A set of race tires costs real money. Around $1,200 for a mounted set, going by what we budget. Then the season ends, and plenty of racers toss them in the corner of an unheated shed.
That's the expensive mistake. Tires don't just sit there over the winter. They can crack.
Why cold is the real enemy
Hoosier, one of the biggest names in grassroots race rubber, says its tires, especially asphalt and hard-compound ones, may crack if they're transported, crushed, flexed or stressed while frozen. Their guidance is to store tires indoors above 32°F.
Longacre, which makes racing tires and gear, is just as blunt: don't store race tires in sub-freezing temperatures for any length of time.
That matters in Colorado. National Weather Service data for Pueblo puts the normal low at about 28°F on November 1st and about 17°F by the end of the month. An unheated garage, shed or trailer follows the weather. A tire left there isn't storing. It's freezing.
The key word in Hoosier's warning is "flexed." A frozen tire that sits still is one thing. A frozen tire you roll across the garage, mount, or toss in the truck is the one that cracks.
The storage checklist
Most guidance comes from the tire makers, and it lines up closely. Here's the version we'd follow.
- Take the tires off the car. Don't leave them on it all winter. Longacre's advice is to pull them first.
- Pick an indoor spot that stays above freezing. A closet, a basement, a heated garage. Your house beats your shed.
- Keep it cool, dark and dry. Longacre gives 40 to 80°F as the range. An older Hoosier-sourced guide quoted by Go Ahead, Take the Wheel says 40 to 90°F. The sources differ on the top end, so aim for the middle and you'll satisfy both.
- Lay them on their sides. Both guides say to store them on their sides, not standing upright.
- Stay out of the sun. Sunlight's UV breaks rubber compounds down.
- Bag them if you like. Longacre suggests black plastic bags. The Go Ahead author notes the bag does little good if the tires already sit in a dark basement. Either way, it's cheap.
- Keep oil, grease and solvents away. Petroleum products can soften and degrade rubber.
What not to do
Skip the tire shine, rubber protectant and "conditioner" sprays. Longacre says not to apply chemical treatments because they may damage the tire's integrity.
Don't park tires next to an electric motor, like a furnace blower or a big compressor. Electric motors give off a little ozone, and ozone attacks rubber. It's a small effect, but it's free to avoid.
Don't tuck them behind the water heater for warmth either, as a rule of thumb. Heat isn't the goal. Steady, moderate and dark is.
What if a set already got cold?
Hoosier's advisory says a tire that has been at 32°F or colder should warm to room temperature, about 70°F, for at least 24 hours before it's mounted, transported or flexed.
So if your garage dipped below freezing and you want to use the tires in March, don't grab them cold and throw them in the truck. Bring them inside first and give them a full day.
Then look them over before you trust them. Check the sidewalls and the tread for cracks. If you see freeze damage, don't gamble on it. Ask the tire maker or a dealer, and don't run a tire you doubt.
Is storage worth the effort?
Look at what a season costs. Our Spec Miata tire cost breakdown shows how fast rubber adds up when you buy a fresh set for most weekends. A spare set you stored badly is a set you paid for and can't use.
Also remember that tires wear out by heat cycles, not just by time. Our R-compound tires explainer covers that, and so does why your second session is slower than your first. Storage won't bring back grip a tire already used up. It just stops you from losing more in the off-season.
If you're mapping out the whole winter, the tires are one of four jobs in our off-season plan. And if your car has a water-cooled engine, read about freezing and antifreeze in a race car while you're at it.
The short version
Indoors. Above freezing. Dark. Dry. On their sides. Away from oil, sun and chemicals. Handle them gently if they've been cold.
That's it. It costs nothing and it protects money you already spent.
If you want a checklist for the season ahead, the free Race Day Ready Pack covers prep from packing to setup tracking.
Sources: Longacre Racing: Winter Tire Storage Tips, Hoosier Tire: Winter Season Tire Advisory, Go Ahead, Take the Wheel: Off-Season Tire Storage, NWS Pueblo: November 2020 Preview. Storage ranges differ between manufacturer sources, so check the maker of your own tires. The tire price is our typical budget figure for a mounted race set. Checked as of October 2026.
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