Winter Storage - To Cradle, Or Not Too Cradle??

Dizzy · 10-02-2010, 08:58 AM

I've done a bunch of searches and read a bunch of material on winter storage. Of course, with every issue, there are varying opinions. Having read both sides of most arguements, I've pretty much got my prestorage routine down, except for one issue - the tires.

There are definitely two sides to this arguement. One side saying get tire cradles to keep the car off the concreate and prevent flat spots. Flatstoppers being the most recommended, but expensive solution. Then there is the other side who say todays tires are not that subject to flat spots and it isn't an issue. Just inflate to max pressure and there will be no flt spot issue.

I've read enough on the subject that I've decided against jacking the car. I'm inclined to believe the people on that issue who say a cars wheels aren't meant to hang and it can put unneccessary stress on your suspenion components. So, it's wheel cradles, or nothing.

The question - how many of you Ontario folks have stored your Z's on a concrete garage floor? I'm looking for an informed answer from someone in the same climate as me. Did you get flat spots? If you did, how quickly did they disappear?

At this point, I believe I will forgo the cost of flatstoppers and just jack the car and then lower it onto a couple of Michelin garage mats that can be had at Costco for a fraction of the price of flatstoppers. They are foam and the weight of the car will cause them to sag and imprint the shape of the tire. I'll end up with the same result as the flatstoppers at a fraction of the price.

Zat_Zuma · 10-02-2010, 09:25 AM

I like the idea of styrofoam under the wheels but I think it's really not neccessary.

I've been winter parking my cars for 7 years now in cold and warm storage and it does get cold here.

I've never had a problem with flat spotting any of my tires while sitting on concrete over the winter. I just pump up the pressure to the max cold pressure rating on the tire and call it a season. Adjust the pressure to what I run in the spring and it's done and ready to go.

IDZRVIT · 10-02-2010, 09:32 AM

I've stored my vehicles for years now during the winter i.e Dec-Apr on average, in my heated (kept above 0 C) garage. I don't do anything to prepare the cars/bikes. It's only four or five months - not years. In summary, no flat spots, no contaminated gas, no dead batteries, no dried seals, no issues. They all run fine come spring - believe it or not.

SmoothZ · 10-02-2010, 09:37 AM

I cradle.

LMBmikeZ · 10-06-2010, 08:17 PM

^^wow crazy! I would be scared of someone pushing it into a wall or another vehicle!! I like it though! and I like your garage! good size!

I am in the same boat as the first two ppl, I have stored my older Z (Z32) for 2 winters and had no issues with anything tires, gas, batteries nothing.......

sammy · 10-07-2010, 09:47 AM

I used styrofoam, about 1.5 inchs under each tire to store my 240Z convertable and never had any flat spot issues. This year with my Z'd I'm going to drive it once a week or every two weeks on warm days with no snow instead of storing it. With the weathers in Toronto it should be ok.

6MT · 10-07-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zat_Zuma

I like the idea of styrofoam under the wheels but I think it's really not neccessary.

I've been winter parking my cars for 7 years now in cold and warm storage and it does get cold here.

I've never had a problem with flat spotting any of my tires while sitting on concrete over the winter. I just pump up the pressure to the max cold pressure rating on the tire and call it a season. Adjust the pressure to what I run in the spring and it's done and ready to go.

I've done the same here. Cradling is a waste of money (IMHO).

HKYStormFront · 10-07-2010, 09:57 AM

might be a little extreme but when my friend got deployed to korea for two years he jacked his car up, took the wheels off, then set it back down on pieces of wood under the control arms so that the car sat where it normally would like the wheels were still there but they were off. he wrapped the wheels and tires and stored them along side the car. can't remember what all else he did but i know he took the battery out and discharged the system. think he just put fuel stabilizer in but i can't remember

Sibze · 10-07-2010, 01:19 PM

I parked mine over the winter last year did nothing to the tires, drove it home without ANY issues

LennyK · 11-05-2018, 10:07 AM

Just Buy Some Cheap Carpeted Rubber Floor Mats And Park On Them

mishuko · 11-05-2018, 01:26 PM

I overinflate (45psi or so) and be done with it. Tried and true with re050, indy 500s, re11s. Will find out oem nismo rubber does but not expecting anything different

Airwilf · 11-05-2018, 03:01 PM

A lot of good answers and advice here. With todays modern radial tires , the old bias ply flat spot days seem to be a thing of the past. This will be my 20th year of storing a car & basically I fuel it up, add fuel stabilizer , which is really not required for short term storage (4-5 months) & plug in my Battery Tender . I have parked on carpet, styrofoam, & pieces of 2 X 10 wood, & nothing at all. Never had any issues . I did have one car with really wide tires (30 series) on 2ft X 2 ft X 2 inch blue house styrofoam & the car sank into it perfectly. It was so perfect ,( and stuck) that when I tried to back out of the garage in the spring the clutch got a real work-out. It was like to get unstuck in sand.

