winterizing tires??

[138742]

Hey Guys,

I am going to sea for 3 months and the bike will be sitting. I don't have stands to get the bike off the ground and was wondering if it is bad to let the tires sit in that same position for three months with the bike's weight on them. Can they deform? Should I lower their pressure? Or should I really get the bike off the ground?


As always many thanks.

[caddydaddy]

Yeah, they can flat spot, especially if they are sitting on something hard like concrete.  If you can't get them off the ground, have them sit on something soft, like an old piece of carpet.  I'd also raise the pressure up to help prevent flat spots.  A 5 PSI increase won't hurt.  And if you can, once a month, move the bike so it rests on a different part of the tire to help prevent the flat spots.

[KenH]

Raise the bike. It is cheap to do with concrete blocks and 1x4 boards. If you don't have a centerstand. Get a couple buddies to lift one wheel at a time if you have a heavy bike.

[kyzrex]

if you don't have stands, try this...

use automobile jack stands.  

get a flat piece of wood about 1" thick and 6ft by 1 ft.  put an eyelet near the end on both sides.  put the jackstands on top of the wood, near the middle.  Jack the front end of the bike up with a floor jack and place the bottom of the forks on the top of the jack stands ( might want to get a piece of rubber to place in between ). Using tie down straps, secure the front of the bike to the eyelets.  

repeat for the back, using the end of the swingarms, but don't need to worry about tying this part down.

or....go to www.handyindustries.com  and buy a cheap set of stands...$100.00

but do get the tires off the ground or get someone to move it around if you can't get it off the ground.

[Jetpilot5]

Well, I'm surprised.  I would have said don't worry about it.  On bikes with center stands I normally put the bike up on it for the winter, but that's just so it takes up less space in the garage.  On bikes I've had that didn't have center stands I just made sure the tires were properly inflated and parked them.  Never had anything happen and usually my bike is stored for 90 - 100 days.  This house has an attached unheated garage but I did the same thing when I had an unattached garage and it got pretty cold in there at times.

You certainly aren't going to do any harm by getting the tires up off the floor, just be sure the bike is solid and stable.  I'd hate to drop it in an effort to keep from flat spotting the tires.  

[Mr Sunshine]

Don't worry about it.  If you want add pressure to the tires so they are at like 45psi (don't worry it'll be fine).  And go have fun at sea doing whatever you are doing.

[UHOH]

Don't worry about it.  If you want add pressure to the tires so they are at like 45psi (don't worry it'll be fine).

also my $.02.  

[Papa Lazarou]

paddock stands, fore and aft.

[HipGnosis]

Are flat spots (from storage) permanent?

[Global Rider]

Can they deform?

Not an issue. Mine sits 6 months and another has been sitting for years.

[Papa Lazarou]

On another note, 138742, do you think it wise to post your PIN on line?

[138742]

Thanks for the great info everyone.

Corporal-General Lord Pig how do you know??? Too bad there is not much to take...but I am sure you figured that out  

138742 is my sail number from my one design Laser sailboat.

I've always wondered how many sailors we have on ST.NET.  

For those that don't know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_(dinghy)

[JimWilliamson]

I wouldn't worry about it for an over-winter timeframe.

A buddy gave me his "6 years outside on a concrete patio, uncovered, side-standed" bike. The front and rear tires had a "roughed up" spot where the tires were in contact with the rough concrete (6 YEARS, un-moved). The patch wasn't enough to cause the tires to be bad / unusable. I wasn't edumacated enough to replace said tires before it went on the road - they worked fine & I had no issues.