After using a portable tow truck for five months here in Florida, I finally got the chance to use it to pull my minivan out of the sand. The front wheel (it's an FWD) sank a few inches in soft sand that was underneath some hard-looking sand. I've made enough room behind each tire to be able to insert the leading edge of each pad to about the middle of the recessed tires. I didn't make support ramps for the platforms, I just laid them on loose sand. I backed the car up, gave it a little more gas, and it rolled forward. The pads have been preserved without damage or stains. I would definitely recommend these pads to anyone parking on the beach here in Volusia County, Florida.