Let’s talk about something that sounds made-up but definitely isn’t: hot tire pickup.

It’s not a weird dating app. It’s what happens when your car’s tires heat up from driving, roll into your garage, and, hours later, you walk out and see that your floor coating has decided to come up with your tires. Like a peel-and-stick sticker… except this one was supposed to last for years.

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So, What Is Hot Tire Pickup?

When you drive, your tires get hot; like really hot. They expand a little and soften, especially after long drives or during summer heatwaves. When you park in your garage, those sticky, warm tires press down on your floor coating. As they cool, they contract and if the coating wasn’t done right, they take part of your floor with them when you back out.

Basically: hot tires + bad coating = disaster in slow motion.

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Not All Coatings Are Created Equal

After over a decade in this industry, I’ve seen more than a few “bargain” coatings give up the ghost because of hot tire pickup. One guy called us two weeks after his DIY job, furious that his floor looked like it had been attacked by four rubber Velociraptors.

Turns out, he used a box store epoxy kit, the kind that looks like a deal until your floor starts bubbling and peeling like a bad sunburn.

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How We Prevent It

At Stradac, we don’t mess around. We prep properly (that’s half the battle), use industrial-grade materials, and build flooring systems designed to bond tight to each layer and to the concrete. Our coatings are made to handle hot tires, cold weather, spilled oil, dropped tools, and whatever else life (or your teenager) throws at it.

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What You Can Do to Avoid It

• Don’t skimp on prep. No, a quick sweep isn’t enough.

• Let us help chhoose the right product. Not all epoxies or polyaspartics are rated for hot tire resistance.

• Let it cure properly. That “wait 24 hours” advice? We’ll guide you with the real cure times so you don’t wreck your floor before it’s ready.

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Hot tire pickup is one of those things people don’t know about, until it happens. And by then, it’s too late. So, save yourself the heartache (and the expense) and go with the pros who know how to beat it before it starts.

Got questions about coatings that hold up? Reach out. We’re here to help and we’ve got plenty of stories that’ll make you glad you called before your floor peeled up like a sticky note.