2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Front

WARNING
Poor visibility increases the risk of collisions and other accidents that cause serious
personal injuries.
x Always make sure all windows are clear of ice, snow and condensation for good visibility
to the front, sides, and rear.
x Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has
reached operating temperature. Wait until you have good visibility before driving off.
x Always make sure you know how to properly use the heating and ventilation systems as
well as the rear window defroster that you will need for good visibility.
x Never use air recirculation for long periods of time. When the air conditioner is off and
recirculation mode is on, condensation can quickly form on the windows and greatly reduce
visibility.
x Always switch off recirculation mode when it is not needed.
WARNING
Stale air causes driver fatigue and reduces driver alertness, which can cause accidents,
collisions and serious personal injury.
x Never switch off the fan for a long period of time and never use air recirculation a long
period of time because no fresh air will enter the passenger compartment.
NOTICE
x If you think the air conditioner is not working properly or may be damaged, switch it off to
help prevent more damage. Have the air conditioner checked by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
x Air conditioner repair requires specialized knowledge and special tools. Volkswagen
recommends that you see an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility.
x Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on. Smoke drawn into the ventilation
system can leave residue on the evaporator and on the dust and pollen active carbon filter,
resulting in permanent odors whenever the air conditioner is switched on.
If the air conditioner is switched off, the fresh outside air will not be dehumidified. To help keep
the windows from fogging over, Volkswagen recommends leaving the air conditioner (compressor)
switched on. Press the AC button. The indicator light in the button must come on.
When it is very hot and humid outside, water condensation can drip from the air conditioner
evaporator and form a puddle under the vehicle. This is normal and does not indicate a leak.
Keep the air intake slots in front of the windshield free of ice, snow and leaves in order to
maintain proper functioning of the heating and ventilation systems.
Maximum heating output and defrosting performance are not possible until the engine has
reached operating temperature.

WARNING
Inadequate experience and knowledge of the demands of off-road driving can lead to critical
situations and cause serious personal injury.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot
go on, or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x The intelligent technology of the vehicle cannot change the laws of physics. Despite the
ABS, adverse terrain can cause instability through blocked wheels – for example, if you brake
hard when driving on a loose gravel road. Difficult terrain may also prevent the ESC from
doing its job.
x Never operate the vehicle at the limit of its performance ability. Always leave a good safety
margin.
x To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise
control when driving off-road.
x Even terrain that looks easy can be difficult and dangerous, putting you and your
passengers in a critical situation. It is often best to check an area out on foot first.
x Drive with special care and think ahead in off-road terrain. If you drive too fast, or fail to
maneuver the vehicle properly, you could cause personal injury and damage the vehicle.
x Never drive faster than is appropriate for the prevailing terrain and the road, traffic, and
weather conditions.
x Never drive too fast across embankments, ramps, or slopes. The vehicle could become
airborne. If that happens, you will not be able to steer and can lose control.
x If your vehicle becomes airborne, always keep the front wheels pointing straight ahead. If
the wheels are not pointing straight ahead when the vehicle lands, it could roll over.
x Never allow people to stand in front of or behind the vehicle if you have put items such as
stones or pieces of wood under the wheels to improve traction on slippery ground. Spinning
wheels can turn these items into dangerous flying objects causing serious personal injury.
x Even areas that look harmless can be dangerous. Potholes, ditches, trenches, drop-offs,
different kinds of obstacles, and soft or swampy ground often cannot be seen and can be
partially or fully covered by water, grass, branches, or other things. Driving over such terrain
can cause accidents and severe injuries. Before crossing an unknown area, carefully explore
the route you plan to take on foot.
WARNING
Never drive off-road if you are low on fuel. Too little fuel in the tank can cause an accident
and serious injuries. You can also run out of fuel in a remote area where getting help is
difficult or impossible.
x When the fuel tank is almost empty, fuel supply to the engine can be interrupted,
especially when driving over bumps, across slopes, and up and down hills. The interruption
in fuel flow could stall the engine during a maneuver in difficult terrain and make you lose
control of the vehicle.
x Steering and braking assistance as well as ESC and related systems will not work if the
engine “sputters” or stalls due to lack of fuel. This can cause loss of vehicle control,
especially in difficult terrain.
x Always refuel when the tank is 1/4 full to reduce the risk of running out of fuel.
NOTICE
If the power sunroof or the windows are open when it rains or snows, the interior of the vehicle
will get wet and the vehicle may be damaged. Always keep the windows and the power sunroof
closed when driving off-road.

