Tire - Aerosol Inflator/Sealer Flammability Hazard

91mercedes04

REF. NO. MBNA 40/16


IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVISORY

All appropriate personnel should be informed of this potential hazard and a copy of this Service Information should be posted near the changing equipment.

TO: OUR MERCEDES-BENZ PASSENGER CAR DEALERS

DATE: December 1990 REF. NO. MBNA 40/16


SUBJECT: AEROSOL TIRE INFLATOR/SEALER FLAMMABILITY HAZARD


During dismounting of any tire from a wheel rim we recommend, effectively immediately, that you take the following precautions:

^ ALL WHEELS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS IF THEY CONTAIN AN EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE OR EXPLOSIVE GAS USED TO SEAL AND INFLATE THE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR PRODUCT.

^ KEEP SPARKS, FIRE OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCES THAT COULD EXPLODE THE GAS IF PRESENT, AWAY FROM THE DEFLATION/DIS-MOUNTING AREA.

^ INFLATE AND DEFLATE THE TIRE FOUR (4) TIMES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE BEAD.

^ NEVER REPAIR A TIRE OR RIM BEFORE COMPLETELY REMOVING THE TIRE FROM THE RIM. THIS INCLUDES WELDING, USING A TIRE REAMER, RASP, PLUG OR SIMILAR TOOL.

We are providing this advisory based on information from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission which has received reports of more than 6 deaths/serious injuries associated with the explosive ignition of the propellant gas in tires which were being repaired. The injuries have included brain damage, loss of vision, loss of hearing, and broken bones.

The product involved is an aerosol can holding a liquid (latex) sealer and a propellant of pressurized gas (propane/butane). The contents of the can is emptied into a flat tire to temporarily seal/inflate it.





Be aware that millions of cans using flammable gas products are used each year and therefore a safe course of action is to assume any tire/wheel is inflated with a flammable gas. Recently marketed products may have a peel-off warning label (such as the ones depicted below) which consumers are asked to affix to the wheel.

DO NOT RELY ON FINDING A LABEL OR CUSTOMER INFORMATION. TREAT EVERY WHEEL AS IF AN INFLATOR/SEALER WITH A FLAMMABLE GAS WAS USED!