ONAIR / THE WINTER STORAGE GUIDE
Aired out
or aired up?
For a bagged car parked through winter, our general recommendation is normal driving height. Here's how to put your summer build away with a plan for spring.
THE CLEAR ANSWER / START HERE
Store it at normal driving height.
For a car remaining on its tires for several months, leave enough air in the springs to support it at its established driving height. Maximum lift and maximum pressure are unnecessary.
This is our general storage recommendation, supported by specialist guidance on long-term parking. Follow any storage position or minimum-pressure requirement supplied with your exact suspension kit. [1][2]
Use your driving setting.
Keep the suspension within its approved working range, with sensible clearance.
Drain collected moisture.
Service the tank and water traps using their proper drain procedures before the cold arrives.
Check on the build.
Look for settling, leaks and changes in the storage environment. A preset is only the starting point.
BUILT FOR THE SEASON
Some cars get a winter break.
The Ferrari and classic BMW featured here are summer hobby builds, not daily-driven cars. They're the kind of projects that make a sunny weekend, a meet or the last drive of the season feel worth waiting for.
When a car like this goes into storage, the details still matter. The goal is to preserve the build you have put time into and make the first drive back straightforward. For air suspension, that starts with how the car sits, how dry the system is and whether it holds its height.
If you drive your bagged car throughout winter, read Air Ride in a Canadian Winter: The ONAIR Maintenance Guide for the routine that applies to regular cold-weather use.
01 / UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
Why we recommend airing up for storage.
A sensible driving height keeps the suspension away from full compression and full extension while the car sits. That is the reasoning behind recommending ride height for extended parking. It also gives you a useful baseline for checking whether the car has settled. [1]
Does that mean airing out damages the bags?
No blanket rule says that. Many performance air-suspension setups are designed to air out when parked. Air Lift Performance even defines that position as zero air pressure and maximum drop. Ordinary parked use can be perfectly appropriate when the installation and the kit allow it. [3]
Leaving a car untouched for months deserves a separate decision. The air-spring design, suspension travel, installed stops and surrounding clearances all matter. An approved low parked position on one build does not establish a storage rule for every other build. [4]
| Position | ONAIR's guidance |
|---|---|
| Normal driving height | Our preferred starting point for winter storage, subject to the instructions for the installed kit. |
| Fully aired out | Can be suitable for ordinary parking on an approved setup. Use it for months of storage only when the kit's guidance and installation support that choice. |
| Maximum lift | Extra height or pressure is not a substitute for fixing a leak. Avoid making full extension the default storage position. |
| On stands or a lift | A separate support plan is needed, including the correct suspension position. The on-tires recommendation does not automatically apply. |
Recommendations above are general. The manufacturer's instructions for your particular components take priority. Support guidance.
Use the pressure needed for your car's established driving height within the kit's limits. Vehicle weight, spring design and installation affect that setting. Copying another car's pressure, or a minimum intended for a towing helper bag, can give you the wrong result. [4][5]
02 / BEFORE THE CAR GOES AWAY
Your winter storage checklist.
Inspect the air system and resolve leaks.
Check accessible bags for rubbing or wear, lines for damage, and fittings, wiring, compressor mounts and sensors for anything loose. Address persistent pressure loss before storage. Use the manufacturer's leak-test procedure, and compare readings at similar temperatures. [6][8]
Set the final height and record it.
With the car on firm, level ground, select its established driving height and confirm clearance. Take a reference photo and note the bag readings, tank reading and approximate temperature. This gives you something useful to compare with during storage.
Plan the power and automatic settings.
Check your management system's instructions for shutdown, automatic leveling and rise-on-start. For an unattended car, follow its approved method for preventing unwanted compressor operation or movement. Battery disconnection, if used, must follow the vehicle's instructions. Do not depend on an active system to hide a leak.
Look after the battery and tires.
Use a maintenance charger suited to the actual battery chemistry and approved for extended connection. Observe both the battery and charger's temperature limits, especially with an aftermarket lithium battery. Maintain the tire pressure specified for your vehicle and tires; do not automatically inflate to the sidewall maximum. [12][13][14]
Do not loosen a pressurized tank fitting to let water out. Whether the tank should remain pressurized afterward depends on the management system. Some valve designs can let the bags lose pressure when the tank is emptied. Follow the installed hardware's instructions instead of assuming the tank and bags are always isolated. [9]
For fuel, fluids, brakes and the rest of the vehicle, use its own long-term storage instructions. Air-suspension preparation is one part of putting the whole car away properly.
03 / WHERE THE BUILD WILL SIT
Heated garage, unheated garage or outdoors?
A dry, ventilated indoor space is a good starting point. Temperature control helps you manage the environment, but a heated garage does not replace moisture drainage or a leak check. Outdoor storage needs more attention to weather exposure and corrosion. [11]
Heated indoor storage
Store the car clean and dry, maintain ventilation and check its height and battery plan periodically.
Unheated indoor storage
Prepare for freezing temperatures. Remove collected moisture and expect pressure readings to change as the space cools.
Outdoor storage
Choose firm, level ground and suitable weather protection. Check after major weather changes and keep snow, water and debris away from accessible equipment.
Leaving the car fully deflated does not remove moisture from the tank or guarantee protection from freezing. Water control still matters even when the car will not be driven. [7][2]
Should I add air-brake antifreeze?
