Winter Storage Tips?

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

In more than forty years of storing cars, I have NEVER encountered permanent flat spotting. Temporary, yes, permanent never. It is an old wives tale...………..unless you are running crap tires, as mentioned earlier.

Flat spots can be permanent it doesn't matter the cost, type, of car you drive whether its 1 year or 140 years.

https://consumertire.com/blog/view/flat-spots-let-s-clear-up-some-myths-about-that

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Ciao

Flat spots can be permanent it doesn't matter the cost, type, of car you drive whether its 1 year or 140 years.

https://consumertire.com/blog/view/flat-spots-let-s-clear-up-some-myths-about-that

From the article you quoted, “ In some severe cases, the flat-spotting is permanent.”

Sounds to me like “the cost, type of car you drive whether its 1 year of 140 years” does matter according to the author of the article..............

[marsheng]

Originally Posted by Ciao

Flat spots can be permanent it doesn't matter the cost, type, of car you drive whether its 1 year or 140 years.

Things change shape when you exceed the stress point of no return. Standing for months does not make the rubber bend past its point of no return. So if you say it developed a flat spot, what has happened? Has the rubber 'flowed' into this new shape ? If that is the case, then the flowing must have been caused by gravity of just the bending of rubber. If that was the case, I doubt that cars would get 1000 km per tire before being bent out of shape. Heaven help you of you hit a curb, it will put a permanent dent in the rubber ?

Can anyone produce some factual information on what may happen ?

[Ciao]

Originally Posted by marsheng

Things change shape when you exceed the stress point of no return. Standing for months does not make the rubber bend past its point of no return. So if you say it developed a flat spot, what has happened? Has the rubber 'flowed' into this new shape ? If that is the case, then the flowing must have been caused by gravity of just the bending of rubber. If that was the case, I doubt that cars would get 1000 km per tire before being bent out of shape. Heaven help you of you hit a curb, it will put a permanent dent in the rubber ?

Can anyone produce some factual information on what may happen ?

https://consumertire.com/blog/view/flat-spots-let-s-clear-up-some-myths-about-that

Marsheng,
You should reply to the link in the posting as it clears up some myths about flat spots. T

[marsheng]

Originally Posted by Ciao

https://consumertire.com/blog/view/flat-spots-let-s-clear-up-some-myths-about-that

Marsheng,
You should reply to the link in the posting as it clears up some myths about flat spots. T

I should have included the article, but it is anecdotal. Has the rubber "flowed" into this new shape ? Has it been bent past its yield point ? What has actually physically happened to the rubber. Can it flow like glass does over 50 years ?

The only time I have seen flat spotting is when the car has stood for many years and the rubber has perished and the tire is no longer usable.

I am being a bit provoking here so we think outside the square, but I'm happy to be educated with the physical parameters of what actually happens.

[MWS]

Originally Posted by marsheng

I should have included the article, but it is anecdotal. Has the rubber "flowed" into this new shape ? Has it been bent past its yield point ? What has actually physically happened to the rubber. Can it flow like glass does over 50 years ?

The only time I have seen flat spotting is when the car has stood for many years and the rubber has perished and the tire is no longer usable.

I am being a bit provoking here so we think outside the square, but I'm happy to be educated with the physical parameters of what actually happens.

Well..sticking with the "outside the square" mentality, rubber IS an amorphous solid and therefore would (in theory) "flow" like glass....however modern tires are not primarily rubber (contains several other polymers) therefore I suppose the question then would be...would the total composition of a modern tire still be considered an amorphous solid, and if so, what properties does the new compound represent as compared to natural rubber?

My knee-jerk answer (based on no information whatsoever, lol) is that a modern tire would degrade in structure well before any actual transference of mass (ie permanent flat spot) would occur due to the compounded material and advancements in materials science...and additionally the competition between tire manufactures to create the "best" compounds.

As always, looking forward to being proven wrong.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by MWS

As always, looking forward to being proven wrong.

You look forward to proof that permanent flat spots are reality???
You must drive your car year round!

[marsheng]

Originally Posted by MWS

My knee-jerk answer (based on no information whatsoever, lol) is that a modern tire would degrade in structure well before any actual transference of mass (ie permanent flat spot) would occur due to the compounded material and advancements in materials science...and additionally the competition between tire manufactures to create the "best" compounds.

I agree, if any flowing occurred, tires would not last 50000 km or more than a few months.

I have a bike dyno and if I leave a bike tied tightly (with race slicks) to the frame over night , the next day the tire does have a flat spot. This takes just a few minutes to work out with no permanent damage.

Tires do contain oil which may be adding to the question on what happens.

See here https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/hybrid-electric/a7593/the-science-behind-yokohamas-orange-oil-tires-8146348/

Either way, you may have sticky short life tires that may flat spot or long lasting car tire that last for years.