Run-Flat Tire Assembly Requirements

Run-Flat Tire Assembly Requirements

• Warm up cold tires to the minimum mounting temperature.

• This applies also to ultra high performance tires (height- / width ration smaller/same 45% and speed rating symbol larger than/same as V).


The minimum mounting temperature for a tire may not be below 15 °C (59 °F) or above 30 °C (86 °F) in the center of the tire.

• For injury-free mounting, the upper sidewall and the upper bead inside must be minimum 15 °C (59 °F).

• The internal temperature is called the core temperature.

• Rubber is a poor heat conductor. For this reason, a cold tire must exposed to a temperature controlled environment until the inner rubber layers have warmed up to at least 15 °C (59 °F).

• The tire surface temperature during the warm-up phase is not a measure the inside temperature.

• So that the cold tires warm up as quickly as possible, never stack them one on top of the other but rather, store them separated from each other. This way, the warm air can "circulate" around the tires.

• Never us a room heater or a hot air gun to warm up tires because the surface temperature will heat up very quickly to a critical temperature.

• Using warm water or warm air (maximum 50 °C (122 °F)) is the only way to warm up a tire without damaging it!

• If cold tires (below 0 °C (32 °F)) are brought into a warm room (above 0 °C (32 °F)), a layer of ice will start to form on the tires. This layer of ice means that humidity in the warm air is condensing on the tire.

• Once the layer of ice starts to melt, wipe up the water with a cloth. This way the warming up process will not be slowed down.

Warm-Up Time:

• If the tire temperature is minimum 0 °C (32 °F), then put the tire in a room for at least 2 hours where the temperature is not below 19 °C (66 °F).

• If the tire temperature is below 0 °C (32 °F), then put the tire in a room for at least 2.5 hours where the temperature is not below 19 °C (66 °F).

Recommendations:

• If possible, let the tires stand in the workshop for 1 day before mounting them.

• Store the tires as high as possible on an insulated surface, pallet or something similar.

• Position the tires so that they can be "surrounded" by the warm air.

• Wipe off the sweat.

• Never heat the tires with a room heater or a hot air gun!