalt already has petroleum oils in it, so the leaching is reduced ten fold.

Could you provide a link to where you gained this knowledge. Most tire companies advise against putting any petroleum product on their tires. Leach in or leach out?

Chris

Thank you for all the feedback.

Our 11200 lb 5th wheel RV usually sits from late Oct through March. The tires sit on 2x8"x36" long in the RV shed.
I slide my 12 ton stubby hyd jack under the end of each axle tube and rotate the tires 30 degrees or so a couple of times a winter.

I use LT tires on all of my trailers including the RV. I run the RV tires usually around 7 years on average and 45k-55k miles. LTs on my equipment and flatbed trailers 8+ years as they sit empty , out of the sun, much of the time anymore.

Years ago when the biggest camping trailer (RV) was in the 22'-24' range ,most were less than 20', many folks jacked the trailer off the tires for winter storage. Todays trailers are much larger/heavier = much more dangerous for the average Joe to do the job and do it safely.