It’s spring! The season of impulse motorcycle shopping, driveway detailing, and—you guessed it—swapping out those chunky winter tires. But before you toss them in a stack behind the shed like a pile of garden gnomes, hear this: the way you’re storing winter tires could be the difference between running them for one more season or an early trip to the dump.

To stop weather cracking, stop the weather

Ever seen a tire with great tread but sidewalls that look like a spider web? That’s weather cracking, and it means the rubber’s dried out and ready to fail—no matter how much tread is left. Most folks assume tires wear out from use. But often, it’s how you’re storing winter tires that kills them. So learn the basics of this seasonal maintenance to-do.

So, how do you fight the elements? First, clean your winter tires thoroughly and let them dry. Then pick a spot for storing your tires that’s not too hot, too cold, or too humid. A basement or semi-heated garage is perfect.

Next, block out the sun. Light is rubber’s mortal enemy. Place each tire in its own opaque (that means non-see-through) plastic bag. Then vacuum out as much air as you can. Less oxygen equals slower decay. It might seem extra, but this step can help store winter tires in peak condition until next season.

Storing winter tires away from chemicals—and electricity–is key

Here’s where it gets weird. Gasoline? Bad. Harsh chemicals? Also bad. But electric motors? Also bad. Why? Because electric brush motors—like the ones in furnaces or generators—can produce ozone. And ozone is a tire killer. So when you store winter tires, don’t park them next to anything buzzing, sparking, or throwing off fumes.

Now, how to position them? If your tires are still on rims, feel free to stack them. You can also hang them if you’re short on space. But if your tires are off-rim, stand them up vertically and rotate their position every month or so. Don’t hang off-rim tires or you’ll end up with weird dents.

Storing your winter tires well means they’ll protect you for years

Nobody’s saying you need to send your tires away to a climate-controlled spa. But if you store winter tires the right way, you’ll save money, avoid weather cracking, and keep your rubber road-ready. Do it wrong? That spring motorcycle budget might go to four new tires instead. Watch how the pros store winter tires in the video below: