Agricultural tire storage
Tire storage: How do you store ag tires correctly?
Closeup of ag tires with dirt and hay on them
Adjusting the tire pressure of a farm tire
Agricultural tire storage
As a farmer, you probably have several tractor tire mountings for the same tractor – each for different functions (plowing, treatment, sowing). Whenever you need to dismount one set of tires to replace it with another for a specific job, you must store the dismounted set. Here are our recommendations for tire storage.
SUMMARY:
Before talking about tire storage, it's important to address how to handle tires properly. The process of moving tires means you will be moving considerable weight – up to 700+ lbs (350 kilos) with rims included. It’s important to take precautions to avoid injury when moving that amount of weight.
To ensure safe handling of dismounted wheels, we recommend using appropriate equipment, such as a wheel carrier. We also recommend that you wear protective gloves when handling tires.
Before storing your ag tires, it is recommended you pressure wash them, so they’re clean of any dirt or other elements that could degrade the rubber over time.
Now let's get to the heart of the matter: proper tire storage.
Tractor tires must be stored in clean conditions, in dry, well-ventilated locations, away from direct sunlight. This prevents premature degradation of the rubber.
Proper farm tire storage also requires keeping tires away from other elements that can prematurely degrade them:
Closeup of ag tires with dirt and hay on them
Other important advice
Never store bare tires or fully assembled off-vehicle wheels in direct contact with the ground for long periods. To help them avoid differences in humidity, place them on something, such as a wooden board or plastic sheeting.
When the tires are on rims, you can store them either in stacks or vertically. If storing them vertically, be sure to apply pressure to the tires to prevent them from being crushed, which would eventually deform them.
While winter tire storage involves the same precautions as tire storage during warmer times, (keep tires out of direct sunlight, in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from all chemical substances, sources of heat and sharp objects), there are additional things to consider to keep the tires fitted:
When the tire storage period is over, it is essential to adjust your tire pressure back to the recommended pressure so they will support the activity you need to perform.
Always refer to the Michelin inflation chart to determine the correct pressure for your ag tires. You can also read our article "What is the correct tractor tire pressure?"
Adjusting the tire pressure of a farm tire
Don't forget that:
If loads are less weight than those shown in our pressure/load charts, never adjust your tractor tire pressure to lower than the minimum pressure shown in the tire datasheets.
When harvest time arrives, it's time to put your combine harvester back into service. To find out how to prepare your tires properly, read our article "How to adapt your combine harvester tires".
Need more advice? Discover our tyre maintenance and caring guide
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