. I've had Vette's for 20+ years and they are in the garage most of the winter-never a problem.
Preventing flat spotting
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I was of the opinion that today's tires were not prone to flatspotting like older tires but I have changed my mind.
I bought my 02 coupe last year with 9,000 original miles on it with the original runflats. Obviously this car sat for prolonged periods over it's seven year life. I had a slight vibration in the front end at highway speeds. I brought the front tires and wheels to two shops with Hunter Road Force balancers. Both shops agreed the tires had flat spotted from prolonged sitting. They weren't trying too sell me tires as I made it clear I buy through the Tire Rack. I bought two new original equipment run flats and it solved the highway vibration.
Bottom line: It is definitely harder to flat spot todays tires but it can happen. If the car is going to sit for several months without being driven I would over-inflate them and roll the car once in a while. Driving is also a good idea
I bought my 02 coupe last year with 9,000 original miles on it with the original runflats. Obviously this car sat for prolonged periods over it's seven year life. I had a slight vibration in the front end at highway speeds. I brought the front tires and wheels to two shops with Hunter Road Force balancers. Both shops agreed the tires had flat spotted from prolonged sitting. They weren't trying too sell me tires as I made it clear I buy through the Tire Rack. I bought two new original equipment run flats and it solved the highway vibration.
Bottom line: It is definitely harder to flat spot todays tires but it can happen. If the car is going to sit for several months without being driven I would over-inflate them and roll the car once in a while. Driving is also a good idea
Safety Car
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The Falken tires (512's) that I had on my 94 would flat spot after sitting a while, but like was said earlier, after a couple miles they were fine. I haven't noticed this with the Michelin's on my 01.
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After YEARS of parking my Corvettes for 3-4 months at a time I KNOW from my personal experince that this does NOT happen.
Bias ply tires are another story. They WILL flat spot. Today's radial tires don't flat spot.
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I bought the car in upstate New York and drove it home, 249 miles. I drove it another couple of thousand miles before I decided to do something about the vibration. The tires had plenty of tread on them and wore evenly. The new tires corrected the vibration. The car stays in a heated garage as it did with the previous owner.
Le Mans Master
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From: Chester County Pennsylvania
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Currently driving a C5 but back in 2005 I had a C4 that I stored for 6 months during the winter in PA and upon the first drive after storage, the tires had developed "Flat Spots" but quickly dissapated after a few miles of driving.
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I've never had any problems with the tires on my C5 flatspotting.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Here
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I believe in the Beer Fairy
I bought the car in upstate New York and drove it home, 249 miles. I drove it another couple of thousand miles before I decided to do something about the vibration. The tires had plenty of tread on them and wore evenly. The new tires corrected the vibration. The car stays in a heated garage as it did with the previous owner.
you know what they say, an exception to every rule.....you're THAT guy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Near Charlotte NC
I use rubber floor mats,the small ones that are about 18 in square and about 1/4in thick.
IMO,it's not the sitting so much as it is the change of temps of the surface.I do all my cars like this,not just the Vette.
\db2
Carolina
Last edited by dbaker; Nov 11, 2009 at 02:45 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
If you buy any product to prevent "flat spotting" (from extended sitting) on steel belted low profile tires, you've fallen for the Corvette tax that gets everyone so upset...
"Flat spotting" from hard braking is an entirely different matter...
"Flat spotting" from hard braking is an entirely different matter...
Last edited by hotwheels57; Nov 11, 2009 at 02:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Belleville Il
!! I was going to say wait for your EBCM to go out(no ABS) and lock them up at around a hundred,,,presto,,flat spos all the way around!! NASCAR does it every Sunday!!!
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
The least expensive solution is to buy a sheet of pink styrofoam insulation at Lowes/Home Depot.... cut 4 appropriate size pieces
Put a piece under each tire....
Pump up the tires to about 45 lbs....
There will be no falt spot when you take the Vette out of storage.
The styrofoam insualtion deforms to cradle the tire and spread the weight over a large area.
Put a piece under each tire....
Pump up the tires to about 45 lbs....
There will be no falt spot when you take the Vette out of storage.
The styrofoam insualtion deforms to cradle the tire and spread the weight over a large area.
