Tire Flat Spotting After Sitting & Vibration
 

I've recently asked about a phantom vibration from the front of the car. Someone mentioned that some tires flat spot while sitting for a while, causing vibration for the first while of a trip. Well, come to think of it, I always notice it after it's been sitting, getting on to a highway just 1/2 mile from my house. I've driven the car a few times the last couple of days, and no sign of vibration on the same stretches of road that I blamed for the vibration before. So, the phenomenon is truly real? I have S-03's.

No its a fact of life with many modern h/p tires. The colder it is or the longer they sit the worse the vibration will be. I installed a nice thick hooked rug to park on in an effort to alleviate the problem. No good. But the rug makes it nicer to work under the car so it stays.

I saw an ad in last month's Panarama for a product that supposedly helped to eliminate flat spotting. I believe it was some type of rubber based pad that you pulled your ride onto (4 pads). Did anyone else see the ad or see anything like this? I'm not at home or else I'd check it myself.

$500 is a lot of scratch. I wonder if they work? I'm glad you knew what the hell I was talking about.

S-03's
 

Hi Henry: I have a fairly new set of S-03's (2k mi.) and I've noticed that they flat spot and give me a vibration until they warm up too.
It seems if they sit for just a few days they will do this. I'll take that small quirk though as I find them to be great otherwise.
Cheers

Re: Tire Flat Spotting After Sitting & Vibration
 

I have an older relative who is quite the 911 fanatic and retired from Porsche. He travels for long stretches in the winter months, so he had the same problem. We brainstormed the problem and ended up making four air pillows out of large truck tube sections. He places them deflated under each wheel and then inflates them enough to elevate each tire several inches.

His garage temp doesn't fluctuate so the tire pillows or Ermüde Sie Kissen as he calls them stay at the same level.

Prior to coming up with this idea we would switch the tires and wheels to all spares, and put the good ones back on when driving weather would return.

It really works well. I will try to post some pictures soon.

Re: Re: Tire Flat Spotting After Sitting & Vibration
 

Get that patent application in the mail right now...

My Dunlop SP9000 flatspot too. Sometimes the car can stand still for a week and there will be no vibration. Other times it develops flat spots over one night and vibrates in the morning.

Perhaps if the tires are really warm when the car is parked they will be more likely to flat spot?

My car is sitting all winter, will the flat spots go away if you heat them up quickly by taking coners fast? Just curious, since i don't take my wheels off when the car's in storage, thanks.

Nathan

You can also reduce flat spots by increasing tire pressure while in storage.

More air = Less flex

I have a new set of Kuhmos on my car and I have noticed "flat" spots also after sitting 1-2 weeks. They smooth out soon after only a few miles.

I guess I feel better now knowing I'm not the only one with these symtoms.

J.R.

air pressure
 

i was looking at new audi's in the summer and the sales guy let air out of the tires saying that the car was just delivered and they pump the tires up to 50+ to reduce flat spots since the car was sitting.

gary

Re: S-03's
 

Well, I wish I was Henry Miller, but alas, he's only a favorite author of mine......

Thanks, though--you're confirming my suspicion!