Only when the manufacturers of your installed components approve the exact product and procedure. Advice varies between systems, and a dose intended for another setup is not an ONAIR specification. Never substitute engine coolant or pour an additive into an unapproved compressor or manifold port. Our Canadian winter guide explains the compatibility checks. [6][10]
04 / CHECKING IN THROUGH WINTER
A lower reading does not always mean a leak.
Temperature affects air pressure. A reading taken in a warm garage cannot be compared directly with one taken during a deep freeze. Compare under similar conditions and look at the car's actual height as well as the display. [8]
Repeated sagging at one corner, continuing height loss or excessive compressor cycling deserves investigation. Topping it up every visit does not fix the cause. If you cannot check the car during storage, have an installer arrange a suitable support and shutdown plan before leaving it unattended. [2]
Use rated supports at the vehicle's approved points, and follow the suspension maker's instructions for supporting the suspension and controlling droop. Air Lift recommends additional suspension support for extended periods with the rear end hanging. Do not simply leave the bags and dampers at full extension all winter. Never work beneath a car supported only by air pressure or a hydraulic jack. [15][8]
05 / THE FIRST DRIVE BACK
Bring the build back thoughtfully.
Before the first meet or weekend drive, give the car and its air system a proper once-over. This is our practical return-to-service checklist, alongside the instructions for your vehicle and equipment.
Restore power and check operation.
Reconnect or enable equipment according to its instructions, with everyone clear of moving parts. Confirm normal compressor operation, pressure response and that the system holds height. Stop if something behaves unusually.
Confirm the actual driving height.
Verify clearance before moving the car. If you changed wheels, control arms, suspension settings or the load over winter, recheck the setup rather than assuming the old preset is still right. [4]
Make the first drive a check, too.
Confirm the brakes release and work normally, and pay attention to unexpected noise or vibration. Persistent tire vibration after storage needs inspection. Recheck the car after that first outing. [14]
06 / THE QUESTIONS WE HEAR MOST
Winter storage, answered clearly.
Will leaving it aired out all winter ruin the bags?
Not automatically. Approved parked positions differ by kit and installation. We recommend normal driving height as the general starting point for months of storage on the tires, while following any specific storage instructions for your system.
How much air should I leave in the bags?
Enough to support your car at its established driving height, within the limits of the installed kit. There is no single storage PSI that works for every bagged car.
Should I empty the air tank completely?
Remove accumulated moisture. Whether you should then leave the tank depressurized depends on the management hardware. Some valves rely on tank pressure to keep the springs isolated, so use the system's instructions.
Does disconnecting the battery mean the car has to air out?
No universal rule requires that. Battery power and air retention are separate considerations, but valve designs and automatic functions vary. Use the approved shutdown procedure and verify what your particular system does when power is removed.
Do I need to start the car every week?
Follow the vehicle's engine-storage instructions. A brief start and a few minutes of idling are not a dependable battery-maintenance plan; use a suitable charger where appropriate. You do not need to invent a weekly full-drop routine for the suspension. [16]
ONAIR / LOOK AFTER THE BUILD
Park it prepared.
Enjoy the next season.
Have a slow leak, a moisture issue or an off-season project planned? ONAIR can help review the setup and the work it needs before the next season starts.
Request a service review Explore water managementThis guide covers long-term storage of aftermarket full air-suspension cars. Its on-tires recommendation is general guidance, not a pressure specification for every kit. Instructions for your suspension, management system, vehicle and battery take priority. Photos show summer builds and are not demonstrations of a recommended storage position.
Sources & equipment references
Manufacturer documentation and firsthand specialist guidance reviewed for this article. Product-specific pressures and procedures have not been transferred to every ONAIR build.
- Bag Riders representative: ordinary parking versus long-term storage. Firsthand technical response, April 2014.
- Intermotiv: Full Air Suspension FAQ. Extended parking, cleaning, leaks and freezing moisture.
- Air Lift Performance: FAQs and terminology. Aired-out positions, spring designs and temperature-dependent readings.
- Air Lift Performance: Installation Guide MN-723. Example of application-specific pressure and clearance requirements.
- Air Lift Company: Load-Support FAQs. Helper-bag requirements are distinct from full replacement performance suspension.
- AccuAir: How Do You Maintain Air Bag Suspension?. Component inspections, condensation and its additive guidance.
- Air Lift Performance: Don't Forget to Drain It. Tank condensation and moisture removal.
- Air Lift Performance: ALP4 Installation Guide MN-1209. Temperature-aware leak testing, moisture management and vehicle support.
- Ridetech: RidePro Analog System 30154000. Example of a valve design that relies on tank pressure.
- Air Lift: WirelessAIR Guide MN-772. Example of component-specific additive restrictions, not an ONAIR dosing instruction.
- Ford: Vehicle Storage. General storage environment and return-to-service checks; use your own vehicle's manual.
- CTEK: Storing a Car for the Winter. Battery maintenance during extended storage.
- NOCO: GENIUS5 Support. Different charging modes for different battery chemistries.
- Michelin: Tire Flat Spotting. Storage pressure and when vibration needs inspection.
- Air Lift Performance: Troubleshooting Guide. Additional suspension support during extended periods on stands.
- CTEK: Why Reach for Your Battery Charger?. Limitations of short periods of vehicle operation for charging.
