Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Flat spots caused by hard braking

Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual / Wheels and Tyres Guide - General Information / Evaluating tyres / Flat spots caused by hard braking

This type of flat spots may be caused by hard braking on a rough surface such as a tarmac road.

During this type of braking manoeuvre only a certain area of the tyre is abraded accordingly and therefore causes an imbalance.

Consequently, a flat spot caused by hard braking results in vibration in the vehicle, deteriorated vehicle handling and increased noise.

In most cases, a wheel with this kind of tyre tends to lock again in the area with the larger contact surface between road and tyre even at lower braking forces and therefore cause even higher vibration.

If the flat spot caused by hard braking is not too significant, the vibrations may stop after the tyre has been worn all-round accordingly.

Caution

“Significant” flat spots caused by hard braking cannot be repaired. Such tyres must be renewed.

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