Jack stands for winter storage?

[ay1820]

I am wondering what the "collective wisdom" around here has to say about the pros/cons of putting your car up on jack stands for winter storage. BTW, I know some will say put on some Blizzaks and drive it, but I have no interest in getting salt and crud all over my car.

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[Linkster1666]

My winter doesn't last 10 and a half months to start with so I DRIVE my car.

I would put it on jack stands, but of course I'm wrong.

 

[momalle1]

I'm with you on the salt and crud. I drove my car a lot of last winter, it snowed enough for road treatment like two or three times in northern MA and then it rained and washed the salt off the roads, so I went out. I'm hopeful for this year. Even if it's not so great, I'll probably drive it around the block at least once a month, so no jack stands for me.

 

[NJMike]

leave the car on the tires. the springs will flex/stretch if you leave it suspended too long. you can place some thick carpet under the tires to avoid them from getting flat spots.
I had previously done this for several winters (carpet) with my 2014 on NT05R's (outdoors also) and they managed to escape with a minimal flat spot until I drove and the tires were fine. Inside or under cover you'll have little issue.
Go to Home Depot and grab some scrap pieces

 

[Vertex]

I would never drive my car in the winter here even if I had really good winter tires to do so. I also wouldn't be able to regardless with the amount of snow we get in my area either. I'd lose the front splitter and probably bumper too!

I did buy jacks with intentions of doing that, however, I decided to just leave the wheels on the car and I just go move it a few inches once a month or so, I just give the car power(don't start it), then roll it either forward or back a bit. Shut it all back down and then leave it alone for another month or so till I go back in and do it again. I do have some thinner rugs around the vehicle but nothing big enough for the whole car to be on it.

 

[Hack]

I would never drive my car in the winter here even if I had really good winter tires to do so. I also wouldn't be able to regardless with the amount of snow we get in my area either. I'd lose the front splitter and probably bumper too!

I did buy jacks with intentions of doing that, however, I decided to just leave the wheels on the car and I just go move it a few inches once a month or so, I just give the car power(don't start it), then roll it either forward or back a bit. Shut it all back down and then leave it alone for another month or so till I go back in and do it again. I do have some thinner rugs around the vehicle but nothing big enough for the whole car to be on it.

I'll leave this here for you.

 

[daSNAK3]

I always have stored my cars from December until around April and always leave it on the tires, have not had an issue yet.

 

[Vertex]

I'll leave this here for you.

I just realized you're in Minneapolis, I have family in the cities and am just north of you near Duluth area.

 

[WICK MODE 21GT]

I drive my car year round here in Texas. Now having said that, Usually my boss shuts down the office, if it gets too icy for him, so I don't drive, if he don't.

 

[gone_n_60]

Midwest here, we've had some mild winters here lately so when all (I mean all) the salt is gone for the roads, it's sunny and nice I take the GT down and run it a bit. Two winters back I had to use the battery tender but not last. The Twister doesn't do bad weather or snow drives. I have my daily for that stuff.

 

[KingKona]

There's no reason to put it on jack stands.

 

[Skye]

Last Winter was my first with the car, the first putting the car in storage. I use an All Season compound.

I aired the tires to 40 psi / 2.75 bar. The car then rested for 4 1/2 months in a garage that stayed just above freezing. In April I took the excess air from the tires, started the car and drove. I couldn't sense or later see any flat-spotting whatsoever.

If a Summer tire and freezing or below freezing temperatures are forecast, manufacturers and several threads herein provide guidance and feedback on that. In general, the tire/s should slowly be brought up to an acceptable operating temperature for a extended period of time, before use.

At the other extreme, I have read it is actually harder on a tire storing it in a hot and humid environment for long periods.

Regarding jack stands, I don't see an advantage. Any flat-spotting on the tires should be temporary. The car spends it's life under it's own weight. I don't think it is a good idea to fully extend the suspension for long periods.

 

[jayhoogs]

My car is my daily so I can’t speak from experience, but if I were storing for the winter I’d get flat stoppers from race ramps.

 

[Hack]

I just realized you're in Minneapolis, I have family in the cities and am just north of you near Duluth area.

I'm just messing with you a little. I didn't drive the GT350 every day all winter. Mostly on a few dry days. The day I took the photos I had an appointment with the car, so that was one of the few times it saw snow. Now that I have the Toyota, my Mustang doesn't see any snow either.

But Mustangs do work fine in the snow - mostly. I think your Mach 1 splitter is even lower than the GT350 one. I'd hate to try driving up one of the hills in Duluth in that car!

 

[Vertex]

I'm just messing with you a little. I didn't drive the GT350 every day all winter. Mostly on a few dry days. The day I took the photos I had an appointment with the car, so that was one of the few times it saw snow. Now that I have the Toyota, my Mustang doesn't see any snow either.

But Mustangs do work fine in the snow - mostly. I think your Mach 1 splitter is even lower than the GT350 one. I'd hate to try driving up one of the hills in Duluth in that car!

There really haven't been to many spots I've had to watch out for, just a couple and I definitely stay away from going right straight up/down any of the hills here. Otherwise no issues driving this thing anywhere.

I was down at the Hastings car show a couple months ago with a friend and drove it down but did not try to get it in the line-up as we were told nothing newer than something like 70s I thought it was but do not recall exactly. I had quite a few family members from the area show up too with 3 vehicles as well that all had them in the show. Was an awesome day

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