Overstacking a rack is dangerous. whether it's for tires, general goods, giant coils, grains, or whatever, there's a weight limit that your rack was built to specifications for.  This weight limit, however, isn't always easy for warehouse managers to convey to their employees, regardless of how important it is to warehouse safety.  There may be a missing link in the chain of information, where the manager creates a sign which is covered by something else, or the lessons get lost in the shuffle of employee turnover.  However, this important lesson needs to be imparted at every level, as no company can afford for their inventory to crash to the floor.

Overstacking isn't the only problem though.  Racks can be weakened by collisions with forklifts, by improper stacking, by being in improper configurations or environments, or they may arrive in an unsatisfactory condition.  This last one, however, is one that Tier-Rack Corp can fix.  Every rack manufactured by Tier-Rack Corporation meets their highest safety and manufacturing specs, and are manufactured here, in the United States, of the finest metals and techniques at their manufacturing factories. 

Tier-Rack Corporation has been a leader in rack solutions and flexible warehouse racking systems for almost sixty years. The original Tier-Rack® pallet stacking frame converts regular warehouse pallets into sturdy storage racks in seconds without screws or bolts. And the Load-Nester® all-steel storage rack features light and heavy duty models of solid all-welded, knock-down, or nestable designs for all your material handling needs. Our portable stacking racks and rack systems are designed to handle and store even the most fragile, odd-shaped, and awkward merchandise. They can be designed to transport two loads at a time. Our stack racks reduce handling time, stack four to six high, and they are capable of supporting thousands of pounds per unit load. All Tier-Rack racks are engineered with a "2-to-1" safety factor to ensure the racks will perform safely and last for decades.  For more information, visit www.tier-rack.com today.

Storing tires can be difficult for businesses or individuals.  Here is part 2 of our tire storage guide to help ensure that your tires are stored correctly and safely.  To read part one, click HERE. 

6. Keep the sun off

Tires need to stay out of the sun, as the exposure to the sun heats the tires, leading them to warp and deform.  They soak up all sunlight sent at them, and this takes away a lot of the long term durability of the tires.

7. Ozone will kill them

Ozone can damage tires, so make sure that the tires aren't stored in the warehouse near machinery that creates a lot of ozone, like electric motors, furnaces, and central vacuums.

8. Storing tires on the vehicle is very stressful

If you have to store a vehicle for long periods of time, the constant weight on the tires can cause tire damage. If you can, move the vehicle or take it out for a short drive every once in a while – you’ll relieve the stress on the tire and help keep the tire’s rubber compounds lubricated and supple. If your vehicle is stored outside, cover the tires to protect them from direct sunlight.

9. Tires need a cool, dry environment

When it’s time to put your tires away, make sure you store them in a cool, dry place like your basement, climate-controlled garage, or workshop. Avoid storing tires outdoors, in a standard garage, or in an attic – basically, any place that could be very hot, wet, humid, or cold.

10. Tires with different colors or lettering are very vulnerable

Use caution when storing whitewall or white-lettered tires. If you stack the tires, stack white-to-white and black-to-black (white sides touching each other and black sides touching each other). This will help keep the white parts of the tire pristine and clean. And of course, if you used storage bags as mentioned earlier, this won’t even be a concern.

For more information on how proper tire storage can extend the life of your company's tires, or any other warehouse rack storage issues or questions, please visit www.tier-rack.com and call 1-800-325-7869 today!

Learning how to properly store tires can be a real headache.  Do you store them on their sides?  Up and down?  Interlaced?  On the rim or off?  Here is Part 1 of our list of tire storage tips.  Look for Part 2 next week!

1. Clean the tires before storage

Ensure that your tires are clean before they are stored, as the accumulation of gunk on them can lead to damage and wear on them.  They can also stain, giving them the appearance of older, used tires, even for brand-new tires.

2. Try sealing them

The less air trapped with the tires, the better they perform.  Tires can be bagged and air sealed, to help ensure that they don't develop rot or mold.

3. Store them straight up

The best way to store tires is standing upright – it puts less stress on the tires. If you have to stack your tires, try not to stack them too high. If your tire tower gets too tall, it could topple over and damage the tires.

However, if your tires are mounted on the rims, you should store them stacked, not upright.

4. Can they be hung?

If your tires are mounted on the rims, hanging them from hooks is a great storage option. But unmounted tires should never be hung – the stress can cause distortion and damage.

5. Tire totes? Do such things really exist?

They do – some folks like to use “tire totes” to store and carry tires. While these totes are convenient, tidy, and make carrying tires easier, they’re not airtight, so they don’t necessarily protect tires from the atmosphere. If you want to use tire totes, we recommend putting the tires in plastic bags (as described above) first, then putting them in the totes.

Check back next week for part 2, and remember that Tier-Rack Corporation will help you with all of your tire rack and storage needs.  Visit www.tier-rack.com today and call 1-800-325-7869 for more information on storage solutions for your business.

Tier-Rack Corporation of St. Louis wants to make sure that you are using Tire Racks properly for indoor storage.  To that end, here's a list of ways to ensure that the tire racks you get are put to good use and keep your tires safe and sound.

• Store tires in a clean, cool, dry, dark area away from direct sunlight. The area should be well ventilated, but with a minimum of circulating air.
• The storage area must be kept clean and any oil, grease or water that may contaminate the tire and all nails, stones, wood chips or any other object that may damage the tire must be removed.
• Tires should be stored on a pallet or storage rack to minimize exposure to moisture or damage. Damaged pallets or storage racks should not be used.
• Store tires away from electric motors, battery chargers, electric welding equipment, electric generators and similar equipment. Such equipment creates ozone which has a deteriorating effect on rubber.
• Storing tires upright in tire racks prevents distortion or disfiguration and will make mounting easier. If it is necessary to store tires in a horizontal position, stack the tires in such a manner so that the bottom tire will maintain its shape.
• Whitewall and raised white letter tires that are not wrapped should be stored with white sidewalls facing each other to avoid staining the white through contact with the black rubber of the other tires.
• Tires stored while mounted on rims should be inflated to 50% of the normal pressure.
• Tires that have been in storage the longest should be used first.

Tier-Rack Corporation invented the stacking rack in 1955, and has been the leader in storage rack technology ever since, giving companies ways to store different products in different ways, including their revolutionary tire racks.  For more information on how Tier-Rack Corp can help keep your tire stock healthy, visit www.tier-rack.com today.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has issued a new environmental best management practice to manage the flow of tires removed from service by tire generators. The guidelines were created by TIA’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC).

Almost all states have enacted rules, regulations and licensing requirements for properly managing the flow of tires removed from service by tire industry generators (tire dealers, retailers, car dealers, service stations, etc.). Responsible management of this valuable raw material is essential to ensure that tires taken out of service are properly reused, recycled or disposed. TIA says the new best management practice provides guidelines for tire generators to follow when tires are removed from vehicles or received from consumers.

TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield says, “The generator plays a crucial role to ensure that scrap tires are not improperly disposed in neighborhoods, waterways or abandoned piles. We encourage TIA members and everyone in the industry to follow this best practice. By doing so, scrap tires can be utilized in beneficial ways and lessen our industry’s impact on the environment.”

This document, along with five additional best management practices, is available for download free of charge on TIA’s website www.tireindustry.org. Each of the best practices describes procedures that should be followed for handling, transporting, recycling and/or disposing of items such as used oil, fluids, degreasers, batteries and tires.

Tier-Rack Corporation of St. Louis, MO can help - their tire racks are made in the United States in their factories, and feature top quality steel and components, ensuring that the tires will be safely stored.  For more information, visit www.tier-rack.com today.