Tyre storage is a vital part of tyre maintenance and its rules should be known to every vehicle owner. Tyre change from one season to another is a necessity and so while one set is in use, the other set needs to be kept safe until the next time.
In case tyres are not properly stored they run the risk of getting damaged and out of use. As tyres are a big investment, they cannot be purchased that frequently as it shall be too much of an expense for most. This is why securing the off-season or an extra set of Nexen Tyres Maidstone is a must. HSE has certain rules and regulations laid out for the public to follow regarding tyre storage, let us have a look at them.
HSE Regulations
- According to the guidelines laid out by the HSE of the UK Government, the following steps are mandatory for proper tyre storage:
- Choosing a proper place to store the tyres. It has to be a secured compound or a building so that sudden fire breakouts do not occur. The threat of getting fire stems from the fact that tyre compounds are combustible in nature. This means that if by chance it gets in touch with the fire then the tyres shall be the first thing to get exhausted in it and also help the fire to rise.
- Keeping it away from any kind of inflammable goods or liquids which has the capacity to attract and help the fire to increase. As tyre compounds are equally risky in terms of fire situation so it has to be kept away from any other flammable compound which could increase the chances of catching fire easily.
- If there is more than one stack of tyres then each stack has to be kept at a safe distance to ensure fire safety. So even if one stack somehow catches fire, it will not affect the other ones if not positioned closely.
- The storage area should have proper housekeeping and no chances of litter accumulation. Cleanliness is a big step towards safekeeping your tyres.
- The place where tyres shall be stored should be open to all for proper inspection and to add on required safety measures if any. In this way, the HSE suggests storing tyres till the next time use.
Steps to Store Tyres
- Cleaning the Tyres: before storing the tyres that have been in use for all this time, these have to be properly dusted and washed after dismounting them from the wheels. Any kind of dust particle or residue can become a huge issue after the long tenure of storage gets over. Also, tyres need to be made completely dry before storing.
- Bagging Up: while you can use a shipping container for maximum precaution, it is also fine to keep them in a moisture-free bag for storage. It can be either a yard or leaf bag or else even a large size airtight plastic bag shall do the work. Once you make sure there is no vacuum in the bag, the opening should be closed tightly.
- Storage Place Selection: once the bags of tyres are ready to be stored the next step is to find a proper and suitable place for storage. Sun can be really harmful to the tyres in-store and so the storage place has to be away from sunlight, a cool but try area. While open space is never an option, any covered place with moderate ventilation and no sunlight reaching it shall be perfect for your tyre storage. The room should be well apart from any kind of heat source and also be climate-controlled to avoid sudden fluctuations in the temperature and other things.
- Put Away From Ozone: the most damaging chemical for tyres is the ozone and so any place devoid of it should be chosen. There are several electrical motors that generate ozone and so it is better to keep these tyres away from such places.
- Stack/ Stand/ Hang Them: while it is okay to stack up tyres one above the other, these can also be kept standing at some corner. But the best way to keep the Tyres Maidstone is to hang them on hooks. In this way, it does not come in touch with any kind of liquid, chemicals, etc. and allows safe storage.
