Stan MI

Was going through some posts about Winter storage and came across several posts that say to place a piece of carpet under each tire while the car is in storage. None of the posts say "Why" to do this.

I store inside, on concrete and it does get below freezing and I do sometimes heat the area.

Just want to make sure I'm doing what's best for the car.

0Brian@FI Performance

Never heard of that. You usually see carpet at dealers to protech time floors from rubber staining.

Brian

LiteraCola

I've always heard that putting a piece of thick carpet under each tire does a pretty good job protecting your tires from developing flat spots while sitting in storage. Other than that, I see no reason...

dquagliaroli

Ever leave a battery on a cement floor when it is cold out??


Have a car that I leave in Florida and if I don't keep carpeting under tires they loose air and form flat spots.

allngn_c5

I don't use carpet and I've never had any issues. I do however roll the car out once a week to help prevent any complications.

2KFRC5

The pieces of carpet are just pads to hold the large, thick piece(s) of plastic that you parked your car on. It's a moisture barrier for storing. If, you are concerned with moisture.

Blown 346

With the tires these days, letting your car sit thru winter will not harm the tires or cause flat spots. My car sits for 5 to 6 months and my tires have never gotten flat spots.

Like said above, carpet under the tires is to stop staining on tile. If your garage floor sweats and builds up moisture when cold. I would place a piece of carpet under the full length of the car. That moisture under the car will attach to the bottom of the car and can help rust.

stingraymyway

I guess it depends on how long the car has to sit in storage.

jrose7004

Todays tire really don't develope flat spots.

rebelheart

Sounds pretty **** to me.

Hammer99

I put 40psi in each tire and don't worry.
I keep garage at 50 deg.

Vetteman Jack

That's the reason I do it.

4 KRUSIN

I use 2 inch styrofoam under each tire. The advantage is that it compacts to the shape of the tire.

Silver Beast

I visited a friend of mine who's a Porsche dealer in Connecticut today for lunch, while I was waiting for him I walked around the showroom and noticed that all the cars in the showroom were on pieces of carpet.
I read on the forum about storing a vette on carpet to avoid flat spots but I also read that you no longer have to do that with the new tires these days that the flat spot thing was only for old tires.
My friend explained to me that the carpet helps to keep the floor clean when they turn the tires and also to avoid flat spots on the tires because of the temperature variances in the showroom's floor, being basically concrete, causes flat spots on the tires.
There wasn't a car there for under $100k, if it's good enough for a Porsche it's good enough for my vert, I have carpet under my vert.

Hammer99

By chance is that Danbury Porsche? Beautiful showroom...and cars.

RSuperfreak3

I do it cuz it makes me feel I'm taking care of my baby while it sits in the garage for 5 months. I would carpet the whole garage for my Z if it wasn't for my wifes damn car dropping winter car turds all over hell!

nextime

New tires will not develop flat spots, flat spots on tires are a thing of the past.

nmacdonald50

The area where I park my car is fully carpeted. I even have most of the floor in my storage shed carpeted - doesn't everybody?

nextime

Carpet can hold moisture in a non climate controlled area (garage, shed) and can promote rust! I would never park on carpet unless the area was climate controlled.

Castrellon

I was going to post this. Get a dehumidifier. Use a couple of boxes of baking soda in the interior to wick out moister and absorb stale odors. Put the car up on jack stands if you're worried about flat spots. The car will settle down a few days after you drive it around a bit. Or you can drive it for 50 miles.