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Flat spots on radials?

Started by south280, November 24, 2017, 04:20:18 PM

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south280

Hi, is it common to have flat spots on my 1976 Eldorado radial tires after sitting for 6 months without moving?  Has anyone tried using those anti flat spot ramps?  The tires are 8 months old   Thanks 
1976 Cadillac Eldorado Bicentennial Edition
1930 Model A Ford Station Wagon
1968 Mercedes 280 sl

Steve Passmore

Not common but that can happen after 6 months. Some say drive it at highway speed for a good distance to get rid of it but that's if you can stand the bumpy ride.    Best to have the car up on stands,
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Dave Shepherd

Lotta weight over those front wheels, inflating to 40 psi and setting the car on 3/8 plywood is what I have doing, cheap attempt to try and stop flat spotting, but it is uncommon with radials vs bias.

collector

Drive the car the heat will correct your flat spot issues.

TJ Hopland

Check the date codes and make sure someone didn't sell you tires that have been on the shelf for a few years.   Current tire technology may be better for mileage and traction but seems terrible for lightly driven classic applications. 
StPaul/Mpls, MN USA

73 Eldo convert w/FiTech EFI
80 Eldo Diesel
90 CDV
And other assorted stuff I keep buying for some reason

James Landi

The "Flat Free" devices appear to work well, but be careful getting your car on to them, as  your  drive wheels tend to shoot them out from under the car as you torque up the car's engine to get the four wheels  on to them. I needed to get a bit of a "running start" to get all four wheels over the initial hump(s).   Happy day, James

Driver8

Quote from: James Landi on November 26, 2017, 10:14:17 PM
The "Flat Free" devices appear to work well, but be careful getting your car on to them, as  your  drive wheels tend to shoot them out from under the car as you torque up the car's engine to get the four wheels  on to them. I needed to get a bit of a "running start" to get all four wheels over the initial hump(s).   Happy day, James

I took my hydraulic floor jack and jacked the car up a bit, then just slid them into position. IMO, much easier than trying to keep them lined up and 'driving' onto them evenly and exactly where they need to be.

mark~
Mark Allen  CLC # 28250
'79 Cadillac Seville  http://bit.ly/1VEbnNo
'15 Chrysler 300S AWD   https://ibb.co/2Z21vng
'99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited   http://bit.ly/1VE758Q

James Landi

Quote from: Driver8 on November 28, 2017, 11:53:49 AM
I took my hydraulic floor jack and jacked the car up a bit, then just slid them into position. IMO, much easier than trying to keep them lined up and 'driving' onto them evenly and exactly where they need to be.

mark~

Mark-- that's a safe way to do this... a sensible approach.  Thank you for the advice.  James

Driver8

Quote from: James Landi on November 28, 2017, 03:37:04 PM
   

Mark-- that's a safe way to do this... a sensible approach.  Thank you for the advice.  James

No prob James, necessity is the mother of invention/ideas I guess.

i have a very old & small brick garage, there's less than 4" to the door with the Cadillac's rear bumper touching the back wall, with maybe 4-5" on the passenger side before the mirror gets taken off because it's so tight, I also have to turn the wheels and wedge the car in behind the front return wall that supports the door track so I have some space down the center between the Cadillac & the 300.  So, I 'had' to do it this way to not risk an incident with the Cadillac and a brick wall, or two or three.  :)

At any rate, I do think it will work well for everyone no matter how much space they have because they wont go flying somewhere when you hit the gas.  it only takes a few extra minutes, and the pads are always perfectly aligned (which is what you need if you want them to work).

Take care, mark~
Mark Allen  CLC # 28250
'79 Cadillac Seville  http://bit.ly/1VEbnNo
'15 Chrysler 300S AWD   https://ibb.co/2Z21vng
'99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited   http://bit.ly/1VE758Q

gary griffin

Who sells the flatfree devices and are there different sizes? I could not find them on Google!
Gary Griffin

1940 LaSalle 5029 4 door convertible sedan
1942 Cadillac 6719 restoration almost complete?
1957 Cadillac 60-special (Needs a little TLC)
2013 Cadillac XTS daily driver

south280

1976 Cadillac Eldorado Bicentennial Edition
1930 Model A Ford Station Wagon
1968 Mercedes 280 sl