Tires sticking on Plexiglas display?

It's fairly common. The compounds in the tires react with the plexiglass and will eventually cause the tires to "melt." Some folks get around this by elevating their models on dominoes or water bottle caps. Others use glass or wood in their displays

All my models remain in storage and so are still in original boxes.  I have had this problem with only some NEO models (3% ?) and one Provence Moulage model.  I have placed kitchen paper between the tyres and bases: ugly, but they are packed away.

I have experienced this problem with car, truck, and airplane models. Sometimes on plastic, and sometimes on wood. Different wood stains or coatings can be a factor, and the tire material can be a factor. For my white metal cars, I elevate with one inch wide basswood strips.

Posted by: @moe-parr

Today I moved a couple of my older Brooklin models around. They've been on display in a Pioneer Plastics clear plexiglas display case for about a year. They were "stuck" to the plexiglas and left marks on it when I lifted them, as well as minor damage to the rubber tire "treads" at the contact points.

Is this typical? Something to worry about? Thanks for any info.

John summed it up best but allow me to add two things: I've actually had tires "melt,"  ever so slightly, on painted & unpainted wood. Placing small pieces of wax paper under the tires will USUSALLY prevent tire "melt down." 

(I've tried dustings of flour, baby powder, corn starch, etc., with little success, it just makes things messy.  😩) 

Thanks for the replies, guys. Maybe I can get thin sheets of glass custom cut to fit the plastic shelf and place it between the cars and the plexiglas.

Ever since Dinky Toys started using plastic rims, this has been a problem.

Sometimes, when you take an old model, you can clearly that the rims are eaten or molten by the softener that they used in the tires.

Sometimes it not the case, but for that model they used less softerner and you may feel a harder tire....

Just like John said, raise your model by using a piece of wood or something like that...

@chris 

I experienced this melting problem with a pair of Neo/American Excellence resin models. Both models were screwed to their plastic bases. My 1958 Buick wagon had some melting, but a 1957 Cadillac had much more. On the positive side, there was no problem with the chrome trim staying attached. I later learned for Neo models, you should loosen attaching screws to reduce pressure on tires.

I have some cars on a glass shelf. No problems with sticking to the glass, but for white metal models, you might see flat spots on tires.

@moe-parr A Box of 100+ glass microscope slides can be had for little money (< $10 ) 🤔

Elevating the car up some with wood strips, bottle caps. legos. etc will also prevent any flat tires! 🤔 

I had this happen on a DM 1/24.  The tires just disintegrated from contact with the plexiglass.  Had to replace the tires.  Very weird.

Checked my Carney Plastic and Autoart plexiglass shelves which have had Brooklins and other rubber tired models in them for 10-15 or more years and I see no signs of tire deterioration.   I wonder if the problem could occur in high heat and humidity regions.   

Correct my if I am wrong, but I think the Carney products are polycarbonate. perhaps the vinyl or other tires do not react with that. I remember my old AMT 1/25 models reacting with the wood finish on my book shelves and leaving a tread mark. This is all about chemical interactions, whether with tires themselves or leftover mold release materials on them. I prefer glass - the idea of microscope slides may be a good one, had not heard that before. And as for Neo or other models whose tires adhere over time with their plastic base, after loosening screws, I gently pry the tire loose using the BACK edge of a knife as a lever to pry them apart. In this way I don't have to touch the model itself and the screws will keep it from falling once the knife has done its job.

Posted by: @joop

Ever since Dinky Toys started using plastic rims, this has been a problem.

Sometimes, when you take an old model, you can clearly that the rims are eaten or molten by the softener that they used in the tires.

Sometimes it not the case, but for that model they used less softerner and you may feel a harder tire....

Just like John said, raise your model by using a piece of wood or something like that...

One solution is to replace the plastic tyres with rubber ones.

Posted by: @jkuvakas

It's fairly common. The compounds in the tires react with the plexiglass and will eventually cause the tires to "melt." Some folks get around this by elevating their models on dominoes or water bottle caps. Others use glass or wood in their displays

Plastic tyre melting can happen with glass and if the wood has a lacquer finish. Rubber tyres can develop 'flat spots' over time. Elevation is a time tested solution.