WARNING
Tires must have the required clearance. Tires that do not have enough clearance can rub against parts of the vehicle body, suspension, and brake system, causing brake system failure, tread delamination, and sudden blow outs.
x Always make sure that new tires are not larger than the tires approved for your vehicle and that the new tires do not rub against parts of the vehicle.
NOTICE
x When switching to different tires, make certain the valves and sensors are not damaged.
x Never drive without valve stem caps. The valves and sensors could be damaged.
x If the sensor on the Tire Pressure Monitoring System must be replaced, the valve must be replaced at the same time.
Always dispose of old tires in accordance with legal requirements.
TPMS wheel sensors are classified as Perchlorate Material – Special handling may apply. Obey all legal requirements regarding handling and disposal of these components – see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate. Obey all applicable legal requirements regarding handling and disposal of the vehicle or parts of its restraint system, including airbag modules and safety belts with pretensioners. Authorized Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities are familiar with the requirements, and we recommend that you have them perform this service for you.
If the replacement wheel is different from the tires that you have mounted on your vehicle (for example winter tires or wider, low-profile tires, , or a compact spare), then use the replacement wheel for a short time only, and drive cautiously.
x Replace it with a tire matching the others on your vehicle as soon as possible.
Although tire size specifications can be the same, the actual dimensions may differ from those nominal values for different tire makes, or the tire contours may be significantly different.
Tire inflation pressure
Fig. 113 Location of the tire inflation pressure label.
It takes several hours for the collapsible spare tire to return to its collapsed form after you let the air out of it. Once this has happened, you can put it back in the spare tire well and secure it.
x Let the air out of the tire by unscrewing the valve core.
x Screw the valve core back in once the air has been released.
x Wait several hours before putting the collapsible spare tire back in the spare tire well.
x Once the time is up, open the rear hatch. Lift up the luggage compartment floor panel and hook it to the top of the luggage compartment or remove the reversible luggage compartment floor panel
⇒ Luggage compartment.
x Place the collapsible spare tire in the spare tire well and secure it with the fastening bolt (⇒ fig. 115 (2) or (3)).
x Fit the retainer (1) back into the middle of the collapsible spare tire .
x Unhook the luggage compartment floor panel/replace reversible luggage compartment floor panel.
x Close the rear hatch.
WARNING
Improper use of a collapsible spare tire can cause loss of vehicle control, a crash or other accident, and serious personal injury.
x Never use a collapsible spare tire if it is damaged or worn down to the wear indicators.
x The collapsible spare tire is identified by a sticker and the words “50 mph” or “80 km/h”. This is the maximum permissible speed when driving with this tire.
x Never drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h) with a collapsible spare tire. Avoid full-throttle acceleration, heavy braking, and fast cornering!
x Never drive more than 125 miles (200 km) if a compact spare wheel is installed on the front axle (drive axle).
x Replace the collapsible spare tire with a normal wheel as soon as possible. Collapsible spare tires are designed for brief use only.
x Regularly check U.S. DOT tire identification number (TIN) to determine the age of the
collapsible spare tire ⇒ Tire labeling. Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly, especially at higher speeds.
x Tires that are more than 6 years old can only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at lower speeds.
x The collapsible spare tire must always be secured with the wheel bolts provided by the factory.
x Never drive using more than one collapsible spare tire.
x After installing the collapsible spare tire, the tire pressure must be checked as soon as
possible ⇒ Tire inflation pressure.
x Snow chains cannot be used on the collapsible spare tire. If you need the snow chains, but one of the front tires is flat, you have to mount the collapsible spare tire on the rear axle. The tire taken off the rear axle can then be used to replace the flat front tire. Be sure to maintain the tire's direction of rotation. Install the snow chains on the full-sized road wheel.
If possible, fasten the collapsible spare tire or the wheel you took off the vehicle securely in the luggage compartment. On vehicles equipped with a tire mobility set, the tire you took off the vehicle cannot be secured.