Storing Wheels and Tires

[2010Civic]

My car is going to be stored for the winter. It will stored in the garage. The plan right now is to remove the wheels and tires and store them in air-tight bags in the basement to help preserve the tires. Since I am removing the wheels and tires I was wondering if I could mount a set of steel wheels to the car without tires and let the car sit on those? I'm not overly concerned about the steel wheels but I also don't want to damage them if I can avoid it. Do you think the steel wheels would be ok? I would probably put a piece of wood or something similar underneath them.

Any suggestions? I know I'm weird but so are a lot of people on this site! haha

 

[Danno]

Sure, steel wheels will work, probably need 6" blocks of wood to keep the car off the ground.
If you have high performance summer tires, it is a requirement to store these above freezing.
GM Camaro ZL1 tires come to mind.

 

[SatinSilver]

For your 2010 Civic?

 

[2010Civic]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
For your 2010 Civic?


Yes, I will be driving my 95 civic for the winter. Eliminates a lot of wear and tear on the 2010.

 

[2010Civic]

Originally Posted By: Danno
Sure, steel wheels will work, probably need 6" blocks of wood to keep the car off the ground.
If you have high performance summer tires, it is a requirement to store these above freezing.
GM Camaro ZL1 tires come to mind.


The tires are brand new Michelin Defenders. They will be stored in the basement so freezing is definitely not a concern.

 

[HTSS_TR]

What other vehicle do you have for winter driving ?

I would inflate the tires to max pressure on sidewall before store it in basement.

 

[2010Civic]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
What other vehicle do you have for winter driving ?

I would inflate the tires to max pressure on sidewall before store it in basement.



1995 Civic

Why not take them off and keep them in the basement? Besides being more work, which doesn't matter to me, it seems like a better solution.

 

[Bgallagher]

Steel wheels could work but it would be easier to put them on four jacks and leaving it.

I would also spray the rotors with lube to prevent them from rusting over. Just remember to thoroughly clean the brakes before you hit the road again. Either that or use trash bags over the axle and tie them tight.

 

[JHZR2]

I think this is way overkill. It's just plain excessive.

If you're worried about flatspotting, air them up and slightly unload the suspension. But even that's not necessary. I have cars that sit months at a time and do t have any issues with tires. Especially since it is garage kept, you have little to worry about. But I would want to drive it at least once a month or two to run the AC and circulate the fluids. Take advantage of a nicer dryer day when you can.

I'd just drive the car on a long voyage so all fluids are to temperature, and then put it away with perhaps a float charger attached. Wash and wax or whatnot shortly before if you wish.

Good luck!

 

[javacontour]

I'd go with something like this. Who knows when the 20 year old Civic needs some quality time with a mechanic. If you have the tires aired up and the car up on jackstands, it's not much work to put it on the ground and drive should the need or the desire hit you.

Probably don't even need to jack it up if you simply over-inflate the tires a bit.

Work smart, not hard.

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I think this is way overkill. It's just plain excessive.

If you're worried about flatspotting, air them up and slightly unload the suspension. But even that's not necessary. I have cars that sit months at a time and do t have any issues with tires. Especially since it is garage kept, you have little to worry about. But I would want to drive it at least once a month or two to run the AC and circulate the fluids. Take advantage of a nicer dryer day when you can.

I'd just drive the car on a long voyage so all fluids are to temperature, and then put it away with perhaps a float charger attached. Wash and wax or whatnot shortly before if you wish.

Good luck!

 

[Alfred_B]

You know, tires are built to handle harsh conditions. Leave them on the car, over inflate a little bit (35 kPSI or something) and don't worry about it. Have a trickle charger for the battery and you will be OK when the spring arrives 6 months later.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
You know, tires are built to handle harsh conditions. Leave them on the car, over inflate a little bit (35 kPSI or something) and don't worry about it. Have a trickle charger for the battery and you will be OK when the spring arrives 6 months later.


This....IMHO and I don't mean to be harsh, you are nuts to seal the tires as you described. They will b fine if kept from cement rot.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
over inflate a little bit (35 kPSI or something)


Let's hope not!!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
over inflate a little bit (35 kPSI or something)


Let's hope not!!


35,000 PSI is a bomb !

 

[Nick1994]

Fill them up to 44 psi (or whatever the max is) and forget about it.

What are you thinking snow is going to do to ruin your tires?

 

[2010Civic]

I know what I am doing is overkill but that is what I want to do.

Thanks

 

[javacontour]

Then why did you ask?

I heard a term the other day that I want you to know I'm sharing because I about fell out of my chair laughing over it. Don't take it too seriously or personally.

People who ask for suggestions and then do what they were planning to do anyway are ASKHOLES!

It even made HuffPo, FWIW: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-platt/askhole-_b_4866711.html

Originally Posted By: 2010Civic
I know what I am doing is overkill but that is what I want to do.

Thanks

 

[Astro14]

We have a few of those on this forum....

 

[2010Civic]

If you guys read my first post I was asking if I could set the car down on steel wheels without tires on them and not wreck them. I wasn't asking for your blessing to store my tires in the basement.

I don't know why you guys are giving me such a hard time about this? Especially coming from a forum where guys pay money to send in oil samples to be tested in a lab. That to me seems a lot weirder than storing my tires in the basement for the winter.

 

[Traction]

I would simply just block the car up, to get the weight off, and cover them with garbage bags. Done.