be lower on hard, firm surfaces if ideal conditions do not exist. As the driver, you are always
responsible for deciding whether your vehicle is able to handle a particular situation ⇒ .

Term Explanation Technical data
Ground clearance This is the vertical distance between the
level ground and the lowest part on the
vehicle.
maximum 7.6 in ( mm).
Gradient angle The number of feet (meters) in altitude
gained when traveling ft (30.48 m) is
given as a percentage or in degrees ⇒ fig.
A.
Information on the maximum slope the
vehicle can climb unassisted (depends on
road surface and engine power).
Maximum permissible 31 degrees
(corresponds to 60 %).
Lateral angle
(vehicle slope)
The maximum angle the vehicle may be
driven across terrain without the vehicle
rolling over (depends on height of center of
gravity) B.
Maximum permissible
27 degrees.
Breakover angle Maximum permitted angle given in
degrees that a vehicle driven at low speed
can clear a ramp without the underbody of
the vehicle scraping the ramp.
maximum 21.3 degrees.
Approach/departure
angle
Transition from horizontal plane to a slope,
or from a slope to flat ground.
Maximum angle in degrees the vehicle can
be driven at low speed along an
embankment without the bumper or
underbody scraping.
Approach angle for off-road front
end:
maximum 28 degrees.
Departure angle:
maximum 25 degrees.
Fall line This is the vertical drop route.
Articulation Articulation capability of the vehicle while driving on one side over an object.

WARNING
Never exceed the recommended maximum values in the above table. Exceeding these values
will result in serious personal injury and/or damage to your vehicle.
x All values listed above are for ideal conditions and assume firm, even surfaces that are
dry and not slippery.
x Off-road conditions will always be less than ideal. Always reduce the maximum values
listed in the table above to allow an adequate margin of safety between the ideal maximum
value and your vehicle's actual off-road situation.
Useful off-road driving equipment

WARNING
Not wearing safety belts, or wearing them improperly will increase the risk of serious injuries
when driving off-road. Holding the steering wheel improperly will reduce your ability to
control the vehicle and can also increase the risk of injury when driving off-road.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of
serious injury and death during sudden braking or driving maneuvers and in automobile
accidents. For this reason, always wear your safety belt properly and make sure all
passengers wear their safety belts properly as well whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Never wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel rim. When driving off-road, obstacles
in front of the wheels can make the steering wheel jerk suddenly in your hands and cause
personal injury. Rest your thumbs pointing up on the on the surface of the steering wheel at
the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

x Always dry the brakes by braking a couple of times.
x After driving through water, have the vehicle drive train and electrical system thoroughly inspected
for damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
WARNING
Flowing water is very powerful and can sweep your vehicle away. This can lead create an
extremely dangerous situation and cause an accident with serious personal injuries.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot
go on or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x Never stop in the water.
x If water gets into the engine, your vehicle can break down. You will lose control of a
broken down vehicle, and it can be swept away.
x Soft surfaces, mud, underwater obstacles, and holes can cause accidents and can cause
the vehicle to break down in the water. This can lead pose extreme danger.
x Rapidly flowing water can develop strong forces that can pull the vehicle downstream.
This can cause accidents and fatal injuries.
x Drive through water only where the banks and bottom are firm enough and the water is
shallower at all points than the maximum permissible fording depth for your vehicle.
NOTICE
x Vehicle components such as the engine, drive train, suspension or electrical system may
be severely damaged by driving through water.
x Avoid stopping in deep water. This can let water get inside the vehicle.
x On soft ground, the tires dig into the surface. This reduces fording depth. Make sure that
the ground is sufficiently firm.
x Avoid creating a bow wave in front of the vehicle while driving through water. A bow wave
could force its way into the engine air intake duct and seriously damage the engine.
x If you even briefly exceed the maximum fording depth when driving through water, severe
engine damage will result. This engine damage will lead to a vehicle breakdown. This can
disable the vehicle in the water.
x Never drive over salt flats or through salt or salty water. Salt causes vehicle corrosion.
Rinse all parts of the vehicle that were exposed to salt or salt water right away with fresh water.
Driving over snow-covered terrain

