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Topic: Tires on floor?

in Forum: C4 Car Care

Tires on floor?

Posted: 10/18/23 8:43am Message 1 of 16
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Shillington, PA - USA
Joined: 5/16/2022
Posts: 14
Vette(s): 1992 Convertible

For those that store their cars during the winter, do you raise the car off the floor? And if so, how do you do it, jack stands?




Regards,

Chuck Dugan

'92 Dark Red Metallic convertible.

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Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 10/18/23 10:32am Message 2 of 16
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Eagleville, PA - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 5100
Vette(s): 1979 Corvette Red T-Top

I have never done that. I've never had any issues getting her back out in the spring from just letting her rest on the ground. I'm not really sure what the school of thought would be in lifting it off the ground during storage.




Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 10/18/23 11:57am Message 3 of 16
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Ephrata, PA - USA
Joined: 7/7/2013
Posts: 59
Vette(s): 1995 Std Coupe Dark Purple Metallic Auto Trans Z07 Suspension Just under 23K miles (7.7.13)

Your location in Shillington, PA, is not far from mine in Ephrata, PA, so our weather temps and conditions would be similar.  For 12 years, I have parked my C4 in the garage with proper tire inflation, and all of the fluids topped off and a battery tender connected. 

Don't just let it sit there;  there are many days in our area that are sunny and dry, if cold, so just take it out for a drive of at least an hour to let all of the fluids and metals get comfortable with each other, and allow the tires to get "round" again;  dry weather allowing, I try to do that al least once a month during the winter;  and winter drives in the cold, clear weather can be some of the best ever.




Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 10/22/23 10:42am Message 4 of 16
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West Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 220
Vette(s): SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
SOLD - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am
"BLUBYU" - '04 CE Coupe

I don't always raise the car off the floor but when I do I place jack stands under the suspension, not the frame.  When I leave the car on the floor I increase the tire pressure to 50 lbs to reduce the flat spot a bit.




Jim Olson

 
"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave! 

 Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 10/31/23 11:18am Message 5 of 16
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Shillington, PA - USA
Joined: 5/16/2022
Posts: 14
Vette(s): 1992 Convertible

I read that on a Corvette Facebook page. Said to raise the tires off the floor to preserve the tires. I was just curious what others did or thought about that. 




Regards,

Chuck Dugan

'92 Dark Red Metallic convertible.

Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 10/31/23 11:20am Message 6 of 16
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Shillington, PA - USA
Joined: 5/16/2022
Posts: 14
Vette(s): 1992 Convertible

I agree, we several days through fall and winter that are nice enough to break it out and go for a drive. Maybe I'll take it to St Boniface in Ephrata :-) 




Regards,

Chuck Dugan

'92 Dark Red Metallic convertible.

Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 11/1/23 8:52am Message 7 of 16
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Lakeville, MA - USA
Joined: 4/19/2014
Posts: 23
Vette(s): 1987 convertible

I put the car on a battery tender, fuel 3/4 to full with stabil in fuel ( AND run through the system), tires are sitting on squares of plywood. Car is there November until march or April ( I hate the northeast. want to move and never put a car away again). Come spring I hook up the battery take of my covers turn the key, move the car to my back garage lift, change oil, check fluids, air pressure, etc. and im good to go.....FINGERS CROSSED never an issue. 

Any flat spots in the tires are woked out in a few miles but I've never really had an issue. currently running BFG's comp 2's I think? stock size. 




Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 11/1/23 9:53am Message 8 of 16
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Crystal Springs, MS - USA
Joined: 7/29/2011
Posts: 34
Vette(s): 1973 Mille Miglia Red LS5 1981 Claret Red 1982 White 1985 Silver Metallic 1988 Yellow 1993 Torch Red ZR-1 1994 Torch Red Coupe LT1 1996 Dark Purple Metallic LT4 2000 Torch Red 2001 Light Pewter 2003 Z06 Millennium Yellow 2009 Atomic Orange
Norsky said:
 
 When I leave the car on the floor I increase the tire pressure to 50 lbs to reduce the flat spot a bit.


^^^This....except I usually put 40-42 lbs in. Takes just a couple of minutes to let the air out for a ride. Both my C4s have Continental Extreme Contact tires, they do tend to flatspot a little with continued sitting, but about 10 miles down the road they're good to go.




 
1973 Mille Miglia Red LS5 - SOLD
1981 Dark Claret Metallic - SOLD
1982 White
94 Torch Red LT1
96 Dark Purple Metallic LT4
02 Black Convertible - SOLD
03 Millennium Yellow Z06
09 Atomic Orange Z51
 

Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 11/2/23 7:56am Message 9 of 16
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Williamsburg, PA - USA
Joined: 6/8/2019
Posts: 14
Vette(s): 1989 coupe

An old time car guy once told me (and he had 4 from the 40's and 50's) it's not the sitting, but the concrete will suck the life out of tires.  He told me he put big black garbage bags under each tire, rolled them back and forth a bit every couple of months to help with flat spots and his tires lasted twice as long.  Another friend who was a mason agreed, said concrete is nasty stuff even when it's been cured for years.




Re: Tires on floor?

Posted: 11/15/23 9:57am Message 10 of 16
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South Pittsburg, TN - USA
Joined: 9/8/2023
Posts: 4
Vette(s): 1988 c4 triple black convertible

Thanks for that tip!




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