Tyre hotels: how they work and what to consider

What is a tyre hotel?

A tyre hotel is a service where a workshop or tyre company stores the wheels you are not currently using. When it is time to change season, the workshop swaps the wheels on your car and puts the removed set back into storage.

The advantage is that you do not have to carry and store heavy wheels in your storeroom or garage, and the tyres are stored lying down or hanging, at the right temperature and protected from sunlight. Many tyre hotels also do a simple check of the tyres when they come in, so you find out in good time if anything needs replacing.

What is usually included?

What is included varies between workshops, so always read what you are paying for. Common elements are:

• Storage of one set of wheels for a season or a full year
• Wheel changeover twice a year
• Washing the wheels before they are stored
• Checking tread depth and visible damage
• Checking and adjusting tyre pressure
• Marking the position of each wheel so they can be rotated

Balancing, replacing valves, refitting tyres on rims and work on tyre pressure monitoring sensors (TPMS) are often not included and are charged separately.

What affects the price?

Tyre hotels are usually priced per season or per year, and several factors affect the cost. Ask for a quote that shows exactly what you are paying for.

• Wheel size and whether the vehicle is a car, SUV or van
• Whether the changeover is included or charged each time
• Whether washing and balancing are included
• Low-profile tyres and large rims that take more time
• Contract period and whether the agreement renews automatically

Tyre hotels and wheel changes are vehicle services and do not qualify for ROT or RUT deductions.

Tyre rules you should know

As the driver, you are responsible for making sure the car has the right tyres and sufficient tread depth. During the winter period, winter tyres are required when there are winter road conditions, and winter tyres must then have a tread depth of at least 3 mm. Summer tyres must have at least 1.6 mm. Many recommend considerably more for good safety, especially in winter.

Detailed and up-to-date rules are available from the Swedish Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen). To read more about the changeover itself, see our guide to switching to winter tyres.

Preparations and things to consider

Book the changeover in good time. Around the first frosty nights and before Easter, workshops tend to be very busy.

• Bring the locking wheel nut key if your car has locking wheel bolts
• Ask whether the wheels are stored in an insured space and what applies in case of fire or theft
• Ask for a receipt or storage slip describing the wheels
• Check that the workshop re-torques the wheel bolts or asks you to come back for re-torquing
• Take a photo of the tyres before handing them in

Your rights as a consumer

The Consumer Services Act (Konsumenttjänstlagen) applies both when a workshop works on your car and when it stores your wheels, and the workshop must take care of your property in a professional manner. If the workshop has given an approximate price, it may not be exceeded by more than 15 per cent. If the workshop finds that more needs to be done, for example that the tyres are too worn, they must contact you before carrying out any additional work.

Many workshops apply the industry's general terms and conditions for car repairs. If you cannot agree, you can get advice from Hallå konsument and have the dispute considered by the National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN).

Common mistakes

• Not reading the terms on contract period and automatic renewal
• Forgetting to collect the wheels when moving or changing car
• Assuming balancing is included when it is not
• Not re-torquing the wheel bolts after the changeover
• Waiting until the last minute to book

Find a tyre hotel via Fixtorget

Describe your car, the wheel size and whether you want storage, changeover and washing in the same service. Up to four workshops can get in touch, and you can see whether they are verified by Fixtorget and have reviewed liability insurance. The workshop can send a cost specification that you approve in the portal, and posting the job is free for you.

Frequently asked questions