Temporary Flat Spotting

spearfish25 · 03-27-2011, 10:55 PM

Do you guys have any inexpensive tricks to prevent temporary flat spotting of tires? Since swapping to the RE-11s, I've noticed that the first 5 minutes of highway driving has a nasty shimmy in the steering wheel that goes away after the tires warm up. Granted it's near freezing here in Chicago, and I'm sure that's playing a big role. I've seen people park their cars on crappy carpet runners, square foam pads, etc to combat this but I don't know if that works at all. I'm not interested in dropping $269 for the RaceRamps Flatstoppers. I'm just looking for a quick, inexpensive, easy on/off solution for every time I pull in my condo parking spot.

cossie1600 · 03-28-2011, 12:44 AM

Never had that problem with my RE-11, matter of fact it had 29psi of air when I drove it out of the garage this morning at 30F.

phunk · 03-28-2011, 02:24 AM

quickest, easiest, most inexpensive solution? built in air-jacks.

spearfish25 · 03-28-2011, 07:59 AM

It only happens for the first 5 minutes if I get on the highway immediately. Going under 50mph, you can't notice it and the tires 'round' pretty quickly. But those first 5 min on the highway...it's like the wheels aren't balanced.

I ordered these as a cheap possibility:
Cushion Tile
We'll see if they do anything beneficial.

ChrisSlicks · 03-28-2011, 08:16 AM

I'm on my 2nd set of RE-11's and haven't noticed a problem, but I typically don't drive the car when it is real cold out.

kenchan · 03-28-2011, 08:20 AM

Hummmm....maybe 39-40psi for cold days? Not sure...

sig11 · 03-28-2011, 09:52 AM

I have noticed that feeling too on the below freezing days I've driven the Z this spring. They feel a bit like I'm driving in the wet too. Nowhere near as cold tolerant as the RE050s seemed to be. I'm just sucking it up and waiting for the weather to warm up.

cossie1600 · 03-28-2011, 11:07 AM

I would rebalance the tires again

kenchan · 03-28-2011, 12:36 PM

i think the balance is fine, just a matter of flat spotting. ive had a similar thing happen long time ago when i ran Dunlop SP9000 DSST's (runflat) on one of my previous cars.

as soon as it warms up it's fine. only the first 5min or so.

spearfish25 · 03-28-2011, 01:01 PM

No need to rebalance as they are great once warmed up and 'spun out'. I'll let you guys know how the mats work out. It's been colder than a witch's tit here in Chicago lately. I can only imagine how grippy the RE-11s will be when it's hot out!

SPOHN · 03-28-2011, 02:21 PM

The coldest it's ever been since I've had them is about 32F. There wasn't a shimmy as you stated. But the tires felt stiffer till I got down the road a couple miles. Really didn't think much of it till I read this.

03-27-2011, 10:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Temporary Flat Spotting Do you guys have any inexpensive tricks to prevent temporary flat spotting of tires? Since swapping to the RE-11s, I've noticed that the first 5 minutes of highway driving has a nasty shimmy in the steering wheel that goes away after the tires warm up. Granted it's near freezing here in Chicago, and I'm sure that's playing a big role. I've seen people park their cars on crappy carpet runners, square foam pads, etc to combat this but I don't know if that works at all. I'm not interested in dropping $269 for the RaceRamps Flatstoppers. I'm just looking for a quick, inexpensive, easy on/off solution for every time I pull in my condo parking spot. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-28-2011, 02:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
phunk A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,668 Drives: 370 Rep Power: 974723	quickest, easiest, most inexpensive solution? built in air-jacks. __________________ Charles @ CJ Motorsports : Website \| Facebook \| Instagram \| YouTube Home of the 9 second, stock longblock, stock drivetrain 6MT 370z. 9.91 @ 142mph

03-28-2011, 07:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	It only happens for the first 5 minutes if I get on the highway immediately. Going under 50mph, you can't notice it and the tires 'round' pretty quickly. But those first 5 min on the highway...it's like the wheels aren't balanced. I ordered these as a cheap possibility: Cushion Tile We'll see if they do anything beneficial. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-28-2011, 08:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	I'm on my 2nd set of RE-11's and haven't noticed a problem, but I typically don't drive the car when it is real cold out. __________________ Hotchkis ARB \| Stillen CAI \| Art Pipes \| Berk CBE \| Stillen AP Racing Brakes \| AE Performance Oil Cooler \| BC Racing ER Coilovers \| Doran Control Arms

03-28-2011, 01:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	No need to rebalance as they are great once warmed up and 'spun out'. I'll let you guys know how the mats work out. It's been colder than a witch's tit here in Chicago lately. I can only imagine how grippy the RE-11s will be when it's hot out! __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-28-2011, 12:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Never had that problem with my RE-11, matter of fact it had 29psi of air when I drove it out of the garage this morning at 30F.

03-28-2011, 08:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	Hummmm....maybe 39-40psi for cold days? Not sure...

03-28-2011, 09:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
sig11 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Detroit Posts: 1,294 Drives: 09 370Z Red Sport-MT Rep Power: 18	I have noticed that feeling too on the below freezing days I've driven the Z this spring. They feel a bit like I'm driving in the wet too. Nowhere near as cold tolerant as the RE050s seemed to be. I'm just sucking it up and waiting for the weather to warm up.

03-28-2011, 11:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	I would rebalance the tires again

03-28-2011, 12:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i think the balance is fine, just a matter of flat spotting. ive had a similar thing happen long time ago when i ran Dunlop SP9000 DSST's (runflat) on one of my previous cars. as soon as it warms up it's fine. only the first 5min or so.

03-28-2011, 02:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	The coldest it's ever been since I've had them is about 32F. There wasn't a shimmy as you stated. But the tires felt stiffer till I got down the road a couple miles. Really didn't think much of it till I read this. __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Dealing with a flat tire	sjwinfrey	Wheels & Tires	12	02-24-2011 03:40 PM
Temporary Bra Cover Paint Protection	Bodytechz	Detailing / Washing / Waxing / Cosmetic Maintenance and Repair	5	01-20-2011 10:56 PM
Z Spotting	madelf	Mid-Atlantic Region	21	04-16-2010 02:54 PM
flat torque?	vehl	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	14	08-25-2009 03:24 AM
First Flat ... Not even 400 miles in !!!	xRUSTYx	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	9	05-14-2009 09:00 PM