tires parked on concrete

[dockmasterdave]

I just read this on another forum regarding tires. I have seen lots of discussions here saying this may or may not be true.
I figured someone here would certainly have a legitimate answer as opposed to "my wifes, third cousins, dad said".
Who knows the real answer ?

do not store your R.V. on cement. it draws out the oil in them, also can cause a flat spot and dry rot. don"t forget to check the dates on new tires.

I hope this doesn't turn into another tire brand debate. No trolling intended.

[slickest1]

In another life I worked in a tire retreading plant. I have seen many tires that have been buffed down for recap and never found any of these oils or evidence of concrete or anything else leaching into the tire. Out of the thousands of tires I seen I'm sure a few were parked on concrete. I have never seen a tire dry rotted on the inside.

[EV2]

And, do not forget to lubricate the muffler bearings annually, change summer and winter air seasonally, and add that blinker fluid.

[stevennlv]

Goodyear does not mention the word "concrete" in any of its tire storage recommendations.

From what I've read one of the general concerns with a tire being parked in one place on any surface for a long period of time is the oils being drawn out of the rubber.

The concern with concrete in particular is that it can continue to undergo chemical reactions related to "curing" for *years* after it is poured. (Concrete Scientific Principles)

I can't find the link now. But, I have seen it in writing from an "authoritative source" that tires should not be left parked on concrete for this reason.

But, then again, almost everybody is full of bull. Give me money for a study and I can make it say almost anything you want.

I read a thing a while back where one of the world's biggest eggheads claimed that less than 1% of all so-called scientific studies actually follow the scientific method!

I have no idea if that is true. And I don't have a concrete answer for you! (Ha-ha!)

Here's what I do know: **** happens. You're advised to use tire covers to protect your tires from the sun. So why not cover them to protect them from what you're parked on?

Wally world rubber mats are whole lot cheaper than tires. So, I put a rubber mat down when I'm parked just in case there is some kind of chemistry going on that could damage my tires. Either I'm wasting $30 for peace of mind or I'm saving myself a lot of money?

[starcraft69]

Simple solution use your RV on a regular basis and keep the oils moving in the tire. Plus side you will be camping and not reading threads on tires going bad.

[DrewE]

If the concrete were drawing the oil out of the tire, there would be an oily spot left on the concrete after the vehicle was driven away where each tire was. Have you ever seen that? I never have.

Flat spots come from having the weight sitting on one side of the tire, and happen regardless of the surface. Elevating them prevents that. Dry rot is mainly rubber aging due to heat, UV light, ozone, etc. Do you generally see tires where only a small bit of the tread is rotted (the part in contact with cement)? Or is it generally the whole tread, or the sidewall?

[Trackrig]

JIMNLIN wrote:
Cars parked on concrete in a garage over nite are driven the next day or so.

What about the wife's car, or the mother-in-law's car that are used once a month, or the Jeep or motorcycle parked for the winter, or the boat trailer in the car port not used for three years? What happens to the car left at home parked in the garage while you're off on a six month trip in MH?

I'd rather have mine sitting on cement than sharp 1" crushed gravel I see in some storage places.

Bill

[midnightsadie]

put it in a garage keep the sun off the hole rv when not in use ,best thing you could do for the rv. maintain the tires and after about 7yrs your going to buy new any ways. mines a MH every month or two I drive it about twenty miles, and back in the garage .

[Lwiddis]

I was asking dockmaster but thank you for the reply. Elevate my trailer? Not me. "Flat spotting" doesn't answer why not concrete. Without elevation what would not flat spot a tire...allegedly.

[NMDriver]

So after much discussion the answer is-as usual-"it depends"

[downtheroad]

So the Carlisle guy says to elevate your trailer to get the tires off the ground for storage....he is the expert...BUT

I'm not a tire expert, I'm not any kind of expert on anything...BUT, no way am I going to elevate our trailer so that the tires (that only last about 6 years anyway) so that my tires can be stored off the ground...

Tires are easier to replace than tweaked frames, out of adjustment slides, out of plum doors and windows....
I'll take my chances.

[JIMNLIN]

Cars parked on concrete in a garage over nite are driven the next day or so. Keeps the polymers mixed in the rubber.
Trailers sitting on concrete or any surface for weeks/months at a time before they roll again can flat spot and may dry rot inside. And they look fine.

Carlisle and Goodyear are our oldest trailer tire makers and have storing recommendations.

Goodyear; http://www.goodyearrvtires.com/tire-storage.aspx

Carlisle; https://www.carlislebrandtires.com/news/tips-for-storing-trailer-tires

Tireman9 rvtiresafety blog says this about tires on rv just sitting;

**Rubber strength degrades with time and heat with HEAT being an over-riding contributor. Do you cover your tires with white covers? This can result is a very significant lowering of tire temperature. Every hour of full sun exposure can be equivalent to two to 3 hours of use running down the highway at top speed.

Quick example: 8 hours a day 7 days a week for two months each summer can be the equivalent of 10,000 miles use as far as rubber degradation is concerned. So if we assume a tire is good for 40,000 miles and you park it as in the above example after 3 years you may have "consumed the equivalent of 30.000 mile tire life, just while parked.**

All tire mfg have storing tires recommendations. Check yours out.

[Lwiddis]

"do not store your R.V. on cement"

What do you "figure" we should store our RVs on if not concrete?

[downtheroad]

Are we making this RVing thing more complicated than it really is?
Just wondering...

[Trackrig]

dockmasterdave wrote:
I just read this on another forum - do not store your R.V. on cement. it draws out the oil in them, also can cause a flat spot and dry rot. don"t forget to check the dates on new tires..

Does this happen to your car tires when you park it in the garage every night or the second car that is hardly driven?

Bill

[ScottG]

filrupmark wrote:

ScottG wrote:
I have been storing a classic car on cement for nearly 40 years. Tires have never cracked, rotted or otherwise failed.

Was it a classic when you first stored it ?

No! Probably not!! Not even all that popular now :B
It was my first car and something I got from my dad so I kept it.