Notes on tire flat spots - AH40.10-P-1030-01A

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 25 other vehicles, including the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C350, 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280, 2007 Mercedes-Benz C230, 2006 Mercedes-Benz C55, and 2006 Mercedes-Benz C350. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Models 124, 129, 140, 163, 168, 169, 170, 171, 202, 203, 208, 210, 215, 219, 220, 240, 461, 463

Paintwork

If paintwork drying is accelerated in a drying booth, flat spots may form on the tires at object temperatures >40°C due to weight, temperature and drying time.

These flat spots are permanent, irreparable deformations on the side of the tire and on the bead reinforcement. This permanent distortion leads to wheel load variations and vibrations which cannot be rectified either by balancing or by rematching the wheels.

In order to prevent tire flat spots, both conventional and special protection vehicles must have "dummy wheels" for painting mounted when brought into the painting/drying facility.

While inflating the standard tires to 4 bar does not provide adequate protection on standard tires, it is not necessary when "dummy wheels" are mounted. Covering the original tires with protective foils and protective plates is likewise inadequate.

Idle time

Tire flat spots which occur due to long idle times >1 month can be reformed again under certain conditions.

For this purpose the vehicle must be driven at >105 km/h over >30 km (the distance increases at low outside temperatures). After this the vibrations produced by the tire flat spots should no longer be perceptible.

The tires should be exchanged if the vibrations persist.

In order to avoid tire flat spots when the vehicle is idle for an extended period, the vehicle should be moved at least once a month by 0.5 up to 1 m (120° wheel rotation).

Increasing the air pressure during the idle time causes a worse reforming capability of the tire flat spots.