Storage Question

[SonicRoush]

Do tires really get flat spots if you store a car and do not move it? If so, how long can I leave my car sitting before I have to move it?

[Reckless]

mine doesnt move from usually november - may/june ( its really weather depending ) i think you would flatspot your tires more from some idiot pulling out in front of you and having to slam on the brakes then from sitting a few months.

[family man]

The flat spots you get from storage and not like the flat spots you get from slamming on the brakes.

When I stored my '04 Mach a few years ago, the tires did develope "flat spots" in them. But they came back to shape after driving it for a few miles on the freeway. Now when I store my Roush, I just add a few more pounds of air to the tires. When I take her out of storage I take the pressure down to normal and I have not noticed any flat spots.

[RoushMach1]

The flat spotting term came from the old Nylon based tires that would develop flat spots on them for long extended periods of inactivity.

I will try to scan in an article and post it later.

[jack1.1]

I used to store my old mustang every winter for years. I would just drive it about once a month, you need to exercise it, get it up to temp. Saw flat spotting on cold days but like family man says it goes away after a few miles.

To avoid, run the car every couple of weeks for 5 miles or so.

or

Jack it up and take the tires off, store them flat with cardboard between them, stack them up next to the car.

[Reckless]

am I the only one that doesn't see flat spots over a winter storage? I think on older bias ply tirers it might be a difference but todays gereration i dont think it that apperantent

[2KRoushGT]

I get some flat spots when my car sits in storage after about 2 weeks. After about 1 mile of driving they are gone.

[mr_skeets]

I put both our cars away for about six months or so but, I park the tires on top of some pieces of wood off the concrete. Been doing it this way for many years. Never ended up with any flat spots. Flat spots use to be the problem with the old bias ply tires and not so much with the tires of today.

[Sabre]

The temp of your storage area, probably makes a difference too. In an unheated environment, in a cold climate, the tires will probably be stiffer and hold the flat spot for a little longer. You might have to drive a few more miles, to bring them up to temp and back into round. Bias tires from years ago were much worse about this, but even todays radials will flat spot just a little, if they sit in one spot long enough. Just a few miles of driving will warm them up and put them right again.

[fastrac]

I have had flat spotting on all of my cars during winter storage. I also air them up higher then normal and re adjust come spring. I have a 67 deville convertable with vouge tires on it and that one is the worst. Take a good long 45 min ride to get them hot and spinning and then they feel normal.

I tried to raise my vettes off the ground to let the tire hang and soon found out it was bad for the supention on an independent suspention car, It was suggested that I place these rubber pads under the tire and they dont seam to do nothing.

All I have to say about storing a Muscle car. Is be carefull the first couple of trips when coming out of storage. My dailey driver is a HD2500 silverado pick up truck that you really have to put your foot in it to get it to go. But when I get back in my 62 vette thats less then 3100lbs and 425 hp its real easey to get it squirley before you get used to driving a powerfull car again. I say the same thing every year to my self "self go slow till you get used to it a again" But I just cant help my self once the temp is up I put my foot in it