Does the quality of the rubber degenerate if stored a couple years? The reason I'm asking is because F1 supercars are over $300/360 apiece on TireRack. I can get takeoffs on eBay for $1200 so that means I get the rims to boot. I can put them away till I need them plus I'll have insurance against curb rash.
Tires will dry rot if left in the elements not sure how long though. I guess you just have to inspect them from time to time to see if they discolor and harden.
Here is a guy on Road and Track.com asking the same question. Read the last question on the page. RoadandTrack.com -- Technical Correspondence - Technical Correspondence (7/2009)
Drag racers run into this a lot especially when the car goes down for something catastophic like a motor build or a crash. The best way to preserve the tires is to put them in large plastic bags. Something like you can get at home depot or menards for 55 gallon cans. Get as much air out of the bag as possible drop in some of those gel packs you find in new leather jackets at the store and tie it in a knot, don't use a twist tie. Also store them in a climate controlled area. A basement is fine. This will net you 12 to 18 months of storage with little to no signs of rot.
Possibly even a good oil to keep them from drying out even... saddle soap or sesame seed oil would be good, anyone else have any? That's all that i would use on my tires here in the desert and it works great
