Tire Flat Spots
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 42
Likes: 4
From: Doylestown PA
Tire Flat Spots
OK, maybe a dumb question. I have brand new Goodyear OEM tires on my '04 Z06 and was wondering if I let it sits for months in my garage over the winter, will the tires get flat spots? Does this ruin the tire? Any product out there to help with this problem
Thanks
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
Yes flat spots can occur IF left for a very long period of time due to loss of air. As told to me by a professional who is also a friend, take for pieces of styrofoam that are wide enough and long enough that your car sits on them. The styrofoam takes pressure off of the tires and acts as a cussion.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Central Ma
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,568
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From: Near Charlotte NC
It's not so much the pressure on the tires,it's the change of temp of the contact surface that can make a temp flat spot on the tires.
My Z sits out on concrete all year,but I have some rubber mats I have the car sit on to help counteract the effects of the temp change.Seems to work ok.
\db2
Carolina
My Z sits out on concrete all year,but I have some rubber mats I have the car sit on to help counteract the effects of the temp change.Seems to work ok.
\db2
Carolina
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The tires will be just fine. You may have a little bumpiness when you drive the car again, but within a couple of miles it should be smooth sailing.
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Make some extruded styrofoam pads for the car to sit on. Get the blue foam from Home Depot it works great I have been using mine for 7 years now. I think I'll make some new ones for next year thought. I cut two with bevels front and rear so I could drive over them then onto the front ones that only have one end beveled.
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The precautions that the guys have suggested can't hurt but my experience is that any flat spots work themselves out inside a few miles.
My car used to sit for a month at a time in Vegas without issue. It also sat on a boat to England for 8 weeks. It wasn't even noticeable when I drove away from the Port. I had Michelin AS ZPs on by then which are slightly softer tires. The OEMs with harder sidewalls should stand up even better.
If you're worried just roll it a few inches in the garage every few weeks.
You'll be fine.
My car used to sit for a month at a time in Vegas without issue. It also sat on a boat to England for 8 weeks. It wasn't even noticeable when I drove away from the Port. I had Michelin AS ZPs on by then which are slightly softer tires. The OEMs with harder sidewalls should stand up even better.
If you're worried just roll it a few inches in the garage every few weeks.
You'll be fine.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 201
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From: Knoxville TN
The design of a radial tire, will not allow the tire to permanently become flat spotted. The only reason for the feeling of having a flat spot once you get in a car that has been sitting for an extended period of time is because the tire looses air over time allowing the sidewall of the tire to sag. This in turn gives the allusion of having a flat spot. A radial tire is designed for this to not damage the construction of the tire, however if you were to drive the tire with out re-airing it up this can cause damage. If you are going to store your car for an extended period of time just be sure to check your pressure before driving on them.
