Storage: The Physics of Foam Under Tires?

[d18mike]

My Box goes into storage next week (soft weeping in background).

While I've stored cars before, I've noticed what seems to be an increasing a number of folks are rolling their parked cars onto dense foam. I didn't do particularly well in physics, so I'm struggling see how this helps modern tires in a material way, espc. if the tires are inflated to 50+psi.

If this really helps, I'm all for it. Anyone experienced "foamers" out there with insight?

Thanks.

[MikenOH]

I've never used foam but have used carpet as a tire pad over the last few years and have had no problems with flat spotting.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by d18mike

My Box goes into storage next week (soft weeping in background).

While I've stored cars before, I've noticed what seems to be an increasing a number of folks are rolling their parked cars onto dense foam. I didn't do particularly well in physics, so I'm struggling see how this helps modern tires in a material way, espc. if the tires are inflated to 50+psi.

If this really helps, I'm all for it. Anyone experienced "foamers" out there with insight?

Thanks.

Totally unnecessary, tires are going to develop slight flat spotting, regardless of what they are sitting on, concrete, foam, carpet, or severely over priced curved dollies. Most tires run out flat spots in about 5 min. of driving. Don’t waste your time or money on this old wife’s tale……………

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

Totally unnecessary, tires are going to develop slight flat spotting, regardless of what they are sitting on, concrete, foam, carpet, or severely over priced curved dollies. Most tires run out flat spots in about 5 min. of driving. Don’t waste your time or money on this old wife’s tale……………

+1 on this.

[eightsandaces]

Don't think it's a wives tale at all, fact is it's why Michelin claims to use the sport rib design. I do think foam is a waste of time, getting the car on stands for winter was even recommended in my 944 service bulletins, that's what I do every year.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by eightsandaces

Don't think it's a wives tale at all, fact is it's why Michelin claims to use the sport rib design. I do think foam is a waste of time, getting the car on stands for winter was even recommended in my 944 service bulletins, that's what I do every year.

In over thirty five years of storing multiple Porsche’s, fitted with everything from Bridgestone’s, Pirellis to Goodyear’s and Michelins; none of them ever had a problem sitting on the concrete floor of the shop for the winter. No foam, no levitation devices, nothing. And no prolonged flat spotting issues either. If your tire manufacture is telling you to park the car on foam to protect the tires, I’d suggest you need new tires from another manufacturer………………

[eightsandaces]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

In over thirty five years of storing multiple Porsche’s, fitted with everything from Bridgestone’s, Pirellis to Goodyear’s and Michelins; none of them ever had a problem sitting on the concrete floor of the shop for the winter. No foam, no levitation devices, nothing. And no prolonged flat spotting issues either. If your tire manufacture is telling you to park the car on foam to protect the tires, I’d suggest you need new tires from another manufacturer………………

It's pretty clear in my post I don't believe in the foam, guess you missed that. My friend works for Hyundai corporate and reports that cars sitting too long have had flat spot problems. To each his own, I have four mini jacks, to un-weight the tires is NBD.

[jaykay]

hmmm I think I invented the dense foam thing or came up with it on my own anyway

I am talking so dense that it takes the weight of the car. I found that the foam deformation over the winter takes the shape of the tire (pumped to 50). You are left with cambered indents in the foam. This preferable to the tire deforming against concrete and sitting there in my view; think about it.

I have PS2s and dont want the risk of flat spotting them or causing belt problems, especially with camber. Is it possible to get away without foam: of course. Will flat spots be ironed out after a while: quite possibly. Why take the risk? Foam is cheap?

Another option would be to set the car wheel/tires that you dont care about. I am not so sure letting the wheels hang off of the springs via jacks is a good idea. It may change your spring set/rate by stretching them

[eightsandaces]

Originally Posted by jaykay

hmmm I think I invented the dense foam thing or came up with it on my own anyway

I am talking so dense that it takes the weight of the car. I found that the foam deformation over the winter takes the shape of the tire (pumped to 50). You are left with cambered indents in the foam. This preferable to the tire deforming against concrete and sitting there in my view; think about it.

I have PS2s and dont want the risk of flat spotting them or causing belt problems, especially with camber. Is it possible to get away without foam: of course. Will flat spots be ironed out after a while: quite possibly. Why take the risk? Foam is cheap?

Another option would be to set the car wheel/tires that you dont care about. I am not so sure letting the wheels hang off of the springs via jacks is a good idea. It may change your spring set/rate by stretching them

Hence the four cheap jack system where one can un-weight the tires without putting the car high in the air, you can have the tire still touching if you wish, as I said everyone has their own take on this issue and that's OK too. Four scissor jacks from wrecks are perfect for this.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by jaykay

hmmm I think I invented the dense foam thing or came up with it on my own anyway

I am talking so dense that it takes the weight of the car. I found that the foam deformation over the winter takes the shape of the tire (pumped to 50). You are left with cambered indents in the foam. This preferable to the tire deforming against concrete and sitting there in my view; think about it.

I have PS2s and dont want the risk of flat spotting them or causing belt problems, especially with camber. Is it possible to get away without foam: of course. Will flat spots be ironed out after a while: quite possibly. Why take the risk? Foam is cheap?

Another option would be to set the car wheel/tires that you dont care about. I am not so sure letting the wheels hang off of the springs via jacks is a good idea. It may change your spring set/rate by stretching them

I’d bet perfectly good Yankee cash that the tires are still flat spotted after sitting on the foam for months. The foam doesn’t do anything bad, the issue is it just doesn’t do anything positive either………….