The Ford Barn

leo · 09-13-2012, 10:56 AM

I know this sounds odd but in a dry garage environment how long can a Model A sit on it's tires undriven before we need to be concerned about the tires or tubes. In this case both the tires and tubes were installed new but have sat with the car for several years.

JTW · 09-13-2012, 11:57 AM

Jack it up and put it on jack stands or blocks (4), then you won't get flat spots on the tires. Other than that it depends on the quality of the brand of tire and there will be a bucket load of opinions on how long. Three things kill tires, use, age, & sun.

Special Coupe Frank · 09-13-2012, 12:12 PM

"Three things kill tires, use, age, & sun. "

And grease/oil.

Special Coupe Frank · 09-13-2012, 12:22 PM

And if the car sits on a flat tire for any length of time (longer than a couple of weeks), the rubber "takes a set", and when re-inflated, usually cracks very badly where the casing was folded-over - essentially the tire is ruined for road use...

d.j. moordigian · 09-13-2012, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

"Three things kill tires, use, age, & sun. "

And grease/oil.

Also concrete..

leo · 09-13-2012, 03:53 PM

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Thanks for all the feedback. I failed to add that at no point were the tires allowed to go flat, they were always maintained at correct pressure even though the car was not moved.

Keith True · 09-13-2012, 04:50 PM

It depends on the tires.I put a new set of Firestones on a car,it is kept in a controlled environment,they cracked in a year or so.But,the whitewalls still look pretty on the car in the owners garage,so he is happy.I have a set of old Wards Riverside tires on a roadster that sat in a cellar from 1971 until 2002.I'm still running them.I have a set of Allstate,(Garfields)on a sedan that was parked from 1981 until 2004.I'm still running them too,and the previous owner thinks he put them on in the late 60's.I bought a set of new US MADE tubes about 4-5 years ago,I never even got them mounted.They all split on the inside textured surface.The Korean ones I had to buy to replace them are still holding air,but I'm not putting too much faith in them.I'm saving and using any old good looking tubes I can get.

1931 flamingo · 09-13-2012, 06:19 PM

Probably an "old wives tale", but when i used to store my camper in a large concrete floored enclosed barn I used to park the wheels on 2x6 board so both (tandem axle) wheels/tires were on the board.
Paul in CT

JTW · 09-13-2012, 06:47 PM

Add nails and knifes to the growing killer bucket list

Buz · 09-13-2012, 07:08 PM

I've got a set of the zig-zag Allstates (Sears) tires, I bought them used in 1971 and the car sat from 1987 until this year and they seem to be fine. I wish they still made them, not a bit of dry cracking.

Chris in WNC · 09-13-2012, 09:45 PM

being indoors helps.
I'm running Firestones on our Coupe that Hoop bought for his/our Tudor in 1991.
because he seldom drives his cars they spent 15 years indoors and were like new when we purchased the car in 2006. they still have no cracking or damage visible. I expect to wear them out before they start drying & cracking.

older tubes will last lots longer. just look them over well whenever you change tires.
reports are surfacing that newer Chinese tubes aren't so good.

09-13-2012, 10:56 AM	#1
leo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 734	How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? I know this sounds odd but in a dry garage environment how long can a Model A sit on it's tires undriven before we need to be concerned about the tires or tubes. In this case both the tires and tubes were installed new but have sat with the car for several years.

09-13-2012, 11:57 AM	#2
JTW Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Owls Head Posts: 257	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? Jack it up and put it on jack stands or blocks (4), then you won't get flat spots on the tires. Other than that it depends on the quality of the brand of tire and there will be a bucket load of opinions on how long. Three things kill tires, use, age, & sun. __________________ Driving old Fords since 1947

09-13-2012, 12:12 PM	#3
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? "Three things kill tires, use, age, & sun. " And grease/oil.

09-13-2012, 12:22 PM	#4
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? And if the car sits on a flat tire for any length of time (longer than a couple of weeks), the rubber "takes a set", and when re-inflated, usually cracks very badly where the casing was folded-over - essentially the tire is ruined for road use... Last edited by Special Coupe Frank; 09-13-2012 at 10:37 PM.

09-13-2012, 03:53 PM	#6
leo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 734	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks for all the feedback. I failed to add that at no point were the tires allowed to go flat, they were always maintained at correct pressure even though the car was not moved.

09-13-2012, 04:50 PM	#7
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,423	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? It depends on the tires.I put a new set of Firestones on a car,it is kept in a controlled environment,they cracked in a year or so.But,the whitewalls still look pretty on the car in the owners garage,so he is happy.I have a set of old Wards Riverside tires on a roadster that sat in a cellar from 1971 until 2002.I'm still running them.I have a set of Allstate,(Garfields)on a sedan that was parked from 1981 until 2004.I'm still running them too,and the previous owner thinks he put them on in the late 60's.I bought a set of new US MADE tubes about 4-5 years ago,I never even got them mounted.They all split on the inside textured surface.The Korean ones I had to buy to replace them are still holding air,but I'm not putting too much faith in them.I'm saving and using any old good looking tubes I can get.

09-13-2012, 06:19 PM	#8
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,428	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? Probably an "old wives tale", but when i used to store my camper in a large concrete floored enclosed barn I used to park the wheels on 2x6 board so both (tandem axle) wheels/tires were on the board. Paul in CT

09-13-2012, 06:47 PM	#9
JTW Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Owls Head Posts: 257	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? Add nails and knifes to the growing killer bucket list __________________ Driving old Fords since 1947

09-13-2012, 07:08 PM	#10
Buz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pineville, NC Posts: 118	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? I've got a set of the zig-zag Allstates (Sears) tires, I bought them used in 1971 and the car sat from 1987 until this year and they seem to be fine. I wish they still made them, not a bit of dry cracking.

09-13-2012, 09:45 PM	#11
Chris in WNC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spruce Pine, NC Posts: 1,498	Re: How Long Can a Model A Sit on Tires? being indoors helps. I'm running Firestones on our Coupe that Hoop bought for his/our Tudor in 1991. because he seldom drives his cars they spent 15 years indoors and were like new when we purchased the car in 2006. they still have no cracking or damage visible. I expect to wear them out before they start drying & cracking. older tubes will last lots longer. just look them over well whenever you change tires. reports are surfacing that newer Chinese tubes aren't so good. __________________ our next Model A has arrived.....