Storage and flat spotting tires

[Mick]

Before my car was "done" I used to remove my race rubber and put my street wheels on after every event. The only reason I did that was because it seemed like I was constantly working on the car, then taking it out on the street for test & tune runs.

Now that the major work is done I rarely drive it on the street anymore and I'm sick and tired of changing wheels. So the race rubber is staying on and I'll probably take it off the road.

I assume r-tires will be more susceptible to flat spotting than a street tire. What's your experience? Do you move the car once a week, once a month? ...or is it not a problem?

I just don't want to show up at Tremblant with square wheels.

Thanks

[brucesallen]

The Hoosier guy that writes on Grass Roots Motorsports just wrote that you should take tires off car, put in plastic, store stacked on sides in cool place. I don't do that but it is nice to know!

[offcamber09]

The only flat spotting I've had with my tires are from on-track goofs. Flat spotting of tires from sitting for long periods of time on the car is much more likely with bias ply or nylon belted tires. Even if something does form, it should become round very quickly as it heats up.

I, also, enjoy John (from Tire Rack) question and answer articles in GRM.

[MiataSteve]

Some good info, if you haven't seen it before.....

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/tiretech.jsp

Comp tires...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... entpage=38

Flat spotting info:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... entpage=64

...and tire storgage tips....

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... entpage=42

[Mick]

Thanks for the info guys.

I always remove and bag tires if I'm storing the car for an extended period of time. I'm just questioning whether it's worth it for the periods between events (2-4 weeks)

It sounds like the flat spotting is a non issue, but the heat cycling from the sun and drying/gassing out is.

Thanks