VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Car Jacks

I`m relatively sure this subject has been discussed before, but am unable to search info. Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not to store our cars on jack stands?

hoppy

I store my 33 coupe on jackstands.I make sure the tires are a couple inches off the floor. I do put the stands under the rear and under the front axle to keep the weight of the car on the suspension,not "free hanging".

I've stored with and without jackstands.

The theory to using stands (hanging suspension), is that the suspension components last longer since there is no load.

The drawback is that the stands position the load on the frame in locations where it is not intended. I've seen door gaps, etc change when on stands so this has concerned me leaving a car like this for months, even with as many as 8 stands to spread the load.

What I like best is to partially raise the car and put on stands/blocks. This lightens the load on the suspension/tires but does not put 100% of the load on the blocks. It gives the suspension a bit of a rest. I do this with our travel/camper trailer as well.

The major reason to put them up on jack stands is to take the load off the tires. Taking a load off the suspension does little good as static load is minor compared to dynamic load while running down the road. It also helps circulate air around the bottom and minimize deterioration from moisture.

Mike has the idea, stands under the axles prevents flat spots on the tyres. Taking the load off the suspension serves no purpose though should not distort the body either.
Tony

I think that taking the load off the tires is a good idea when storing a car for an extended period.

I didn't take the load off a new set of Lesters and when they went flat it ruined them. Not right away but over time. It was where I couldn't see or get to them to keep them pumped. Anyhow, the car is still stored after a long, long, time. They will hold air for moving around now and then but still shot.

What is the life of a tire anyway. Even when pampered, i.e., kept out of the sun and pumped up. I think I've heard about seven years. Sound about right?
Charlie

The service life of a tire depends! Is it radial or bias ply? Are belts steel or plastic or glass? How much ozone, UV do they see? Just remember that electric arcs, copy machines produce ozone not just the sun. Are they in contact with a surface that will flatten them and/or transfer moisture into the rubber? How hot do they get?

Rubber in the tires is deteriorated by chemical reaction. The reaction doubles in rate with each 10 deg. rise in temp and is proportional to the concentration of harmful conditions. How's that for a basic chemistry lesson? Did I lose the class?

How long will they last?

Just this year I replaced the tires on my 1941. The original tires were installed in 1972 when I restored the car. They were still completely serviceable. The reason I decided to replace them was because the white sidewalls were permanently ruined when a movie company placed dirt on them for a movie. I could never make them white again. The other reason was a scare factor put out by the tire people and others. Hurt my feelings to pay the tire dealer to dispose of my perfectly good tires. Just hope I can get the same service out of the new ones that I got from the old ones.

I just replaced tires on our 74 Nova that were 15 years old because of the fear factor. I've heard of people having blow outs with tires looking like new. I think the tire companys say 10 years but I'm staying with 15 and haven't had a problem yet. I take long trips with our cars to go on tours. It probably wouldn't be much of a problem if you just drove around town.

I keep hearing very short life expectancy from tires as well - Typically less than 6 years regardless of use. I just replaced some perfect looking tires myself that hit 10 years. Apparently this is even if removed, cleaned, dried, bagged and stored cold for the winter. This is the same story even with new tires, never installed. I read an article a couple years back about a Sears getting fined for selling a "new" set of tires with 9 year old date codes as they were considered "beyond end of life" even though they were virgin. I too wonder about the fear factor but like any products these days, I do certainly question the quality!

Chipper, any chemists' thoughts on this "time limit expiry" based on date codes? Most info out there will be regarding radials I suspect, but would it be that different for Bias? I certainly notice that modern radial tires seem to crack many years sooner than they did 30 years ago...

I'd always been told by mechanics I'd worked with to get the weight off the springs when storing but realistically we were only considering cars being kept to the young age of 30 or 40 years. I've never owned anything 70+ years old before. Since the suspension could be in use for decades, is there anything that could be done to keep springs from sagging or getting weak?

The two real limiting factors for most tires is the bond between the rubber and reinforcement and deterioration of the elastomer itself. The tires with the shortest life from manufacturing date are steel belted radials. I have never seen an official reason for that but my theory (supported verbally by some tire people) is that moisture and oxygen migrate through the rubber to produce rust (hydrated iron oxide). The rust weakens the bond between the steel and rubber and because it occupies more space actually forces those parts apart. Eventually the heat, flexing and more rust degrade the integrity of the tire structure and the tread peals off or the tire blows out.

Bias ply tires do not have steel belts so they process above does not occur. That does not mean that water, oxygen have no affect just at a much slower rate.

Discount Tire, one of the largest retailers in the USA, consider all tires to have a 5-6 year life. Most of their stores will not repair a tire older than that even if it is to repair a puncture.

Over the last year I have been doing a rolling restoration on my 64 Impala. I was using the 19 year old radial tires until I did the suspension and brakes. After installing the new tires, I put the 19 year old radials outside on the side of the house. A few weeks later, during a heat wave, I heard a funny sound outside and went to investigate. I am thankful they held up until I was done with them. It would not have been nice if this happened while driving.

Judge,
I rest my case. The gas build up between layers released when they got hot enough to generate enough pressure to find a way out! Also happens when you drive down the freeway!

I had an inside radial on my motor home blow up at about 2:00 AM while sitting out in my driveway. Motor home not used in three days. Made a hole in the floor and other damage.

Notified Michelin, there take,........not our problem, you ran it low on pressure. They would not replace the tire or even give me a discount on a new one. So why does my new motor home have a different brand????????

Gee, I wonder??

Curious about somethng....

Did you buy the "original" Michelins (one of which blew) at a
"regular" tire store, or at Costco????

Bill.

Original equipment.

Got it. Thanks. I've heard stories about guys having problems getting
"adjustments" at Michelin Tire Stores if they had bought the tires at Costco.
I see that has nothing to do with your situation.

It's not just Michelin. I had that problem with Goodyears locally. The OEM Goodyears on my truck some years back had issues and the local Goodyear dealer wouldn't honor the warranty. The "through the manufacturer" tire warranty with new vehicles has been a sham in my experience.