Tire & Rubber Warehousing & Storage
Tires are among the most fire-code-restricted commodities in warehousing. Storage arrangement, pile height, rack style and sprinkler design are all governed specifically for rubber tires, and the difference between a compliant building and a non-compliant one is not negotiable with a landlord. Everything else, cube efficiency, handling, distribution, comes after that question is settled.
What we handle
- Passenger and light-truck tires
- Commercial truck and bus tires
- OTR, agricultural and industrial tires
- Natural rubber bales and blocks
- Synthetic rubber and compounds
- Industrial rubber goods, belting and hose
Tire storage is a fire protection problem first
Rubber tire storage has its own treatment in fire protection standards, with specific limits by storage arrangement, on-floor, on-side, palletized, portable rack or fixed rack. Many otherwise excellent distribution buildings cannot store tires at commercial volumes without sprinkler modifications, and a landlord may not know that until asked directly.
- Confirm the building is approved for rubber tire storage at your intended arrangement and height.
- Storage arrangement changes the allowable height, laced, on-side and on-tread differ.
- Aisle width requirements can be stricter than for general commodities.
- Insurance carriers may impose limits beyond code; involve them early.
Cube, weight and handling
Tires cube out fast and are awkward to handle. Containers are frequently floor-loaded and hand-stacked, which makes de-vanning labor-intensive and slow, often several hours per container. That labor cost, not storage rent, is usually the largest variable in a tire program.
- Expect floor-loaded containers and price de-vanning labor explicitly.
- Decide up front whether tires will be palletized or stored loose in racks.
- OTR and industrial tires need heavy equipment and clear maneuvering space.
- Count SKUs honestly, tire programs are SKU-dense and pick-intensive.
Natural rubber bales
Bales are heavy, dense and prone to deforming and sticking when stacked in heat. They need firm rated floors, controlled stack heights, and enough ventilation to avoid heat buildup. Segregation from odor-sensitive commodities matters, rubber transfers smell readily.
Transloading and regional distribution
Tire importers usually transload near the port into domestic trailers for delivery to regional distribution centers or dealer networks. Because de-vanning is the slow step, a facility with dock capacity and a dedicated crew matters more than one with marginally lower rent.
Condition, aging and rotation
Tires degrade with UV exposure, ozone and heat. Indoor storage away from electrical equipment that generates ozone, first-in-first-out rotation by DOT date code, and no outdoor staging beyond short windows are the practical controls.
Sizing the requirement
Use the space calculator to turn your pallet or piece counts, container throughput and dwell time into an estimated warehouse requirement, then use the cost calculator for a planning-level monthly range before requesting real pricing.
Importing tires or rubber?
Tell us about your freight and we'll identify warehouse options that may fit your requirements.