Bought a '93 SD with an almost new set of Michelins on it. Put it on the road this week, drove to work to see how the Panzer runs, and the tires are flat-spotted BAD. The car sat on the PO's driveway for over a year.

As these are nice tires I'd like to use them, but not if they're square (like the Canadian ones on South Park).

Will they smooth out or do tires take a permanent set?

Suggestions?

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Depends on the tires themselves. I had a set that would get flat spots just sitting overnight, but after a few miles on the road they were fine. If I were you, I would give them a little time on the road to see what happens. If they don't shape up, then it might be time to do some shopping for new ones, but you have nothing to lose is it doesn't work out. Good luck!!!

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96 E300d

Tires used to get square overnight.... regularly ..... In ' the good ole days'....
They also used to Blow Out regularly.... sure glad that era is mostly over...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I highly doubt they will ever be more than just dangerous. Just wait they will act up in in an uncontrollable fashion.

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92 e300d2.5t
01 e320
05 cdi
85 chev c10

If they are that bad I would just replace them. My 85 300sd had flat spot from sitting when I git it.. they didn't go away so I bought a new set of tires.... honestly its money well spent.

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

Should be OK. Are you sure he didn't roll the car a bit during that year? Some of my 7 vehicles sit for years, but I jack up a bit and put stands under the frame rails. If they do keep thumping, check the DOT date codes (seach web). If >6 yrs old, you might consider changing anyway. I once put 2 used tires on the front, hoping to wait until all were worn to get a full set. Both gave a sidewall blow-out on the highway at 65 mph, a few weeks apart. Scary, shifting sideways 1/2 a lane and fighting the steering wheel. The sidewalls had vertical tears all around. I have always bought new tires since.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

They never moved, the car didn't run.

Rubber not cracked, DOT codes only 2ish years old, good Michelins, hate to give up on them if they'll work it out. Not money I like to spend if I can avoid it, $700 is a nice dinner out, ... including the plane ticket. They don't seem unsafe, just uncomfortable.

OTOH if they are going continue to run with flat spots, W140 suspension parts aren't cheap (active shock absorbers, huh?), I'd rather replace the tires now. I just would like to have a clear indication of whether this will clear up so I can make a decision.

It will be my teenage son's car once it's in shape, needs to be safe.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I'd drive them for a while and see if they smooth out.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My crystal ball.....Can't predict your tires future.....

I would replace them.....Even with a cheapo-60$ a piece tire....

I lost the tread on a tire I "thought" was still good....Well that wasn't fun....The tread also dented in the quarter panel and screwed up the power antenna....

If you have the money, why chance it?

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If the date code is within the past 2-3 years I would try to drive on them for a few days and see if they smooth out.

Another thing you can do is get them off the ground then over inflate say 15 PSI over side wall max pressure then sit them in the sun. They may stretch out a bit. Driving on them getting them until hot, over inflating and keeping them off the ground could work as well.

It had happened to me once, when i let a small pickup truck sit in a garage for 18 months, the Continental tires were NEVER the same after that, no matter what I tried. Was pretty depressing actually, as they still has plenty of tread left, but that thumpity thump thump ride drove me nuts and I ended up changing them out.

Because your tires are still sort of new-ish, is there any chance of getting a local tire dealer to warranty them, even if only partially so?

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2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Turbo Diesel 4x4
1994 GMC S-15 pickup 4.3 5MT
1985 300 SD
1978 300 CD
1962 220-S Fintail - awaiting restoration

I'd either try as 97 suggested and inflate them in the sun, or deflate them about 10 pounds low and drive around carefully to try and heat and massage the flat spot and the sidewall back into shape.

I drove both 190Ds after they had sat for a little bit and got a flat spot on the tires. First was when my sister got her Scion and I had to wait to come up with the money to buy the MB from her, and second was when I put the 84 in mothballs for a couple months to fix the IP o ring oil leak that got very fast, and put a clutch in it.

On both occasions, I felt a very pronounced vibration. I drove the car around at 45 mph and just went all over town, driving aimlessly. After about 20 minutes the vibration all but stopped and another 10 minutes to get home had them back into round like they were before.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

Hmm...Some good information in this thread. Betsie's been sitting at the same spot in the garage for a few months now... Never even occurred to me that might be bad for the tires. I will make sure to push her a few inches back and forth every month or so...

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"The MB W123 is so bulletproof, you can drive them forever. Which is a good thing as it takes that long to get anywhere."
Betsie: 1984 W123 300D (hobby, 280k miles)
Myrla: 2001 Mazda Protege 2.0 ES 5spd (daily driver, 130k miles)
The Turd: 2007 Toyota Camry (wife's car, 118k miles)

I know that the RV guys say not to park on cement for extended periods, "leaches the oils out" or something like that so I parked my coaches on HDPE cutting boards from Sam's Club. At 130psi they didn't seem to go square over the winter. Some guys used wood, some plastic sheeting, ... my method didn't seem to do it any harm.

This one was sitting for a year plus, on cement, not moved an inch, outdoors. If I believe the oils leaching out thing I guess it could be a stiff area as well as distortion/flat, not sure.

Thanks for all of the feedback, I hope that they'll work out the wiggle, but so far no joy.

I can feel it at low speeds, by 65mph it goes away, drove it 50miles today at varying speeds and it didn't seem to change anything. It was cold though, ... not sure how warm the tires get, maybe be sure they're no higher inflation than the filler-flap and try again tomorrow, if it doesn't work out I'll switch to Panzer's summer tires and hope it doesn't snow much (or my Son will learn some fun driving skills).

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff