Storing R-compound tires in cold garage
 

I thought I read somewhere that race tires should not be stored in extremely cold rooms (like a garage). If there is an impact to the rubber is it minor or significant? My new Kumhos are in and have them stacked in my garage where the temps will definitely reach 30 degrees. Thanks for any input.

R

It is best to seal the tires in plastic bags so that the chemicals cannot escape from the rubber. Storing in cold will certainly harden the rubber more quickly. The garage and the attic are the two worst places to keep them.

Ideally you'd store tires in vacuum sealed bags and keep them at room temps :cool:

sleep with them to keep them warm :)

OK :-) So, I won't really worry about it.

According to tire rack, they had mentioned a cool, dry location such as a garage wouldnt be a bad idea because of a steady state temperature, in conjunction with DamonB's vacuum sealed bag idea.

Cool, but not cold. You don't want them anywhere near freezing temps long term.

eh... just don't leave them outside in the sun

you can tell I'm really careful...

Thanks guys. I guess the best I can do is the basement with no bags (that is over the top for my objectives).

Why not?
A Hefty garbage bag cost mere cents.
That is what I use.

Hefty bags I can do. I guess I interpreted DamonB's comment as being something more technical.

This will work out just fine.

I put 285/30/18 Hoosiers in big trash bags in my garage for later use. At $137 each I couldn't pass on them.... and $75 for a 335/30/18 Hoosier.... :)

Keep them out of the sun and excessive moisture. Maybe put some of those moisture beads in the bag with the tire that come in the new box of shoes you purchase. :)

A plain garbage bag is fine. Better is putting the tire in the bag and using a vacuum cleaner to suck all the air out before sealing it :)

My tires (Yokohama A-008R) are pretty hardened. They're not really worn, just old.
I'm wondering if treating them with a tire rejuvenator or shaving them would help.

When you guys say "long term," how long are you considering that?

Anything longer than a few months IMO.

YES!! They won't be as good as new but it will help out.

Scrub the tread with a wire brush to get rocks, excess rubber that's been picked up, and crud off it.

I use Formula V traction treatment from racer wholesale. Like $35 a gallon. Pour some in a paint tray, use a paint roller with thin napp roller. And roll it on the tread.

Three coats per day for 2 days. Keep them out of the sun and heat so it won't evaporate. Preferrably do it at sundown.

Wow that seems very short. What differences would there be from a tire being mounted and in use over ones just being stored. Anything beyond the constant force being applied to it?

I'm talking about ideally.

The chemicals that keep the rubber soft are essentially constantly evaporating. If you seal the tire in a bag then those chemicals are still trapped in the tire's little atmosphere and so they don't tend to leave the tire as quickly. Once a tire has been used this evaporation is greatly accelerated and the rubber will begin to harden over time. This takes some months to actually happen but without a doubt it happens more quickly if the tire is stored outside in the sun or in locations that are very hot or cold. Chemical reactions take place in the rubber that alter it when exposed to those conditions.

So, DriveFast 7,

How often do you need to retreat the tires? Between every event? Just curious!