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.

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 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.:tiphat:

I cradle.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...all2009002.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...all2009003.jpg

^^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.......

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

I got some of those outdoor rubber stair mats from CT and drive on them. Not to thick and you can stack them if you want.

I think flat spotting can be tire brand dependent. I use Michelin Pilot Supersports, part my car in an unheated garage all winter and the "flatspots" disappear within a few minutes of driving on the highway.

Flatstoppers are not expensive :rolleyes: And I live in Texas...

That being said, I agree with Shotta. Michelin tires are basically made of iron from what I can tell :driving:

I raise mine up and place each wheel onto a dolly. One, to be able to push the car into place and second...well there is no second for me. There is never a flat spot and the car goes into storage from November until April in a non-heated garage.

The picture was taken a few years ago, so the bike is gone and the cabinet in the corner has been moved. The only way to get the car into position is with the wheel dollies.

I can confirm the following tires have been stored in an unheated garage with no flat stoppers or mats

Re050a
Re11
Indy 500


I am about to confirm the dunlops for the nismo. Lol oh and this year didnt over inflate (did that once or twice and never had an issue with old tires). Could have confirmed ps4s but wrecked and lost those literally brand new tires

Personally, I would not cradle, why? My car is a grown adult not baby! All jokes aside I don't see how the benefit exceeds the cost on this one. Below are my standard winter storage procedures.

1) Pour fuel stabilizer into the tank

2) Go fill up with Shell 91 (ethanol free) gas

3) Fill the tires up to 40 or 45 PSI

4) Go to a touch-less car wash for good measure (I do this before salt even hits the road so early to mid November)

5) Park the car in the garage and let it cool down for 20 minutes

6) Take some steel wool and plug up the exhaust tips in case some critters decide to make it their home during storage

7) Hook up the battery tender to the car battery so the risk of it dying while in storage is mitigated

8) Clean the interior of the car

9) Place wheel chalks behind all four wheels and release the parking brake and throw the car into neutral

10) Stare at the car, think about all the good times you two had when the weather was nice and then shed a tear. Of course this step is optional, but I personally wouldn't skip it.

I know some people put plastic on top of the concrete in their garages as to avoid moisture. I'm not that serious about it, my garage is somewhat heated so it keeps temperatures from fluctuating like crazy. Also, I am aware of the fact that some also put padding under the tires so no flat spots develop. I personally do not do this, I simply roll the car back a little bit every other week to avoid such an issue. Call me cheap, but it works and keeps me and the car happy.

All in all, there are tons of tips here. What I would NOT recommend is starting the car up and letting it run without driving it, it does no good. Only un wanted engine wear and build up of moisture. Let your car hibernate in peace. Further more, even if the roads are dry and there is dry salt, do not risk taking your car out. Salt dust is just as deadly as fresh salt and will attach itself to your car and "nom nom nom" away at it.

Be patient grasshopper(s) and you shall be rewarded for it.

Pretty much all this, especially step 8. makes you enjoy it that much more when you take it out again. :tup:

Currently driving my Z still. Even if its snowing a little and just the few flurries we've been getting.. i dont mind at all. roads have been consistently dry for a few days and no salt has been put around my area so i'll take advantage for now

I personally do not do this, I simply roll the car back a little bit every other week to avoid such an issue.

Excellent information. I do pretty much as per your list except number 3.(touchless car wash & up tire pressures)Once it's parked, it's parked. Battery tender plugged in & car cover on.I'll start it at the end of March when I'm ready to roll it out. I never start it until then .After I wash it, I blow dry the nooks, crannies, door jambs, hatch back hinge area, wheels, lug nuts etc with my leaf blower to remove water & dry it out. I usually do this any time it gets washed.Saves strain on an old back injury.Also, if it's to be parked right after the wash, I drive back & forth in the driveway a few times to clean the brake rotors off. Didn't do this one year on another car & almost had to drag it out of the garage with a truck. Rust between the calipers & disc.(you've got a couple of #3 & #5s) :)

Can't skip that tears, that's for sure! Lucky you have no salt in my area it's a mess. . . We have to set up a meet when the weather gets better, I hope you are doing well.

Thanks! Also. I fixed the number issue, thanks for pointing that out.