Winter storage can quietly damage aircraft tires before the next flight. Cold temperatures, moisture, ultraviolet exposure, and concentrated weight may create permanent flat spots. These distortions can increase vibration during taxi, takeoff, or landing.
How to store aircraft tires to prevent flat spots during winter? The answer begins with controlled storage, not guesswork. FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-97B, Aircraft Tire Maintenance and Operational Practices, emphasizes correct inflation, inspection, and manufacturer-approved procedures. Michelin Aircraft Tire and Goodyear Aviation technical manuals also recommend clean, dry, temperature-controlled storage away from ozone-producing equipment. Their guidance supports a practical principle: tire condition depends on both time and environment.
The seven tips in this guide translate those requirements into hangar-level actions. You will see how to clean tires, protect them from sunlight, maintain suitable pressure, rotate stored assemblies, and avoid direct contact with cold concrete. A calibrated gauge matters. So does a simple inspection log. Still, storage advice is not one-size-fits-all. Tire size, aircraft weight, wheel configuration, and manufacturer limits can change the correct method. That point is easy to overlook.
Aviation maintenance records show why discipline matters. Small pressure losses may remain unnoticed for weeks. A tire resting in one position may develop a visible contact patch. It may also look acceptable while suffering internal stress. No shortcut is perfect. Use the aircraft maintenance manual and current tire manufacturer instructions before moving or returning any assembly to service.
Winter storage creates several hidden risks. Cold rubber becomes less flexible, while condensation can promote corrosion around the wheel assembly. FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-97B identifies ozone, sunlight, heat, moisture, and deformation as major tire-aging hazards. ASTM D1149 also recognizes ozone cracking as a measurable rubber failure mechanism, although its test conditions are not storage limits.
Keep tires clean and completely dry before storage. Store them in a cool, dark, ventilated room, away from electric motors, welders, and battery chargers. Maintain the pressure specified by the approved maintenance manual; never guess. Use a proper rack, keep tires upright when recommended, and avoid stacking heavy items against their sidewalls. For mounted tires, reduce prolonged loading on one contact patch. Rotate or reposition them periodically, and record pressure, inspection dates, and visible changes.
Look closely at the sidewalls. Fine surface cracks, chalky rubber, flattened tread areas, or trapped moisture deserve attention. Do not repair damage by assumption. Ask qualified maintenance personnel to assess it. One practical detail is often missed: moving a tire directly from a freezing shed into a warm room can create condensation inside the assembly. Let it warm gradually, then inspect it again. These steps are simple, but storage records are often incomplete. That weakness deserves correction.
Wash them with mild soap and water. Remove mud, grease, de-icing residue, and embedded stones. Dry every groove and sidewall completely. Moisture can hide beneath dirt.
Use a bright inspection lamp. Look for cuts, bulges, tread separation, exposed cords, cracks, foreign objects, and valve damage. Small cracks need attention. They may not be harmless aging.
Choose a cool, dry, shaded area. Keep storage below about 25°C and below 65% relative humidity when practical. Avoid sunlight, fuels, solvents, electrical arcs, and ozone-producing motors.
Store loose tires upright on a clean surface. Do not place heavy items against their sidewalls. Keep them unloaded. That detail is easy to miss.
Follow the approved aircraft maintenance data. Do not guess or use a general pressure value. Pressure changes with temperature. A cold morning reading can reveal loss.
Perform a visual inspection at least monthly in stable conditions. Check more often when temperatures change sharply. If permitted, rotate each tire one-quarter turn every 30 days. Mark the contact point with chalk.
Record the tire position, inflation pressure, inspection date, and visible defects. Note cuts, cracks, flattening, foreign objects, and pressure loss. A simple record prevents confusion. It also exposes repeated problems.
Do not automatically mount the tire to “exercise” it. Isolate the tire and request qualified maintenance evaluation. Rotation is not a cure. That assumption can fail.
Storing aircraft tires through winter requires careful preparation because cold temperatures, moisture, uneven pressure, and prolonged contact with one surface can cause cracking, stiffness, or flat spots. How to store aircraft tires to prevent flat spots during winter? Begin by cleaning and drying each tire, then inspect the tread, sidewalls, bead area, and valve components for damage or unusual wear. Record any concerns and confirm that the tires are suitable for storage before placing them away.
Choose a dry, well-ventilated, temperature-controlled location protected from sunlight, chemicals, ozone-producing equipment, and sudden temperature changes. Keep tires properly inflated according to approved maintenance guidance, position them vertically when possible, and use clean supports that do not concentrate pressure in one area. Avoid stacking heavy items on them or leaving them on damp floors. During winter, inspect the tires regularly for pressure loss, moisture, deformation, and surface damage, and rotate or reposition them periodically to distribute load evenly. Allow the tires to return to normal operating conditions before installation.
Aero Apex