tire saver cradle question for parking on a cement floor
To park a vehicle long term on cement I was thinking of getting a tire cradle of some sort. Do I really need a cradle or would a rubberized matt like a horse stall matt work just as well?
Suggestions appreciated.
Thx!
__________________________
December 15, 2024, 03:32 PM
trapper189
Jack stands
December 15, 2024, 03:47 PM
Gustofer
I think it's a bunch of hooey (and I'm sure several members will chime in and tell me how wrong I am ).
I keep my Mustang parked on my concrete shop floor for 6-7 months at a time. No issues. My camper and several trailers are parked outside for much longer (maybe used once or twice a year) and again...no issues. I just make sure the tires are inflated appropriately and off I go.
________________________________________________________ "Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
December 15, 2024, 03:49 PM
McGregor
Depends on how long a term. I park my Corvette on 1/2" plywood for the winter (approx. 5 months) and have had no ill affects. Also increase the tire pressure to help decrease flat spotting. If I were thinking of longer storage I would go with trapper169's suggestion.
December 15, 2024, 03:53 PM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Jack stands
Jill sits.
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
December 15, 2024, 03:54 PM
MNSIG
quote:
Originally posted by Gustofer: I think it's a bunch of hooey (and I'm sure several members will chime in and tell me how wrong I am ).
I keep my Mustang parked on my concrete shop floor for 6-7 months at a time. No issues. My camper and several trailers are parked outside for much longer (maybe used once or twice a year) and again...no issues. I just make sure the tires are inflated appropriately and off I go.
I agree with you. Most of us that live in cold climates have multiple trailers or sunshine cars parked for half the year without issue.
December 15, 2024, 04:18 PM
Pipe Smoker
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Jack stands
Jill sits.
Serious about crackers.
December 15, 2024, 04:25 PM
6guns
quote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Jack stands
Jill sits.
But does she sit still?
Now, back to tires...
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December 15, 2024, 04:34 PM
Georgeair
Unless you're on bias ply tires and parking for years, just park it.
There are lots of things to worry more about, like fuel treatment, rubber hoses, mice, battery, remembering to pay attention to that note on steering wheel reminding you to remove tennis balls from tail pipes......
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
December 16, 2024, 08:49 AM
Aglifter
Used to store a sports car for months, admittedly on a dirt floor. (Inside a plastic bubble in an old animal shelter.)
It would have a flat spot for the first day or so but that was it.
December 16, 2024, 10:22 AM
smlsig
Just fill the tires to the max pressure as listed on the tire and don't worry about it. Just remember to adjust the pressure back to specs in the spring or whenever you drive it again.
------------------ Eddie
Our Founding Fathers were men who understood that the right thing is not necessarily the written thing. -kkina
December 16, 2024, 10:30 AM
radioman
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189: Jack stands
that's how we did it on the farm.
December 16, 2024, 10:44 AM
egregore
Anything else but jacking the car clear off the ground and putting jackstands under it will still leave the tires sitting on something. Personally I don't think it necessary. Nylon cord tires - which did flat-spot - haven't been made in over half a century.
December 16, 2024, 11:14 AM
Perception
I think the only time it really makes sense now is on a collector car where you're trying to preserve the original rubber for posterity.
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December 16, 2024, 12:40 PM
HRK
agree that it's probably nothing to worry over, and I would be sure the tires are aired up to the correct pressure as cold temps tend to drop the pressure.
You could put down a garage floor mat, similar to those in the links... Link
December 16, 2024, 12:53 PM
Pizza Bob
OK, Gustofer, you're wrong. I had a set of high performance tires (1990 Corvette) permanently flat-spot on me. I forget how long it was parked, less than a year, longer than 6 months would be a fair guess. For $30 why take the chance?
If not jack stands, then air them to the max pressure on the sidewall. When you go to use the car, let the pressure down to the correct pressure. Just sitting there, the tires don't flat spot. The can take a "set" for lack of a better term. Airing the tires to max pressure will make the area that takes a set smaller which will work itself out quicker when you start driving the car again.
Flat spots are when you lock the brakes and permanently wear one spot on a tire from the skidding.
Edited to add:
For $30, I'd give those a try. I didn't realize they were that cheap.
December 16, 2024, 01:39 PM
arfmel
I have a 06 Jeep Wrangler and a 96 Suburban garaged at our vacation house. They sit for months at a stretch. No problems over the past several years.
December 16, 2024, 01:42 PM
HRK
Continental, Michelin, say flat spotting does occur with modern tires on cars kept stored, but you can do a few things to fix or mitigate it.
).
This message has been edited. Last edited by: HRK,