Tire flat spot prevention during storage?

[4xdog]

I have a couple of vehicles that will spend many months in storage not moving. When they get on the road one can feel a flat spot on the tires in the ride quality. it's typically gone with 10-20 miles of driving.

There are a number of products sold to cradle the tires in an arc to help prevent flat spotting. And I've heard for years not to store a car elevated with the suspension drooping, but rather to keep the weight of the car on the springs.

Here's a product I recently ran across that's a slightly different take on it -- a viscoelastic pad rather than a curved support. Hadn't seen this kind before but as a polymer scientist it's kind of interesting and might very well work.
https://www.rix914parts.com/store/p31/Tire_Mat.html

What's everyone here do? Is there some consensus over best practice?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Good old fashion jack stands....

 

[L5wolvesf]

If not on jack stands (#1 option) then I inflate them to just about their max pressure as indicated on the tire.

 

[driz]

Good old fashion jack stands....

Short blocks of 6x6 12”-14”long[emoji41]. They make great blocking and well as wheel chalks if you taper cut a couple. 4x4 works ok but more tippy if that matters. Paint em bright red cheap and last a lifetime .


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[SeisMec]

I've heard for years not to store a car elevated with the suspension drooping, but rather to keep the weight of the car on the springs.

Haven't heard that before. What is the rational?

 

[Qualitytools]

Check these out, I have not used them so no experience just trying to help out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZAGJAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[4xdog]

Haven't heard that before. What is the rational?

I'm not sure why it's sometimes said not to store a vehicle with the suspension unloaded. I seem to recall it having something to do with the bushings having weird stresses on them. I'm not sure I buy any of it.

 

[4xdog]

If not on jack stands (#1 option) then I inflate them to just about their max pressure as indicated on the tire.

Jackstands is what I've done (and am doing now). I like that idea to moderately overinflate the tires.

 

[tym]

Carpet scraps under each well-inflated tire.

 

[M6erfan]

If you go to any auto museum, or see private collections, you won't see cars up on jacks or blocked. According to BMW Group Classic, whom I've spoken to about this, cars should be stored on the ground with tires inflated close to the max pressure. Taking it out for a drive several times a year helps too.

 

[4xdog]

Check these out, I have not used them so no experience just trying to help out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZAGJAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yep -- there are a lot of products like that, and your link's a good example for those who haven't seen these. I've never used, or known anyone who's used that kind of thing.

 

[driz]

Pretty pricy for a bit of convenience in my opinion. They don’t take the weight off the suspension either[emoji17]


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[CitadelBlue]

Inflste tires to max pressure and place squares of styrofoam under each tire.

 

[bob15]

I change the good tires & rims to old/junk tires & rims for car storage. I bring the good ones to the cellar to be stored in plastic bags, with the tires laying on their sides.

 

[seber]

I just let them get flat spots. Ten miles down the road it's fine. No long term effect so why sweat it?

 

[928'er]

I agree with Bob.

The worst offenders I've seen are Bridgestone RE-11's. Let them sit for more than a day or two and they'll rattle the teeth out of your head the next time you drive on them. I've never seen another tire flat spot so quickly and so dramatically.