Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Determining flat spots on tyres

Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual / Running gear, axles, steering / Wheels, tyres, axle align / Vibration due to wheels/tyres - causes and rectification / Determining flat spots on tyres

What is a flat spot?

The terms flat area and flats are also used for the term flat spot.

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 running surface of the tyre 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. This does not apply to flat spots caused by hard braking.

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 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:

–	If necessary, check tyre pressure and correct.

–	If possible, drive the vehicle onto a motorway.

–	Traffic and road conditions permitting, drive a 20 to 30 kilometre stretch at a speed of 120 to 150 km/h.

WARNING

Do not endanger yourself or other road users during this road test.

Observe the highway code and speed limitations in force when performing the road test.

–	Jack up the vehicle immediately after the trip.

–	Unbolt wheels from vehicle.

–	Balancing wheels on stationary wheel balancer → Chapter.

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