After storing my car for the winter, I came back a week later to check on it and saw that a front tire was flat. Air was leaking out of the rim. Will the tire still be good if I let the car sit on it, flat for the winter. It is way to much effort to put air in it every week (100 mile drive) Will the tire still be usable in the spring?

 

I would say that you want to get a new tire when you finish storing it for the winter.

 

I could go for a few but Ive probably had enough for tonight.

Run to what ever store (wal mart, azone, checker) and pick up a bottle of slime. Put 1/4 of the bottle in each tire run the car around the block a couple times and see if it helps.

 

sure, if you dont mind something that eats your tires from the inside out. that stuff shouldnt even be marketed

 

my roomate works at Sears Auto, and he says that crap is absolutely horrible to get off the inside of the tire (to patch it) and it sticks to the rim like nobodys business.

 

we use it on lawnmower tires, and take there advice, DONT USE THEM.. they literally eat your tire away, i dont see how there safe for roaduse..

 

they break the rubber's chemical structure and try to bond with it.

 

I would just take the tire off and put it on the new rim, but the car is unregistered in a carport 8ft wide and i would have to back it down a hill to a flat spot where i could take the tire off. (big production) So i think i'll just end up taking my chances with the flat unfortunately.

 

You could use a piece of wood and a cheap $7 bottle jack and just get some of the weight off that side so it doesn't pinch on the tire. it should still reinflate later and be useable enough to get it somewhere.

Matt

 

The tire is leaking, probably from the bead. Don't worry about re-using the tire next season, replace it. It'll be worth not having to re-fill it every week.

 

The tire is definitely leaking from the rim. The edge is pretty bent in one spot. The tread is too worn to just replace one tire. I'd have to buy two, and i would want to get good tires(of course) since i'm only driving it a little next season, i'm trying to hold off on pouring money into the tires. My goals are to get the check engine light out, which will possibly require some expensive parts I'll do more driving the season after. I think i'll try the bottle jack method. I would just put it under the lower control arm on the side with the flat, right? That wouldn't warp it or do anything to mess up the suspension?
Thanks for the replies

 

If its on dirt it could possibly fall off the jack and/or sink in. Id just let it sit on the tire and get another rim and put a futura tire or some other cheap POS econo tire on it in the mean time while your fixing the car. I never liked the idea of leaving heavy cars supported by lifting equipment on soft surfaces. The huge crater in the shape of my brothers floor jack in the asphault outside can attest to that.

 

Or you could really be cheap and stick some concrete underneath the body, after jacking it up and letting it sit on that... See it all the time here... Stuff usually ends up missing on the cars not long after, though...

 

That would probably work. It the frame wouldn't warp from having that kind of force applied for such a long period of time?

 

if your going to stick anything under the sub frame rails just be careful. Theyre nothing more then flimsy formed sheet metal. Theyll support the car but be sure to distribute the load evenly across teh face of the rail.

 

What about some wooden blocks under the lower control arm?

 

the LCA is fine on its own but some wooden blocks between whats supporting the car would prevent any possible damage. I wouldnt use wood by itself, however. It rots outside in the elements. If you want to be safe, you could block the rear wheels and put a jack stand under the LCA on that side of the car. Just make sure you stick something solid under the stand so it doesnt sink in.

 

Ok. I'll give that a shot. Thanks.