
 
Remove center hubcaps and decorative rim rings before installing 
snow chains ⇒ . However, for safety reasons, caps must be in-
stalled on the wheel bolts. These are available from authorized 
Volkswagen dealers and authorized Volkswagen Service Facilities. 
Compact spare wheel 
For technical reasons, snow chains cannot be used on the compact 
spare 
If you must use snow chains and have a compact spare wheel 
mounted, move the compact spare wheel to the rear axle if a front tire 
has to be replaced. The tire taken off the rear axle can then be used 
to replace the flat front tire. Be sure to install the unidirectional tires so 
that they will run in the proper direction. Volkswagen recommends 
installing the snow chains before mounting the wheel to the vehicle. 
  WARNING 
Using the wrong snow chains or installing snow chains im-
properly can cause accidents and severe personal injuries. 
  Always use the proper snow chains. 
  Follow the installation instructions provided by the snow 
chain manufacturer. 
  Never exceed the permissible speed limit when driving with 
snow chains.  
  NOTICE 
  Remove snow chains when roads are free of snow. Otherwise, 
the chains can damage the tires, impair vehicle handling and can 
be quickly worn down. 
  Snow chains can scratch or damage wheel rims if they have 
direct contact with the rims. Volkswagen recommends using 
coated snow chains. 
Glossary of tire and loading terminology 
 

 
Accessory weight 
The combined weight (in excess of those standard items which may 
be replaced) of automatic transmission, electro-mechanical power 
steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, and 
heater, to the extent that these items are available as factory-installed 
equipment (whether installed or not). 
Aspect ratio 
The ratio of sidewall height to tire width, expressed as a percentage. 
A number of 70 (0.7:1 or 70%) or lower indicates a low-profile tire with 
a shorter sidewall for improved steering response and better overall 
handling on dry pavement. 
Bead 
The part of a tire made of steel wires, wrapped or reinforced by ply 
cords, with the shape and structure to ensure proper fit to the wheel 
rim. 
Bead separation 
A breakdown of the bond between components in the bead. 
Carcass 
The tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber which, when in-
flated, bears the load. 
Chunking 
The breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall. 
Cord 
The strands of material forming the plies in the tire. 
Cord separation 
The parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds. 
Cracking 
Any parting within the tread, sidewall, or inner liner of the tire extend-
ing to cord material. 
Cold tire inflation pressure 
The tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for a tire 
of a specified size that has not been driven for more than a couple of  

 
Normal occupant weight 
Means 150 lbs (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants seated 
in the vehicle up to the total seating capacity of your vehicle. 
Occupant distribution 
The placement of passengers in a vehicle. 
Outer diameter 
The diameter of a new, properly inflated tire. 
Overall width 
Total width measured at the exterior sidewalls of an inflated tire, in-
cluding the additional width of labeling, decorations, or protective 
bands or ribs. 
Passenger car tire 
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger 
vehicles, and trucks, that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) 
of 10,000 pounds or less. 
Ply 
A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords. 
Ply separation 
A parting of rubber compound between adjacent plies. 
Pneumatic tire 
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric, and steel or 
other materials, that, when mounted on an automotive wheel, pro-
vides the traction and contains the gas or fluid that sustains the load. 
Production options weight 
The combined weight of installed regular production options weighing 
over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) more than the standard items they replace, and not 
previously considered as curb weight or accessory weight. These 
include, for example, heavy-duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, 
heavy-duty battery, and special trim. 
Radial ply tires 
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are 
laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.  

 
Recommended inflation pressure 
The tire pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for a tire 
of a specified size that has not been driven for more than a couple of 
miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the 3 hour period before the tire 
pressure is measured or adjusted. 
Reinforced tire 
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pres-
sures than the corresponding standard tire. 
Rim 
The outer edge of a wheel upon which the tire beads are seated. 
Rim diameter 
The nominal diameter of the wheel's tire bead seating surface. If you 
change your wheel size, to wheels of a different diameter, you will 
have to purchase new tires to match the new wheels. 
Rim size 
Designation means rim diameter and width. 
Rim type designation 
The industry or manufacturer's designation for a rim by style or code. 
Rim width 
The nominal distance between wheel rim flanges. 
Section width 
The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflat-
ed tire, excluding elevations due to labeling decoration, or protective 
bands. 
Sidewall 
The portion of a tire between the bead and the tread. 
Sidewall separation 
The parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in the 
sidewall.  

 
was manufactured. The last 4 numbers represent the week and year 
of manufacture. 
For example, the numbers 1709 mean that the tire was produced in 
the 17th week of 2009. Any other numbers are marketing codes used 
by the tire manufacturer. This information is used to help identify af-
fected consumers if a tire defect requires a recall. 
Vehicle capacity weight 
The total rated cargo, luggage and passenger load. Passenger load is 
150 lbs (68 kilograms) times the vehicle's total seating capacity (as 
listed on the label inside the driver door). 
Vehicle maximum load on the tire 
The load on an individual tire that is determined by taking each axle's 
share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight (GAWR) and dividing 
by 2. 
Vehicle normal load on the tire 
The load on an individual tire that is determined by taking each axle's 
share of the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant 
weight (distributed according to the table below) and dividing by 2. 
Wheel size designation 
Wheel rim diameter and width. 
Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for 
various designated seating capacities 
 
Designated seating 
capacity, number of 
occupants  
Vehicle normal load, 
number of occu-
pants  
Occupant distribu-
tion in a normally 
loaded vehicle  
2, 3, or 4   2   2 in front  
5   3   2 in front, 1 in back  
 
Tires and vehicle load limits 
 

 
Treadwear 
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate 
of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified 
government test course. 
For example, a tire graded 150 (Treadwear-value 150) would wear 
one-and-one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a 
tire graded 100. 
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions 
of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due 
to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in 
road characteristics and climate. 
Traction 
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. 
Those grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as 
measured under controlled conditions on specified government test 
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor 
traction performance ⇒ . 
Temperature 
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C representing 
the tire's resistance to the generation of heat, and its ability to dissi-
pate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified in-
door laboratory test wheel. 
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to de-
generate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to 
sudden tire failure. 
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passen-
ger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law 
⇒ . 
  WARNING 
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration, 
cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.