WARNING
If the approach/departure angle or the lateral angle of the ditch are too steep for the vehicle,
do not attempt to cross the ditch. The vehicle can fall over on its side, slide sideways, or turn
over.
NOTICE
If you enter at right angles to the ditch, the front wheels will fall into the ditch. The underbody
of the vehicle can get stuck and the vehicle can be damaged or disabled. Getting out of a ditch
without assistance is rarely possible, even with all-wheel drive.
Driving in sand and mud

Rotating tires
To help ensure even wear on all tires, regular tire rotation according to the diagram ⇒ fig. is
recommended. In this way all tires can have about the same service life.
Volkswagen recommends that you have your tires rotated by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Tires more than 6 years old
Tires age even if they are not being used. Physical and chemical processes reduce tire strength and
performance and cause them to harden and become brittle. Old tires can fail suddenly and without
warning.
Volkswagen recommends replacing tires that are 6 years and older. This also applies to tires that look
new (including the tire on the compact spare wheel) or that seem to still be usable with tread depth
that has not yet reached the legal minimum depth ⇒ .
The age of each tire can be determined with the manufacturing date that is part of the U.S. DOT tire
identification number (TIN)
Tire storage
Mark tires before removing them to help make sure that the previous location (left, right, front, rear)
and rolling direction can be maintained when remounting them. Store tires in a cool, dry and preferably
dark place. Do not store tires mounted on wheels standing up.
Tires not mounted on wheels should be covered to help protect them from dirt and stored vertically
(sitting on the tread).
WARNING
Aggressive fluids and materials can cause visible and invisible tire damage that can cause
tire blowouts.
x Always keep chemicals, oils, grease, fuels, braking fluids and other aggressive
substances away from tires.
WARNING
Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly, especially at high speeds,
causing loss of vehicle control, accidents, and severe personal injuries.
x Tires that are more than 6 years old can be used only in an emergency and even then only
with special care and at low speed.
Always dispose of old tires in accordance with legal requirements.
Wheel rims

Tires and wheel rims approved by Volkswagen have been matched precisely to your vehicle model
and contribute considerably to good handling and safe vehicle performance.
Tightening Torque
Wheel bolts must always be installed with the correct tightening torque. The required tightening torque
for your vehicle's wheel bolts is ft lbs ( Nm) for front-wheel drive vehicles and 88 ft lbs ( Nm) for
vehicles with four-wheel drive (4MOTION). After changing a wheel, the bolt torque must be checked
as soon as possible with an accurate torque wrench. See an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.
Wheel rims with bolted rim rings
Wheel rims with bolted rim rings have several parts. The parts are bolted together with special screws
in a special process. This helps to ensure that they will work properly, prevent leaks, run true and
safely. Damaged wheel rims must be replaced, and you must never take them apart or try to repair
them yourself. Have an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility
repair them for you ⇒ .
Wheel rims with bolted decorative covers
Light-alloy wheels may have interchangeable decorative covers attached to the rim with self-locking
screws. If you want to replace damaged wheel covers, contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility ⇒ .
WARNING
Using improper or damaged wheel rims can affect driving safety, cause accidents and severe
personal injuries.
x Use only wheel rims approved for the vehicle.
x Regularly check wheel rims for damage and replace them if necessary.
WARNING
Improper loosening and tightening of the bolts on wheel rims with bolted rim rings can cause
accidents and severe personal injury.
x Never loosen bolted connections on wheel rims with bolted rim rings.
x Have all work on wheel rims with bolted rim rings performed by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.