Simple question about tires and storage

[Octane2Go]

So, I know your not supposed to park (long term) on concrete or the like as it degrades the tires so, you put wood down.

Do you need to do the same thing if you are parking on gravel? Does it have the same effect?

[JFlightRisk]

Our driveway is pea gravel, and have always put down boards under the tires. I really can't give an explanation why, it's just what we've always done. You can use plywood, plastic, or even rubber pieces.

[Sundancer330]

Here are some dos and don'ts posted by Goodyear.

How Not to Store Your Tires

Don't store tires in an area that is wet, oily or greasy
Don't store tires where they are subjected to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures
Don't store tires near electric motors or other ozone-generating sources
Don't store tires on black asphalt or other heat-absorbent surfaces
Don't store tires on or adjacent to highly reflective surfaces such as sand or snow

Storing Your Vehicle Without Removing the Tires

Ideally, a vehicle in storage should be placed on blocks to remove all weight from the tires. If the vehicle cannot be put on blocks, follow these steps for tire protection:
Completely unload the vehicle so that minimum weight will be placed on the tires
Inflate tires to recommended operating pressure plus 25%. Ensure that the rim manufacturer’s inflation capacity is not exceeded
Be sure the storage surface is firm, clean, well drained and reasonably level
Avoid moving the vehicle during extremely cold weather
Move the vehicle at least every three months to prevent ozone cracking in the tire bulge area, as well as “flat-spotting” from the prolonged strain of sidewall and tread deflection
Adjust inflation before putting the vehicle back into service

[curver900]

I pored 2 cement pads and park mine on them from Nov - April outdoors. Flat spots do not happen on radial tires this is folklore from bias ply tires.


it snows here and the sun doesn't have the ability to reflect it is just passing over us ROFL..


In reality you only keep them for 4 years and get new ones.. so storing them in any particular fashion is what we call MCOCD from another forum... I store my boat trailer the same way and never have issues in 4 years.


as always whatever let's you sleep at night ) make sure you have a good tire that is rated for your trailer. Don't go cheap as it won't matter in the summer at 100 degrees flying down the freeway at 70mph...

[DocBrown]

I park mine on 2" wood planks but that's only because it sits on a gravel pad and I don't want it sinking come spring. If it was on concrete I wouldn't bother to put anything special under the tires. My rule is 6 years for a set of ST rated tires.

[Kim Gass]

I love the sentence: do not move the vehicle during extremely cold weather and move every three months...
It drops below freezing from Sept to June
Don't store next to snow??? LOL!

[curver900]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

I love the sentence: do not move the vehicle during extremely cold weather and move every three months...
It drops below freezing from Sept to June
Don't store next to snow??? LOL!

up here extreme is -10F to -30F Jan/Feb.. what do the crazy canuks do???


and I drive my car in that weather soo.... what does that mean?

[retiredtech]

Back in the good old days, car battery cases were made out of a hard rubber and storing them on concrete did cause problems. The concrete would react with the rubber in the case and cause the acid to start leaking. I think that's how the idea started that concrete wasn't good for rubber tires either. But I don't think concrete was ever proven to cause a problem for tires.

[jasum]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

I love the sentence: do not move the vehicle during extremely cold weather and move every three months...
It drops below freezing from Sept to June
Don't store next to snow??? LOL!

Kim that is the wrong time to be in Maine........

[Rafstar]

Regarding taking the weight off the tires when not in use, does it make sense to lower the jacks and lift the RV off the ground?

[jimp]

I park my Greyhawk on a gravel pad, rubber stays on gravel year round. No issues but I do use those tire covers.

[curver900]

Originally Posted by Rafstar

Regarding taking the weight off the tires when not in use, does it make sense to lower the jacks and lift the RV off the ground?

your stabilizing jacks are not made to support the entire weight of the trailer... you need to put it on actual car jack stands supported on the frame