Tire Care

2 min read

Tires require care and maintenance to provide the safest and smoothest ride. BFGoodrich offers a variety of tips and information on how to store and repair your tires.

Tire Repair

Repairing a damaged tire is certainly less expensive and less hassle than buying a brand new one. But repairing a tire isn't always an option. If your tire becomes damaged, it may be repaired if it meets the following criteria:

The tire has not been driven on when flat
The damage is only on the tread section of your tire (sidewall damage ruins a tire immediately) and/or
The puncture is less than 1/4"

Patch, Yes. Plug, No.

If you decide to go the repair route, make sure you do it right. The proper way to have a tire repaired is to patch the tire from the inside and fill the puncture hole. Do not have your tire plugged. Plug repairs don't involve taking the tire off the wheel for a proper inspection. A plug is simply inserted into the puncture area, making it unreliable. Insist on a full inspection and have your dealer patch and fill the repair on the inside of the tire.

Tire Storage

If you're working multiple set of tires, you need to make sure you store them properly. Proper storage ensures the appearance and performance are maintained. And before you store them, be sure to inspect each one for damage or uneven wear.

How to Store Your Tires

Store your tires indoors in a clean, cool, and dark location away from direct sunlight, sources of heat and ozone such as hot pipes or electric generators.
Be sure the surfaces on which tires are stored are clean and free from grease, gasoline or other substances that could deteriorate the rubber.
If storing outdoors raise tires off the ground and use waterproof covering with holes to prevent moisture build-up.
If tires are on vehicle, store on blocks to remove load from the tires. Maintain placard inflation pressure.
If your tires have whitewall or raised white lettering, store them with the whitewall or raised white lettering facing each other. Otherwise, black rubber could stain them. (The results are not pretty.)