In Spain it is not mandatory for cars to have winter tires during the coldest months of the year. Unlike what happens in other countries, such as Germany, Sweden or Finland, in Spain cars usually use mixed tires all year round, which are the ones they are equipped with from the factory. However, more and more drivers are choosing to replace the wheels on their car when temperatures drop and the asphalt is wet, since winter tires improve vehicle control in these circumstances.
The most common is to mount the winter tires in October and remove them in March. They are specially designed to be used when temperatures drop below 7ºC, so it is advisable to replace them with summer ones when the weather starts to be good, as is the case now with the arrival of spring.
Drivers who choose to fit the car with a specific type of tires in winter are forced to change tires a couple of times a year. The operation involves having to store the wheels that are replaced until it is time to put them back. It is important to store them properly so that when the time comes to put them back they will be in good condition.
Choosing the place where we are going to deposit the tires while they are not being used is more important than it seems. Rubber is a material that deforms over time, so care must be taken so that the wheels do not lose their properties and can be reassembled safely. The OCU recalls that a tire in poor condition can increase braking distance by 20%, which can mean the difference between colliding with another vehicle or not.
For this reason, the organization that defends the interests of consumers has drawn up a list with six points that we must take into account when storing winter tires so that they do not deteriorate.
The OCU recommends storing the tires with their rims, since in this way possible deformations are avoided. However, removing the wheels with this component supposes an extra expense, since four extra tires would have to be purchased, apart from those that the vehicle has. For this reason, many drivers prefer to store the tires without the rims, although if they opt for this option they must take into account how to do it correctly so that they do not deteriorate.
In the case of choosing the first option, that is, replacing the tires and the rims at the same time, the OCU indicates that the best way to store the wheels is to hang them. Previously it is advisable to lower the inflation pressure to 1 bar. In the case of storing tires without their rims, it is better to store them upright. For this, it is necessary to avoid hanging them with hooks so that they do not deform. Likewise, it is advisable to turn the wheels at least once a month, indicates the Organization of Consumers and Users.
Tires do not have an expiration date, but the rubber with which they are made ages over time. For this reason, the OCU advises changing them before they are 10 years old, although in normal use they will always have to be replaced before due to wear.
To find out the manufacturing date of a tire and, therefore, its approximate life cycle, you have to look for the information that is marked on the side of the rubber. Next to the DOT (Department of transportation) code there are four figures: the first two correspond to the week of manufacture and the last two, to the year.
