Tire Storage & Scrap Disposal: the full procedure

Store tires to prevent damage and aging and dispose of scrap tires legally through a licensed hauler with proper manifests.

• Applies to: Inventory staff and shop technicians.
• Frequency: Ongoing for storage; scrap pickups scheduled before legal limits are reached.
• Scope: Covers proper tire storage, FIFO rotation by DOT date, protection from heat/ozone/solvents, and lawful scrap-tire handling. Scrap-tire storage limits and disposal defer to the EPA and the state environmental agency, and hauling defers to a licensed/registered scrap-tire hauler.

What you need

• Tire racks
• DOT date-code reference
• FIFO log
• Licensed hauler contract
• Scrap-tire manifests

The procedure, step by step

1. Store in a cool, dry, ventilated space — Keep tires indoors out of direct sunlight in a clean, cool, dry, well-ventilated area to slow heat and UV aging.
2. Keep away from ozone & solvents — Store tires away from electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and generators that produce ozone, and away from gasoline, oil, and solvents that degrade rubber.
3. Rack upright & rotate FIFO — Stand tires upright on racks to prevent distortion and use first-in/first-out by DOT date code so the oldest stock sells first.
4. Check DOT date codes — Read the DOT week/year code at intake and during rotation to flag aging inventory before it sits too long.
5. Stay under scrap storage limits — Track the on-site scrap-tire count and keep it below the EPA/state-agency threshold before a permit is required.
6. Use only a licensed hauler — Contract a state-registered/permitted scrap-tire hauler for pickup; never give scrap tires to an unverified party.
7. Complete & keep manifests — Fill out and retain the scrap-tire manifest for every shipment so the chain of custody is documented for the state agency.
8. Never dump or stockpile illegally — Prohibit dumping, burning, or off-the-books stockpiling of scrap tires; report any illegal dumping observed.

Quality check before you finish

• Tires stored indoors, dry, and out of sunlight.
• No ozone sources or solvents near tire storage.
• Tires racked upright, FIFO by DOT date.
• On-site scrap count under EPA/state limit.
• Scrap hauler is state-registered/permitted.
• Signed manifest retained for every scrap pickup.
• No illegal dumping, burning, or stockpiling.

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Tire Shop business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• USTMA / TIA — Tire Storage Guidance (ustires.org)
• US EPA — Scrap Tires Program (Haulers & Manifests) (epa.gov)
• State Environmental Agencies (CalRecycle / TCEQ) — Scrap-Tire Rules (calrecycle.ca.gov)