Looking for ideas to store tires in garage

muncie21 · Sep 6, 2014

I normally have two sets of tires/rims for my vehicles, 1 set for winter and a 2nd set. I've been stacking them in neat columns on the floor of my garage. However lately, I've been eyeballing the ceilings as a place to store these, as I have 11.5' ceilings.

Here's the idea, along with a crude sketch- Create a platform (I'm envisioning 2 parallel pipes/tubes) for the tires to rest on. Design a pulley system to raise/lower the platform. If we want to get fancy, we could use an old garage door opener or cheap winch to automate the movement of the platform.

Has anyone built such a gizmo? If not any pictures or ideas you'd be willing to share?

Iliketostrip · Sep 6, 2014

my old boss and i get some thick hangar wire and made long hooks to hang the tires from the ceiling.

PanelDeland · Sep 6, 2014

I would suggest a permanent rack and a winch system to put them up and down. I'm just not comfortable with suspending something without a positive lock. I would think a boat winch would lift fine but again, I don't trust it to hold stuff over my head.

w33b8t1 · Sep 6, 2014

Tag in case this goes somewhere.

dhubbard422 · Sep 6, 2014

Maybe a wall mounted tire rack? Build your own or buy something like this rack from tire rack

c4cruiser · Sep 7, 2014

dhubbard422 said:
Maybe a wall mounted tire rack? Build your own or buy something like this rack from tire rack

I have that same rack and it works very well for storing my autocross slicks during the off season. It will handle up to 400 lbs of weight, so make sure it's attached securely.

The same rack is also available from Summit Racing and JEG's.

The concern I see with a cable system is that the total amount of the load when hoisting will be shared by whatever the two pulleys are attached to. Rafter, truss member? That might be a lot if you don't strengthen them for handling the load. Same with securing the rack once it's up and out of the way. I don't think it would be a good idea to have the load hanging loose. If it starts to swing for any reason (like an earthquake) that could place additional loads on the ceiling joists and hangers.

muncie21 · Sep 7, 2014

Thanks for the suggestions. Based on the feedback, I am going to design a positive latching mechanism (likely manual) and use the pulleys only for getting the load up/down.

volleyball · Sep 7, 2014

Are the tires very heavy? Or are you vertically challenged? Because if no on both cases, a wall/ ceiling mounted tire rack will keep your tires up out of the way and is cheap. Build it for larger than your tires so that if your next vehicle has larger tires, they will still fit.
If you have strong shelving units secured to the wall, a 2 x 4 across the front side will keep them from rolling off the top shelf.

muncie21 · Sep 11, 2014

@volleyball- I've got more ceiling space than wall space. So the preference is to develop a way to mount them in the ceiling space, as I typically only need to access them 2x a year. Granted wall mount would be easier but what fun is that

KariFS · Sep 12, 2014

I store my seasonal tires in the garden shed, 2 sets total. Simplest solution for me. Right now they are stacked but I am planning to build a rack for them at floor level, with storage shelf and/or workbench on top. I am not vertically challenged, but my garage is

Sorry, not a direct answer to your question, but an alternative.

DynamicVapor · Sep 12, 2014

I store mine at a friends house, cause of all the tools and stuff I have in the garage I can't keep tires lying around.

ATC · Sep 12, 2014

Are your rafters open? If so, use the rafters and stand the tires up between them. I'd only put 2 tires together, then space the other 2 out a couple rafters over.

In your OP, you said "vehicles" (plural). How many tires are we talking about? 8? 12?
Car tires or truck tires?

volleyball · Sep 12, 2014

Get an old junk car. Put it up on blocks. Store the tires in the trunk.

Alejandro__ · Sep 12, 2014

I picked up some wall hangers from Canadian Tire. Basically a bracket that has a large lag that screws into the middle.

rslaback · Sep 12, 2014

I store mine in the truss webbing. Total cost for 2 pieces of 3/4" conduit was about $9.

muncie21 · Sep 12, 2014

I was thinking something like this. I would do the pulley system a little different, but you get the general idea.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/3196099/Gregs-Twitter-Shots-from-Active-Jobs-traditional-garage-and-shed-dc-metro'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/f50109d2013fd40f_8-7555/traditional-garage-and-shed.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='376' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/garage-and-shed'>Traditional Garage And Shed</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/c/Hamilton--VA'>Hamilton Landscape Contractors</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/invtspcs/inviting-spaces'>Inviting Spaces</a></small></div>

jayoldschool · Sep 12, 2014

I put up three of these. Keeps tires out of the way.

