Car storage

[Dave6T4]

Mine are coming up on 32... but might be time to change them soon. I've never noticed them flat spotting even after sitting for years...
View attachment 1196774

That's pretty good life. I got about 4000 miles (2 summers) out of one of my Coker red lines before the belts started to separate. I would not recommend them to anyone.

 

[BSB67]

That's pretty good life. I got about 4000 miles (2 summers) out of one of my Coker red lines before the belts started to separate. I would not recommend them to anyone.

Bias ply or Silvertown radial?

 

[Dave6T4]

Bias ply or Silvertown radial?

Silverstone radials. I am going to try a pair of Diamondbacks III next.

 

[BSB67]

Silverstone radials. I am going to try a pair of Diamondbacks III next.

I'm going to try the DBIII's too

 

[wahya]

That’s a beautiful car there dadsbe. Drive it or trailer it to Atlanta?

 

[dadsbee]

That’s a beautiful car there dadsbe. Drive it or trailer it to Atlanta?

2600 mile trip... trailered it, BUT drove it from Atlanta Motor Speedway, after doing laps, all the way to Alexander City Alabama (probably faster at times than the track while chasing @erickson in his Daytona ) , then to Talladega and back while there. Put 493.8 miles on the car while South.

 

[Cranky]

Had one Micky shred itself on a trailer after hauling a load of lumber then a car a week later from the same place that was 90 miles away. Took it easy since the tires were.......drum roll please......20 years old! And the trailer sat outside all the time. The BFG's on my diesel are going on 17 and well, 60 is about as fast I dare to go with those too unloaded. The diesel is a garage queen. What else could it be with 140k miles and a 97?

The belts separated on my box trailer just sitting still. It's used mostly as a storage building. They have around 1k miles on them and they were fine 7 years ago when I parked it. IIRC, the trailer was only 3 when I bought it but heck if I can find a date code on the China made 'for trailer use only' tires. Btw, I HATE China made junk and do everything I can to avoid it these days! Yeah, their electronics seem to be good though.....unless it's on an appliance.

 

[wahya]

I was just getting my car back on the road after about 20 years of sitting. One of my old GY Eagles started to vibrate or feel like a flat spot. I was able to get to a friends place and I removed the tire and placed it on the ground, the belts were badly separated. While the wheel was sitting on the ground , the tire just unraveled.

 

[Ruby67]

So if storing our vehicles off the tires for the winter months helps prevent developing flat spots, is taking weight off the suspension also advised?

 

[Ron H]

Not on all tires. I have reproduction polyglas tires that flat spots won’t go away anymore. But they are 20 years old now, look perfect.

I should put them on a beater pickup and drive until they get round or explode.

Or do some burn-outs, rotate, more burn-outs..

 

[MoparLeo]

To answer the flat spot guys. Nylon gets stiff when cold and gets more flexible after it warms up. Nylon has not been used as a passenger tires body since the 60's.
That was the reason for polyester /rayon carcasses, to smooth out cold driving vibration.
Nylon is very strong though and was still used in truck tires for many years after.
Very little natural rubber in a tire. Mostly petroleum based synthetic compounds. Many different chemicals used in tire construction.
Passenger tires were designed for a specific life. Modern avg. mileage of 10-20 thousand miles per year or 60-80 thousand miles total. Only takes 3-4 years to happen.
In the pre radial tire days 10-30 thousand mile tire life. 10 thousand miles year year average. 1-3 years to wear out.
Tires never got old enough to disintegrate( which means to break down into the original components).
These compounds are designed to maintain designed function for 5-8 years regardless of storage. Chemical compounds breakdown, just like a loaf of bread.
Taking the load off of the tires serves to help prevent sidewall cracking at the bulge. Not flat spotting.
Use your FSM to find the factory jacking locations and you can supplement them where you feel your car needs them.
The hi-ways are littered every vacation time, summers mostly with the rubber/treads from "good looking" low mileage motorhome and trailer tires.
Tires get old. Bodywork is expensive. People get hurt.
Things to consider when you are driving down the hi-=way with old tires. Feel lucky?

 

[Cranky]

So if storing our vehicles off the tires for the winter months helps prevent developing flat spots, is taking weight off the suspension also advised?

Taking the weight off the tires for long term storage isn't a bad idea imo but not that many seem to do that. I also like to lift the body up just enough to take some of the load off of the suspension but never liked to leave the front suspension hang at full drop long term.

 

[Ron H]

So if storing our vehicles off the tires for the winter months helps prevent developing flat spots, is taking weight off the suspension also advised?

Had the thought and some comments from other car guys eons ago that relaxing the suspension was a good idea if it sits a long time…bushings, ball-joints, shocks, etc. Not necessarily getting the tires completely off the ground. Whether this is true or not, not sure…something that I thought made sense.

 

[dadsbee]

I used to lift my cars and let the suspension hang thinking it would help "revive" the springs and torsion bars.... only to find it trashes the LCA rubber pivot bushings!

 

[moes]

this is what I use for storage of the BOGUSBEE


https://www.raceramps.com/car-storage/p/rr-fs/

 

[diesel_lv]

I just drive mine 365, tires wear a little faster that way but never flat spot unless I have to lock up the brakes in a panic stop. The suspension seems to hold up well that way too.

 

[451Mopar]

Don't put jackstands under the front subframe on a convertible. Be lucky if the doors open at all.
Under K-Member, the weight is same as if on the tires.
Currently I don't worry about my tires, they all need replacing

 

[Y07Roadrunner]

Let me add my .02 to this thread.....
I store my collector cars from Nov-April. I put them up on jack stands and fill the tires to 35psi. Windows are left down, trunk lids left ajar, and cars are covered with a premium cover. Batteries are removed.
Although I keep my cars in a heated garage, there is always humidity and moisture weeping up from the concrete floor. Jacking up the car adds a little more space for air to circulate underneath the cars and helps (IMO) to minimize any destructive moisture from harming the chassis & body. Its easy to do, and part of my "fall routine".
In the spring, it only takes about an hour per car to remove the jack stands, charge/install the battery, check tire pressures & fluids, and give the car a quick dusting and then they are good to go for the season.