Tyres in storage: stands, pressure and flat spots

A bike left on its wheels for months gets flat spots on the tyres, and the rubber dries out and loses pressure. November is the time to deal with it while the bike sits in the garage until spring.

• Wash and dry the wheels, then check the tyres for cuts, stones stuck in the tread and cracks.
• Set the pressure to the owner's manual value or slightly above, never beyond the maximum printed on the sidewall.
• Lift the bike on rear and front stands so the wheels do not touch the floor. If you have no stands, put wooden boards or a mat under the tyres, not bare concrete.
• Without stands, roll the bike a little every few weeks so the contact point changes.
• Keep the garage dry and dark, and away from electric motors and chargers: ozone and sunlight damage rubber.
• Check the pressure with a gauge once a month, since tyres lose air slowly.