Avoiding tire flat spots
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 234
From: The Villages FL
Avoiding tire flat spots
Every year I put my C7 garage storage for quite a few months. I want to avoid getting tire flat spots. I don't think it is as much of a problem with run flats because of the sidewalls they have.
I have found a product online that says it prevents tire flat spots. They cost about $275 for a set of four. I am not sure how these work but they appear to cradle the front and back of the tire.
If that is how they work I could buy a few sets of curved wheel chucks
for a lot less money.
I also over inflate my tires before I leave as recommended by a service adviser.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks
I have found a product online that says it prevents tire flat spots. They cost about $275 for a set of four. I am not sure how these work but they appear to cradle the front and back of the tire.
If that is how they work I could buy a few sets of curved wheel chucks
for a lot less money.
I also over inflate my tires before I leave as recommended by a service adviser.
What are your thoughts?
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 260
Likes: 87
From: Brighton MI
My experiences over the years has been that in the worst case, flat spots are gone after about 5 miles. Other options include a second set of wheels & tires to sit on over the winter, or raise the vehicle & sit on jack stands for the winter,
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 50
From: Somerville New Jersey
I parked mine last November and took it out today for the first time, I did not overinflate the tires and when I checked them last night they were all between 24-26 PSI. I drove it to work today after I put the proper pressure in the tires and it was as smooth as a Corvette can be. No flat spotting, same with my last C6, same procedure, never an issue with flat spotting.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 270
Likes: 108
Lots of threads on this topic, especially popular late each year. The kind of floor you're sitting on may matter but generally, everyone inflates them a bit, 35-40 psi, and many put something under the tires (carpet or cardboard) to insulate from a cold floor. I went ahead and bought FlatStoppers and inflated to 35psi. After over a 100 days I took it out yesterday and no issues of course. However, there seems to be consensus and experience that the simple/cheaper approach is just fine. Drive on! 
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 173
From: Upstate NY
We pump up 7-10 psi more, put carpet swatches under the tires.
Never an issue, cars sit for months.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 234
From: The Villages FL
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 10,709
Likes: 7,101
From: Fulshear, TX
Back when I lived in Minnesota with a Honda S2000 when I tucked it away for winter hibernation I would inflate the tires to 45 psi in the fall and then drop them back to spec in the spring. I never had any issues in all my years living up there. If you really want to go overboard, park on a board of foam insulation as it will slightly crush and cradle the tire.
Last edited by Kracka; Apr 13, 2016 at 01:41 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 183
From: Maple Ontario
Pro
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 602
Likes: 119
From: Southern Ontario
Just pulled my car out of storage today, went in Nov 1, never moved. I put 42lbs in the tires back then, tires were perfect today, no issues at all. Garage is attached but unheated, dry cement , nothing under the tires. Did the same last year , a very bitter winter where we live in Canada, same thing tires were fine in spring.
Last edited by C7DriverOnt; Apr 13, 2016 at 04:16 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 73
From: Texas
Why would you garage your car in FL? Never gets cold enough there to restrict your driving. Don
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 234
From: The Villages FL
I know that sounds really strange Don but I go up to TN for the summer and I have other cars to drive up there which are in storage all winter so the Vette is my FL driver only.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,903
Likes: 315
From: Cedar Falls Iowa
I put my summer cars on Dolly's so I can shove the cars in the corner to squeeze a 4th car in the garage in the winter. The Dolly's are curved and they do seem to prevent flat spotting since twice as much tire area is supporting the car. I was thinking I paid $150 a set on EBay.
Last edited by DAFFYDRUNK; Apr 15, 2016 at 08:59 AM.
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I put a little extra air in the tires and then put an old piece of carpet under each one and have never had any problems with the tires flat spotting.