Prevent Tire Flat Spotting During Storage

I recently put my Camaro into storage for the winter.  The tires got flat spotted while in storage last year, so I explored ways to prevent it this year.  Several products are available to help, but most are expensive.  I found a relatively cheap solution using a non-automotive product.

Related article: Vehicle Storage Tips

Solutions

Tire flat spotting occurs when a vehicle sits in one place too long.  Several companies make a high density foam product to put under each tire.  Prices range from $40 for hard plastic ones through Amazon, to $280 to a version at RaceRamps.com.  

Being a frugal guy, I decided to try something different.  Those cheap plastic tire savers at Amazon seem too stiff to be effective.  The nice ones at RaceRamps look great, but that’s a lot of money for a set.  

The Cheap Route

I found the foam kneeling pads (above) at Harbor Freight for $6.99 each (under $28 for four):

They are made of a dense foam measuring 18” long x 11” wide x 1.5” thick.  I just parked my Camaro on them over the weekend, and was impressed that the pads only compressed by about 0.5”. 

That small compression makes me think there will be enough cushion to prevent flat spotting during storage. 

As an alternative, you can buy a foam insulation panel at stores likeHome Depot.  I have a friend who swears by them, but you need to buy a 4’ x ‘8 (32 square feet) sheet for $60. That seems wasteful when you only need about 6 square feet of material.

Final Thoughts & Questions

This will be the first winter where I use the kneeling pad to prevent tire flat spotting, so I will report back next spring when I take my car out of storage.  Everything points to this being an effective solution, so keep positive thoughts for me.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.