Nixin · 11-05-2018, 07:43 PM

I store my vehicle every year. I do not use wheel cradles but do park my vehicle on soft foam type floor squares that I purchased at Home Depot. I do increase the PSI in the tires to 40-45ish, top off the fuel, add fuel stabilizer and and use a battery tender. Don't forget a vapour barrier under your Z, a nice big piece of plastic sheeting will work. This keeps the moisture away from the underbody of the Z. Also, I tend to put mothballs around the Z, fabric softeners inside the interior and engine compartment of the Z and SOS pads in the exhaust tips, just to keep those sneaky lil mice outta the Z. Finally, the cover goes on and it's see ya in April/May. Gonna be a long winter. Time to get the ski gear outta storage.

mishuko · 11-08-2018, 09:00 AM

A box of baking soda inside for me. I use a wire gauze brush thingie to stuff the tail pipes.

Fml i forgot to take my terminals off my wrecked z. Trying tonfind the clips that came with my jr tender. Might need to buy a new one :'(

Airwilf · 11-08-2018, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mishuko

A box of baking soda inside for me. I use a wire gauze brush thingie to stuff the tail pipes.

Fml i forgot to take my terminals off my wrecked z. Trying tonfind the clips that came with my jr tender. Might need to buy a new one :'(

I bought a longer harness from a shop in Montreal last year.Good service & fast shipping.FortNine.ca

Just checked on Amazon.ca. Lots of Battery Tender harnesses/hookups.Just unpacked another box (moved recently) & found a spare BT harness with alligator clips, new unused. I'm not a fan of alligator clips, usually cut them off & crimp on eye terminals & attach to the battery permanently.

10-02-2010, 08:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dizzy Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Milton, On Posts: 234 Drives: 10 HW 6MT SPT/NAV Rep Power: 14	Winter Storage - To Cradle, Or Not Too Cradle?? I've done a bunch of searches and read a bunch of material on winter storage. Of course, with every issue, there are varying opinions. Having read both sides of most arguements, I've pretty much got my prestorage routine down, except for one issue - the tires. There are definitely two sides to this arguement. One side saying get tire cradles to keep the car off the concreate and prevent flat spots. Flatstoppers being the most recommended, but expensive solution. Then there is the other side who say todays tires are not that subject to flat spots and it isn't an issue. Just inflate to max pressure and there will be no flt spot issue. I've read enough on the subject that I've decided against jacking the car. I'm inclined to believe the people on that issue who say a cars wheels aren't meant to hang and it can put unneccessary stress on your suspenion components. So, it's wheel cradles, or nothing. The question - how many of you Ontario folks have stored your Z's on a concrete garage floor? I'm looking for an informed answer from someone in the same climate as me. Did you get flat spots? If you did, how quickly did they disappear? At this point, I believe I will forgo the cost of flatstoppers and just jack the car and then lower it onto a couple of Michelin garage mats that can be had at Costco for a fraction of the price of flatstoppers. They are foam and the weight of the car will cause them to sag and imprint the shape of the tire. I'll end up with the same result as the flatstoppers at a fraction of the price. __________________

10-02-2010, 09:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zat_Zuma A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta ...eh Posts: 1,171 Drives: 2017 Touring auto Rep Power: 18	I like the idea of styrofoam under the wheels but I think it's really not neccessary. I've been winter parking my cars for 7 years now in cold and warm storage and it does get cold here. I've never had a problem with flat spotting any of my tires while sitting on concrete over the winter. I just pump up the pressure to the max cold pressure rating on the tire and call it a season. Adjust the pressure to what I run in the spring and it's done and ready to go. __________________ [B]2009 & 2017 370Z Touring Sport Autos SOLD

10-02-2010, 09:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
IDZRVIT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Halifax Posts: 1,659 Drives: '13 CTS-V, '76 Vette Rep Power: 26	I've stored my vehicles for years now during the winter i.e Dec-Apr on average, in my heated (kept above 0 C) garage. I don't do anything to prepare the cars/bikes. It's only four or five months - not years. In summary, no flat spots, no contaminated gas, no dead batteries, no dried seals, no issues. They all run fine come spring - believe it or not. __________________ "America.... still builds rockets!" Vette: 355 cid, 400 rwhp '13 CTS-V Coupe: 6.2L LSA, 556HP

10-02-2010, 09:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
SmoothZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arrakis Posts: 7,952 Drives: giant sandworm Rep Power: 35	I cradle. __________________ "Once you go Asian, you never go Caucasian." "I talk to myself, and when I do that, I know I'm talking to an intelligent person."

