The Silent Killer of Tires: Why Long-Term Vehicle Storage Leads to Wear
So, you’ve decided to store your beloved vehicle for a while – maybe you’re heading overseas, have a seasonal car, or just need extra garage space. You’ve cleaned it, topped off the fluids, and lovingly tucked it away. But have you considered your tires? It might seem counterintuitive, but those seemingly invulnerable high performance tires are actually quite vulnerable to wear and tear during long-term storage, even if they aren’t rolling a single mile.
Here’s why your tires are silently degrading while your vehicle is in storage or parked long term:
Flat Spotting: The Most Common Culprit
This is the big one. When a vehicle sits for an extended period, the weight of the car constantly presses down on the same section of each tire. Over time, this sustained pressure can cause the tire to deform and develop a flattened area where it meets the ground. This “flat spot” can range from temporary (which will work itself out after a few miles of driving) to permanent.
- Temporary Flat Spots: Often occur after just a few days or weeks of sitting. You’ll feel a thumping or vibration when you first drive the car, but it usually smooths out as the tires warm up and regain their original shape.
- Permanent Flat Spots: If the vehicle sits for many months or even years, especially in fluctuating temperatures, the rubber can become permanently deformed. These flat spots will cause persistent vibrations and can significantly impact ride quality and even safety, often necessitating tire replacement.
Dry Rot and Cracking: The Perils of Inactivity and Environment
Tires are made of a complex rubber compound designed to be flexible and resilient. However, this compound can degrade over time, especially when exposed to certain conditions and lack of movement. Our facility and care prevent the most common issues such as loss of plasticizers, ozone & UV exposure and temperature extremes.
Air Pressure Loss: A Vicious Cycle
While tires do lose air pressure naturally over time, long-term storage can make this problem worse. A tire that is underinflated will experience more severe flat spotting because there’s less air supporting the vehicle’s weight. And once a tire develops a flat spot, it can sometimes be more prone to further air loss in that area. Our service maintains a constant air pressure to avoid this issue.
How We Prevent Tire Wear During Storage:
The good news is that there are several proactive steps that we take to protect your tires during long-term storage:
- Inflate to Max PSI: Before storage, we inflate your tires to the maximum PSI recommended on the tire’s sidewall (not the vehicle’s door jamb). This provides extra support against flat spotting.
- Clean and Protect: We clean your tires before storage to remove dirt and grime. This removes any corrosive chemicals that might degrade your high-performance tires. Because your car will be indoors, we do not need to use a UV
- Your Baby will be Stored in a Climate-Controlled Environment: We offer fully climate-controlled storage so your car remains cool and dry and with no exposure to temperature extremes and UV rays.
With these preventative measures, we significantly extend the life of your tires and ensure your vehicle is ready to roll smoothly when it’s time to hit the road again. Don’t let silent degradation ruin your tires during storage – a little preparation goes a long way!
Becks European is a leading service and repair shop specializing in Porsche, BMW and Audi. We have been serving the Scottsdale and Phoenix AZ area since 1973. We offer full service indoor, climate-controlled, fully staffed mid-term and long vehicle storage. Learn more.