Prevent Tire Flat Spots during Winterizing

[Ciao]

Anyone have any tips/ideas/suggestions that have had success with preventing flat spots during Winterization?

Generally I will store the Box from Nov thru April in an unheated garage.
I plan on airing the tires to ~50psi. The tires are all season, so they may be a little harder than summer tires.

The garage floor is concrete. I will not be pushing the car a few feet back & forth every few weeks, I will not drive the vehicle, I will not put it on jack stands.

Thoughts?

[cas951]

I know you don’t want to use jack stands but have you seen this lift bar? I love using mine.
PK Products

[Anker]

Why won't you push the car back and forth, that's exactly what you need to do! The other alternative is to drive it about once a month when the weather is over 40 degrees (assuming you are on summer tires) and there's no salt on the roads.

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by cas951

I know you don’t want to use jack stands but have you seen this lift bar? I love using mine.
PK Products

Many agree lifting the Box and suspending the suspension is bad for the suspension

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Anker

Why won't you push the car back and forth, that's exactly what you need to do! The other alternative is to drive it about once a month when the weather is over 40 degrees (assuming you are on summer tires) and there's no salt on the roads.

Many agree once the oil is changed, driving and parking again for several weeks contaminates internal engine parts, unless you drive regularly once you've started to drive with clean oil. Moving the car back & forth may be a solution, though I was looking for a trouble free solution

[cas951]

Originally Posted by Ciao

Many agree lifting the Box and suspending the suspension is bad for the suspension

I didn’t know that.
However, I think you can still take most of the weight off by lifting enough so most of the weight if off the wheels?

[alm001]

They sell a product called "flatstoppers". Its a set of cupped wheel chocks. They aren't cheap. I saw them in a client's garage on his Bentley and Ferrari

What I do is put the car on jackstands, and put the wheels in my basement.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Ciao

Many agree once the oil is changed, driving and parking again for several weeks contaminates internal engine parts, unless you drive regularly once you've started to drive with clean oil. Moving the car back & forth may be a solution, though I was looking for a trouble free solution

If you want a "trouble free solution", just let it sit, don't roll it around or buy any over priced gizmos that claim to solve the problem.

We store several cars for key customers every winter; none of them are jacked up, or set on anything, they just sit on concrete floors. And yes, the tires will flat spot, but if they are decent tires the flat spots will roll out in about 10-15 min. of driving next spring.

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

If you want a "trouble free solution", just let it sit, don't roll it around or buy any over priced gizmos that claim to solve the problem.

We store several cars for key customers every winter; none of them are jacked up, or set on anything, they just sit on concrete floors. And yes, the tires will flat spot, but if they are decent tires the flat spots will roll out in about 10-15 min. of driving next spring.

Good to know! Seems I don't have a real problem after all

[356Guy]

I've never had a problem. Perhaps its a throw back to when bias ply tires were used.

[nieuwhzn]

Boxters are light cars, decent tires don't develop real flat spots.
Do an oil change, park in your garage, hook up a battery maintainer and don't touch until Spring.

[That986]

I don't see the difference of a car on jack stands if you place them right or it being sat on the wheels.

[tommy583]

[QUOTE=JFP in PA;553303]If you want a "trouble free solution", just let it sit, don't roll it around or buy any over priced gizmos that claim to solve the problem.

This is how I've stored my car for 6 years. Wash and wax, leather conditioner, oil change, pump up tires to 50 PSI, fuel stabilizer, fill tank with non-ethanol fuel, leave it in neutral, e-brake off, chock tires, hook up battery tender and throw a cover on it.

[Quadcammer]

buy a cheap area rug, cut it up and put like 2 or 3 layers under each tire. Inflate to 50psi and you'll be fine.

[10/10ths]

Just park her on some carpet squares.

[Flavor 987S]

The only thing you need to do is overfill the tires to 58 PSI (not your started 50). I've been doing this for over 12 years. I've never had my tires flat spot from winter hibernation.

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

The only thing you need to do is overfill the tires to 58 PSI (not your started 50). I've been doing this for over 12 years. I've never had my tires flat spot from winter hibernation.

Ok, 8 more psi than the standard 50; Thanks!

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by 10/10ths

Just park her on some carpet squares.

I thought about that seems it has worked for you?

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

buy a cheap area rug, cut it up and put like 2 or 3 layers under each tire. Inflate to 50psi and you'll be fine.

Great Money Saving tip to my dilemma!

Cheers!

[GTA_G20]

Personally I:

-Inflate to 50 psi
-park each tire on styrofoam squares

Carpet may work but def not concrete
Suspension should remain compressed not suspended. Do not leave your car on jack stands when winterizing