Tyre hotels: how they work and what to check first

What a tyre hotel is and when it's worth it#

You change tyres twice a year, and the set that comes off has to live somewhere. In a flat, four wheels take up a lot of room, and on a balcony or in a damp storage unit they deteriorate. At a tyre hotel the set stays in the business's storage, and on change day you carry nothing: the tyres are already there.

• Worth it if you have no garage or dry storage, don't want to haul wheels around in the car, or change tyres at the same shop anyway.
• Maybe not worth it if you have a cool, dry garage and change your own wheels, or if the set is so worn you'll replace it next season regardless.

How tyres should be stored#

Rubber ages faster in heat, in sunlight and in damp air. Tyre manufacturers publish storage advice; the basics are the same whether the set sits in a tyre hotel or at home:

• Cool, dry and dark: away from radiators, hot pipes and direct sunlight.
• Away from electric motors and solvents: equipment that sparks produces ozone, which cracks rubber; fuels and oils attack it.
• Clean and dry going in: the tyres are washed of mud and road salt and dried before storage.
• Stored the right way: wheels on rims are laid flat in a stack or hung by the rim; tyres without rims stand upright and are turned now and then so they don't deform.
• Nothing on top: no weight on the stack, nothing pressing on the sidewalls.

What a good tyre hotel records when you leave your set#

At drop-off, the business should record the set's condition, so you both know what you left and what you're collecting. Check that the receipt includes:

• Size, brand and model of the tyres, and whether they're on rims.
• The DOT code of each tyre: the last four digits are the week and year of manufacture.
• Tread depth measured on each tyre, and any defect: cuts, bulges, uneven wear.
• Position on the car (front or rear, left or right), so a rotation can be decided at the next fitting.
• Condition of the rims and accessories: hubcaps, locking wheel bolts, pressure sensors if fitted.
• A label with your registration number or a code that ties the set to you, plus photos at drop-off.

Keep the drop-off receipt until you collect the set. Without it, an argument about a scuffed rim or a missing tyre is your word against the business's.

What to ask before you leave your set#

1. Where is the storage: at the tyre shop or somewhere else? How long does it take to bring your set for the change?
2. How is it stored: on racks, in bags, in a closed, dry space?
3. What does the price include: storage for one season only, or washing, fitting and balancing too?
4. What happens if the set is damaged or lost in storage? Who is liable, and what does the contract say?
5. By when do you have to collect the set, and what happens if you're late?
6. How do you know it's time to change: does the business tell you, or do you book yourself?

Clear answers, in writing, tell you a lot about a business. If nobody can tell you what goes on the drop-off receipt, look elsewhere.

When you come back for the change: what to check#

• It's your set: the label, brand, model and DOT codes match the receipt.
• The condition is as recorded: no new cuts or bulges, no damaged rims.
• There's enough tread for another season. If it's close to the wear indicator, now is the time to talk about a new set, not at the first snowfall.
• Balancing is done at fitting, and the pressure is set to the value given by the car's manufacturer.

For the rules on winter tyres and the wear limit, see our winter tyres guide.

If you store your tyres at home#

A dry garage or storage unit can be as good as a tyre hotel, as long as you follow the same rules: cleaned, dried, out of sun and heat, stored the right way. A sunny balcony and a damp cellar are the worst places. Note down each wheel's position on the car and take a few photos before you put them away.

How CariX helps with tyre storage#

On CariX you find businesses that offer a tyre hotel, and the free driver account sends you reminders for the seasonal change.

• Search by service and city: each business page shows opening hours, services with price ranges and reviews, written only by customers after a finished job.
• Your set recorded by the business: a business that runs its tyre hotel in CariX records your set with its label and drop-off receipt and sends you the seasonal reminder by email.
• Email reminders on 15 October and 15 March, for winter and summer tyres. These are dates CariX picked, not legal deadlines; from the reminder, "Book" takes you to the business that set it or to the search, with your car already selected.
• "Is the price fair?" shows an indicative range for this service in your city, based on the prices businesses show in CariX; the real price depends on the set and what's included.

See the other wheel and tyre services too, from tyre fitting to alignment.