Flat Spots Caused By Storage Or Handling - Volkswagen 2004 Golf Workshop Manual

If the radial and/or lateral runouts are still not within the specifi‐
cations, check the radial and/or lateral runouts of the wheel:
⇒ page 329 .
If the measured values for radial and lateral runout of the wheel
are within the specified values, the tyre has an impermissibly high
radial or lateral runout. In this case, the tyre must be renewed.
Note
After fitting the tyres there will be fitting lubricant between the
♦
tyres and the rim flanges.
Therefore, severe braking and acceleration manoeuvres must
♦
be avoided for the first 100 or 200 km driven. The tyres may
otherwise rotate on the rims and your work will have been in
vain.
12.11

Flat spots caused by storage or handling

What is a flat spot?
The term flat spot describes a type of wear where one patch or
spot of the tyre has become flat.
Flat spots caused by storage or handling also cause vibration in
the same way as incorrectly balanced wheels do. It is important
that flat spots on the tread are identified as such.
Flat spots caused by storage or handling cannot be balanced and
they can reoccur at any time due to various circumstances. Flat
spots caused by storage or handling can be eliminated without
complicated special tools. Assuming it is not a flat spot caused by
full-on braking ⇒ Wheel and Tyre Guide - Series; Rep. Gr. 44 ;
Rolling noises due to tyres, locked brake flat spots .
Note
Flat spots caused by hard braking cannot be repaired. Such tyres
must be renewed.
Reasons for flat spots caused by storage or handling:
♦ The vehicle has been left standing in one place without being
moved for several weeks.
♦ The tyre inflation pressure is too low.
♦ The vehicle was placed in a paint shop drying booth after being
painted.
♦ The vehicle was parked with warm tyres in a cool garage or
similar for a long period of time. In this case, a standing flat
spot may even occur overnight.
Eliminating flat spots caused by storage or handling
♦ Flat spots caused by storage or handling cannot be eliminated
from the tyre using workshop equipment.
♦ Flat spots caused by storage or handling can be removed only
by running the tyres warm.
♦ The method described below is not recommended in cold and
wintry weather.
Requirements and conditions:
– Check and, if necessary, correct inflation pressures.
Golf 2004 ➤ , Golf Plus 2005 ➤
Running gear, axles, steering - Edition 08.2009
12. Rough running due to wheels/tyres - causes and rectification
331