Buddythedog

I would appreciate advice on how to prevent my bias-ply tires from developing flat spots during winter storage. The car is garaged and parked on a cold concrete floor. I have carpets under the tires which do nothing to prevent flat spots. I am considering 1" or 2" thick foam insulation sheets placed under the tires. What works for you?

bashcraft

Raising the air pressure to the max will help, but you need to get the weight off of them. Jack the car up and put it on blocks.

revitup

I inflate the Radial TAs to 45 PSI, never had a problem with flat spotting.

C6_Racer_X

Inflate tires to max pressure shown on sidewalls AND raise the vehicle, support on jack stands with wheels not touching the ground.

Duke94

Griots Garage sells this thing.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...mps.do?from=ac

Revi

The flat spots will go away when you drive it in the Spring, 10 miles ought to do it.

Easy Mike

Roger that.

bashcraft

Radials don't flat spot.

7T1vette

It has been a LONG time since I've owned bias-ply tires. But, any flat-spot issues that occurred from storage only required some amount of normal driving to allow them to recover their initial shape. I don't ever recall any such 'flat-spotting' becoming permanent.

Had it been otherwise, I would have taken most of the weight off the wheels and lowered air pressure to less than 10 psi while the car was being stored Air them back up and remove any storage "support" methods, then drive away. I would not choose to increase air pressure, as it would merely add more stress to the tire during [non-use] storage.

Buddythedog

Advice appreciated. I over-inflated the tires this morning. I have seen advertisements for flatstoppers and tire rests. Wondering if they prevent flat spots or are even necessary.

C6_Racer_X

Sort of. In my experience, driving them on a fairly warm day will greatly reduce the flat spots. Even after hundreds of miles, there can still be some shakes at high speeds that weren't there before the things were stored with weight on them, and those shakes seem to be from the "flat spotting" from storage under load.
They certainly do, although it's not as bad, and it doesn't happen as quickly. It also depends on the specifics of the construction of the tire.

millsy

I dont use flatstoppers on my vette but I use them on my cobra. My cobra tires are much softer then on my vette so the builder told me to buy the flatstoppers or they would develop flat spots. My builder does not sell them so he doesnt benefit other then not having me pissed off that my tires got ruined after winter storage. The flatstoppers are not cheap but shop around for the best price, they work for my tires.

VETFEVER

If you park the car over 1 or 1.5 inch rigid insulation (pink of blue), you find the material crushes just enough to form a nice curved cradle for the tire.

One 4x8 sheet can be cut into 3 16-inch wide pieces which will produce 2 12-ft long ramps for you.

I suggest you bevel the front edge to make it easier to drive the car up on to them.

Keeps your tire off the concrete as well...

Same effect as the more expensive flat stopper products out there...

Bills17n72

buy a sheet of that blue insulation board ,cut four pieces ,and put them under the tires!

VETFEVER

Good and simple

Revi

This is certainly a lot of thought, time, suggestions, etc., for a non-issue. Simply drive the car and the tires will go back round.

KenSny

Exactly.

More of an issue if the car sits for years, not a couple of months.

00Nassau

Amen Brother!

Buddythedog

I would like to thank everyone for the great advice! Unfortunately, I live in the northeast with miserable winter weather (cold, snow, ice, etc). I am leaning towards purchasing 2" foam insulation and will have to decide this week: very cold weather on the way and have already had snow. Any other advice is welcome.

WideVette

I had Kumho Ecsta's that developed flat spot(s). Verified by both Tire Rack and Discount Tire (both actually drove car and checked off car). Tried every trick to remove the spots (200 highway miles at 45+psi on my way back from Tire Rack), etc. and never fully removed high speed vibration issues. I would raise the pressure and cushion the tires if directly against cement. Easy insurance and prevents tire marking cement.