If your vehicle is less sleeping for the night and more preparing to hibernate for the winter, you’ll want to take greater care to protect it for a longer period in storage. Doing so can reduce the chance of flat spots occurring. Such spots, while they’ll typically vanish again after the vehicle has been driven once more, can affect performance for a period and are best avoided where possible.
Michelin reports that a flat spot that has formed in a tire in storage will generally correct itself within around 20 minutes of renewed driving. One caused by wear, however, will not, and could potentially be very dangerous. Therefore, drivers must be vigilant about checking their tires and having them maintained if anything looks amiss. Such signs could include visible wear or damage in patches, an unfamiliar vibration as the vehicle is being driven, or a noticeable diminishment in brake performance.
Permanent flat spots can be created when a tire is worn unevenly through acts such as sudden, heavy braking. Literally burning rubber can have dire repercussions for a driver, affecting performance and traction. As with a bald spot on a tire, lacking tread anywhere on the surface compromises control, which can be fatal. With permanent flat spots, it’s crucial to seek professional advice and replace the affected tire(s) immediately.
Flat spots from storage, meanwhile, can become more severe the longer a vehicle is stored. In the next slide, we’ll see why this is and exactly how flat spots form.
