How to store car tires

In a perfect world, storing seasonal tires would be as easy as placing a toy car on a windowsill, but especially if you live in a rental apartment, you need to think carefully about the storage.

It's time to store your car tires. We asked SATO's Matias Peltonen for tips on storing tires in a rental apartment and combined them with the advice we previously got from Vianor's Vesa Laitinen.

The first and most important tip: Consider the fire hazard

Car tires pose a significant fire hazard. Therefore, they should never be stored in the apartment, stairwells, or common areas of the building. "In the event of a fire, the tires produce heavy, toxic smoke, tire fires are difficult to extinguish, and the fire spreads easily," Matias reminds.

Tip number 2: Protect the tire stack from the sun

Tires are best stored in a dry and cool place. An outdoor storage is suitable, as long as it has a roof for protection. The sun is the enemy of tire rubber, so keep the set hidden from daylight.

A balcony may be an enticing storage place for many, but due to fire safety, moisture, and sunlight, it is ultimately a poor choice. In addition, the General Building Rules and Regulations for SATO Buildings state that balconies or terraces should not accumulate storage items that disturb the environment.

Tip number 3: Remove from the bag

"If you have your tires changed at a tire shop, remember to take them out of the bags when you get home. When they wash and pack the tires at the tire shop, moisture gets trapped inside the bags, and it can weaken the tires," Vesa advises.

Tip number 4: Check the condition

When packing your winter or summer tires for storage, make sure the tread is in good condition. In winter tires the legal minimum for tread depth is 3 millimeters, and for summer tires, 1.6 millimeters. Vesa reminds that the Finnish Road Safety Council recommends replacing the tires with new ones when there’s 5 millimeters of tread remaining on winter tires and 4 millimeters on summer tires.

Did you know that the recommended maximum mileage for winter tires is six years, regardless of how much they have been driven for? Time wears down the tire tread, and the rubber compound hardens.

Tip number 5: The best storage is a tire hotel

"At SATO, we think it's crucial that our home buildings are safe. Therefore, we recommend storing car tires in a tire hotel or a similar external storage facility," Matias says and adds, "If there is no other place for the tires, you can store a maximum of one set in the storage locker, which is a locked space designated for your apartment."