Square Tires!
 

I am tired of having to trash thousands of dollars worth of tires every two years because of Flat-spotting.
both the ZR-1 and the Pace Car feel like they are riding on square tires.
Nittos and Firestones.


Yes, I have tried all of the road force, balance and others, to no avail.


Does anyone have any experience with tires that are less prone to this?


Has anyone used these?


http://www.discountramps.com/flat-stoppers/p/RR-FS/


I don't like driving onto a lift, then onto those flat stoppers, but this is driving me nuts!


Suggestions?


Thoughts?


Thanks!!!
Marty

Re: Square Tires!
 

Goodyear GS-D3's have been my choice since the Gatorbacks were retired at 6K miles. I've gone thru 4 sets, but now I have to swap them out due to tire age. Plenty of tread left. They wear great but don't like to drift when it's cold. Summer only high speed turns... [emoji16]


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Re: Square Tires!
 

Snow tires grip quite well!

Re: Square Tires!
 

especially if they have studs!!!

Re: Square Tires!
 

http://www.discountramps.com/car-whe...SABEgJ_8_D_BwE

You can also get drive on pads that support the curvature of the tire..

http://m.autoanything.com/garage-acc...iABEgKh4_D_BwE

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Re: Square Tires!
 

Waste of money! Drive the car every ten days for 15 miles to get them in shape -again.


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Re: Square Tires!
 

With all due respect, I assume since he's having issues with flat spotting, he either cannot or does not take the cars out routinely to prevent this..

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Re: Square Tires!
 

I put 45lbs air pressure on the cars I don't use and never had problems with flat spots.
Nelson

Re: Square Tires!
 

Max psi, plus another 10psi.
For storage. When next use it's easy to air down to preferred psi ...and it forces you to do a visual walk around inspection while car warms up a bit. I'll drive a few miles, find a highway where you can put some heat into the tires via speed (100mph).

Re: Square Tires!
 

That's a great idea..

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Re: Square Tires!
 

You know, this is exactly why I am involved with forums, and particularly this one.
The breadth and depth of knowledge amongst the membership never ceases to amaze me.
I explain this to those looking for a ZR-1 or ones who just bought one.
While I can tune a 427 tri power by ear, I cannot possibly know everything about Corvettes.
This tire flat spotting problem has plagued me for years because I do not drive them enough, even though I might like to do so.


Nelson and George,
Brilliant idea!!!!
I will air both cars up this weekend, might as well try it on the Riviera and others as well!!




Don't think I can salvage the current sets of tires, although it is worth a try.
I took the ZR-1 to 100 plus more quite a bit on the turnpike returning from Carlisle hoping they would heat up and finally return to round.
Improvement, but still see and feel it, both front and rear.
Also, that is why I ditched a set of sumitomos before the Nittos, that had under 1000 miles on them.


I likely will go back to Good Year GS- D3's on both Vettes.
They seem to be ok on low mile cars here at the dealership, so maybe that will also be the final answer.


Thanks again !!!


Marty

Re: Square Tires!
 

Just another thought.. Those cupped ramps run like $230+ for a set. I'm thinking anyone with a jigsaw and a pattern could cut out and stack enough layers of plywood (glued and screwed) together to make some for a tiny fraction of that $200+ cost (which is ridiculous)!

I've read where putting the car up on jack stands to lift the tires from the goround...is an option. Never tired it because - I usually drive them a few miles if the roads are clear, or at least re-position them before parking again.

I've been running the Nittos on both Zs - never had an issue, but too I limit them to 4 driving seasons, regardless of remaining tread, 5 MAX. (I'll try the air pressure method this winter too - never thought of that!)

Re: Square Tires!
 

My cars were usually stored for three to four months, first on a garage floor then on a lift. With both the cheaper Sumitomos and with the Michelins, I routinely used higher than normal pressures during storage with a note taped on the steering wheel to remind me to return the pressures to normal in the Spring. On the advice of a guy who services and stores a lot of very high end cars, I was originally setting the pressures at 60 psi which worked fine to lessen flat spotting for many years. But I eventually got a slow leak on one of the Michelins on the 95 that turned out to be a bad valve. When getting it repaired I was told (at Costco where they replaced it for free) that valves are officially only warranted to 40 psi. Still, that was the only time I had had a problem, so since then I have used about 50 psi with no issues. Any residual flat spotting usually went away with an hour of driving. --Bob

Re: Square Tires!
 

I have had great success with parking on rubber stable mats. Any farm supply store sells rubber stable mats. Just cut them into approx 18"x 24" rectangles.


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Re: Square Tires!
 

Marty get back to us in this one. Let is know if your are successful. GC

Re: Square Tires!
 

We always set it on 2 inch styrofoam while doing the increased air pressure when it goes away for the winter

Re: Square Tires!
 

I have been parking on carpet squares for years on all of my cars. Never a flat spot. The other benefit the tires seem to hold air all winter.

Once the salt flies my Z, 62 BelAir, and my mint 93 Olds Dustbuster Van retreat to an unheated, but dry, mouse free garage through the cold Illinois winters. I press all my cars up to 35 psi cold. Hook up the battery tender, start them once a month, and just watch them sleep.

First drive in the Spring no flat spots. You can get carpet squares that are seconds in most Flooring stores for next to nothing.

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