10-06-2010, 08:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
LMBmikeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,237 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 10349	^^wow crazy! I would be scared of someone pushing it into a wall or another vehicle!! I like it though! and I like your garage! good size! I am in the same boat as the first two ppl, I have stored my older Z (Z32) for 2 winters and had no issues with anything tires, gas, batteries nothing....... __________________ CUSTOM NISMO \| BERK \| H&R \| STANCE \| SPL everything \| EVO-R \| 34 Setrab \| WHITELINE \| Redline \| Carkitcompany \| Zspeed \| UpRev \| SEIBON

10-07-2010, 09:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
sammy Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 68 Drives: Carbon Silver 370Z Rep Power: 15	I used styrofoam, about 1.5 inchs under each tire to store my 240Z convertable and never had any flat spot issues. This year with my Z'd I'm going to drive it once a week or every two weeks on warm days with no snow instead of storing it. With the weathers in Toronto it should be ok.

10-07-2010, 09:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 52	might be a little extreme but when my friend got deployed to korea for two years he jacked his car up, took the wheels off, then set it back down on pieces of wood under the control arms so that the car sat where it normally would like the wheels were still there but they were off. he wrapped the wheels and tires and stored them along side the car. can't remember what all else he did but i know he took the battery out and discharged the system. think he just put fuel stabilizer in but i can't remember __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

10-07-2010, 01:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
Sibze A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 16,202 Drives: In your way Rep Power: 62	I parked mine over the winter last year did nothing to the tires, drove it home without ANY issues

11-05-2018, 01:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
mishuko A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bouncin on tigga Posts: 8,062 Drives: '12 Z Rep Power: 9434	I overinflate (45psi or so) and be done with it. Tried and true with re050, indy 500s, re11s. Will find out oem nismo rubber does but not expecting anything different

11-05-2018, 03:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Airwilf Base Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Niagara Region Ontario Posts: 166 Drives: 18 370Z Red 6M Rep Power: 7	A lot of good answers and advice here. With todays modern radial tires , the old bias ply flat spot days seem to be a thing of the past. This will be my 20th year of storing a car & basically I fuel it up, add fuel stabilizer , which is really not required for short term storage (4-5 months) & plug in my Battery Tender . I have parked on carpet, styrofoam, & pieces of 2 X 10 wood, & nothing at all. Never had any issues . I did have one car with really wide tires (30 series) on 2ft X 2 ft X 2 inch blue house styrofoam & the car sank into it perfectly. It was so perfect ,( and stuck) that when I tried to back out of the garage in the spring the clutch got a real work-out. It was like to get unstuck in sand. Thirteen likes this. __________________ 2018 Solid Red, 6MT, Touring Sport Coupe

11-05-2018, 07:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nixin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: GWN Posts: 3,488 Drives: Goodbye Z! Rep Power: 19832	I store my vehicle every year. I do not use wheel cradles but do park my vehicle on soft foam type floor squares that I purchased at Home Depot. I do increase the PSI in the tires to 40-45ish, top off the fuel, add fuel stabilizer and and use a battery tender. Don't forget a vapour barrier under your Z, a nice big piece of plastic sheeting will work. This keeps the moisture away from the underbody of the Z. Also, I tend to put mothballs around the Z, fabric softeners inside the interior and engine compartment of the Z and SOS pads in the exhaust tips, just to keep those sneaky lil mice outta the Z. Finally, the cover goes on and it's see ya in April/May. Gonna be a long winter. Time to get the ski gear outta storage. SouthArk370Z likes this. Last edited by Nixin; 11-05-2018 at 07:46 PM.

11-08-2018, 09:00 AM	#14 (permalink)
mishuko A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: bouncin on tigga Posts: 8,062 Drives: '12 Z Rep Power: 9434	A box of baking soda inside for me. I use a wire gauze brush thingie to stuff the tail pipes. Fml i forgot to take my terminals off my wrecked z. Trying tonfind the clips that came with my jr tender. Might need to buy a new one :'(

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