I also have one of those rolling service station racks that hold three sets.

fxt · Sep 12, 2014

i did this with my spare tires:

right on top of the gladiator shelving, just use a step ladder to get them

air8 · Sep 13, 2014

I like the ceiling pulley idea. Tagging in to see the brainstorming.

I have my full size truck tires mounted across trusses in my garage. I don't like the idea of dragging an 82 lb. wheel /tire up and down a ladder personally. In 30 years I won't be strong enough to do that.

volleyball · Sep 13, 2014

If I had tall enough ceilings, I'd build a loft over part of it and use that for storage. Those hoists are nice but if you don't get to use it for other stuff, it is a waste.

4AudiQ · Sep 13, 2014

Here are mine:

rslaback · Sep 13, 2014

Where do you store your center caps?

jayoldschool · Sep 13, 2014

Yeah, why not hang through the spokes?

4AudiQ · Sep 14, 2014

rslaback said:
Where do you store your center caps?

On top of the two 2 x 10's.

IlliniJeeper · Sep 15, 2014

jayoldschool said:
I put up three of these. Keeps tires out of the way.

Think carefully about where you put those. I didn't have room to mount mine high enough and ended up walking into the sharp corner on the bottom of it when I wasn't paying attention one day. Had to get 4 staples to close up the gash in my scalp. Not fun.

FRANKIEWHIPIT · Sep 15, 2014

Don't mind the mess

y5e06 · Sep 16, 2014

As it's been said.... Ignore the mess.
The wall mount ones really do work well. I have both of these mounted in a cluttered corner of my garage (there are 3 other cluttered corners...)
bottoms of each are 6' high.
black one is fixed. the 'natural' finish one can fold flat against the wall so i can get to the water heater door.

Anyway, if you can place it above a little used work space or even one used more frequently it shouldn't be a problem. additional storage below them is also usable.

Heaving one wheel/tire up there one at a time, twice a year shouldn't be much of a problem. if you're swapping them, they must be a reasonable size car tire.

No, the ratchet straps aren't necessary. i put them in for the original design... but those tires aren't going anywhere

4AudiQ · Oct 20, 2014

muncie21 · Oct 20, 2014

Work has prevented me from being able to focus on this project recently. Although with winter coming, I'd still like to get it done so that I can use the floor space for other things.

awdblazer · Oct 20, 2014

38Chevy454 · Oct 21, 2014

Mine is similar to awdblazer's design. Used pipe and mounted up high against wall.

Nam11b · Oct 21, 2014

I have one of these and really like it. $45 on amazon shipped and it folds close to the wall when not in use.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058BMNVU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

evildky · Oct 21, 2014

Nam11b said:
I have one of these and really like it. $45 on amazon shipped and it folds close to the wall when not in use.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058BMNVU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have 8 of these, love them, they hold tires or totes. I have them mounted high enough I can walk under them but low enough I can get the tires or totes off without standing on anything.

Nam11b · Oct 22, 2014

evildky said:
I have 8 of these, love them, they hold tires or totes. I have them mounted high enough I can walk under them but low enough I can get the tires or totes off without standing on anything.

8! I don't have enough wall space for 8. I like the tote idea though. Might have to steal it.

wnstwolf · Oct 23, 2014

just got an ad from Griot's showing they have a 4-tire/wheel storage rack on sale for $130 just a thought

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/heavy-duty+wall+mounted+tire+storage+rack.do

Colin Len · Oct 23, 2014

That Hyloft product from Amazon seems like a great way to go compared to the other off the shelf options out there - cheaper, length adjustable, and folds up... I may need to snag some of those eventually. It'd be a lot better than storing my wheels/tires in the shed where they are now collecting spider webs.

Zebedeewesty · Oct 24, 2014

Are they just tyres or tryres and wheel hubs?
These look pretty neat if you've got the floor space:

volleyball · Oct 24, 2014

Those store bought items are spendy. It seems to go against the garage mentality to buy something. More for the wrench impaired.

LX-Markham · Oct 24, 2014

At my previous house, I made a rack out of black pipe and fittings.

At my new house, I made a shelf spanning the width of the double door with 3/4" plywood on 5" structural steel channel.

I've also accumulate a lot more tires since my first place.
4-winter tires for my truck
4-winter tires for my wife's car
4-track tires for the Mustang
2-drag radials

And I just added another shelf for storage of lighter items.

abstamaria · Nov 21, 2014

stack rather than store upright

I saw this recommendation, I believe from Michelin, on storing mounted tires. The recommendation not to store mounted tires upright, but to stack them, is new to me, so I did a quick search on the web.

The recommendation from tire manufactures and dealers seems the same - stack.

Andy

Looking for ideas to store tires in garage

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Attachments