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Volkswagen Golf Mk7 Service & Repair Manual: Flat spots caused by storage or handling

This page defines a flat spot (also called a "flat area" or "flats") on a Volkswagen Golf Mk7 tyre — caused by storage or handling, producing vibration just like an unbalanced wheel.

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 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. This does not apply to flat spots caused by hard braking → Chapter.
  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.
–  Eliminate flat spots caused by storage or handling → Chapter.

    Questions & answers

    Flat spots caused by storage or handling — Volkswagen Golf Mk7

    What are storage flat spots on Golf Mk7 tyres?
    Deformation from the tyre resting on a flat surface for a long time. They produce rhythmic thumping at low speed but usually disappear after driving.
    Evaluating tyres
    ...

    Undulations
    Radial depressions are slight concavities in the tyre sidewall. They run from the bead towards the shoulder of the tyre. These parts appear in ...