# Storing tires **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 14, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/storing-tires/72429 "2012-05-14T22:16:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GSragtop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7c8e57/32.png) [@GSragtop](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GSragtop)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/storing-tires/72429/1 "2012-05-14T22:16:41Z")
As some will remember I had a blow out last week on old dry rotted tires. I purchased new front tires, but still have the old rears on… Today a car came in that was to be Certified and the tires needed to be at 5/10th to be certified… These are at 4/10 (full set), so I am getting them for free and will put two on the rear to get rid of the dry rotted tires. With that said, I will have two others I want to keep as spares (or to replace the rear tires in a year or so… BTW I only drive this car about 7-8,000 miles a year)… Any way I don’t have any room in my garage, so my question is can I put them in my attic?? If so will they last up there, or will they dry rot out very quickly?? I live in Coastal South Carolina, so it does get HOT in the summer… Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/storing-tires/72429/2 "2012-05-14T22:24:11Z")
The main killer of tire rubber is outdoor sunlight. Storing them in an attic should not harm them at all. I live in OK where 100 degrees plus is the norm (60 something days of it last summer) and I’ve had a set of brand new tires stored in my attic for 7 or 8 years now. They’re as good as they day they rolled off of the production line. I’ve also got a pair of used Goodyear NASCAR slicks (practice tires) in the attic and they’re fine in spite of 10 years of storage. You can also add a little preservation to them by placing them in a trash bag and liberally dousing them with talcum powder. I’ve seen 30 year old motorcycle tires preserved in this manner that were still as new. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/storing-tires/72429/3 "2012-05-14T22:37:07Z")
Heat is also a factor in tire aging. The attic sounds like a terrible idea. So is ozone exposure. Sea coasts are noted for higher levels of ozone, so that’s not in your favor. Since you’ve already experienced a problem with old tires, I assume you have learned that tires have age limits that are somewhat independent on how they look. You need to look at the date codes on the tires. ( [http://www.barrystiretech.com/dotcoding.html](http://www.barrystiretech.com/dotcoding.html)) If they are going to be too old by the time you get around to using them - what’s the point. In your case, the age limit is probably about 8 years.