
 
The tires and wheels are essential parts of the vehicle's design. The 
tires and wheels approved by Volkswagen are specially matched to 
the characteristics of the vehicle for good road holding and safe han-
dling when in good condition and properly inflated. 
Avoiding tire damage 
  If you must drive over a curb or other obstacle, drive very slowly 
and as much as possible at a right angle to the curb with the tire tread 
of both front wheels contacting the curb at the same time. 
  Regularly check tires for damage, such as punctures, cuts, tears 
and blisters. 
  Remove embedded material in the tread profile that has not yet 
penetrated the inside of the tire ⇒ Tire wear and damage. 
  Heed all warning messages from the Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem  
  Replace worn or damaged tires immediately ⇒  Tire wear and 
damage. 
  Damage to tires and wheels is often not readily visible. If you notice 
unusual vibration or the vehicle pulls to one side, this may indicate 
that one of the tires is damaged. The tires must be checked immedi-
ately for hidden damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an 
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. See also ⇒ Tire wear and 
damage. 
  Never exceed the load and permissible maximum speed rating of 
the tires ⇒ Tire labeling. 
  Always keep aggressive chemicals including grease, oil, gasoline 
and brake fluid off the tires, including the spare wheel ⇒ . 
  Replace missing valve caps immediately. 
Unidirectional tires 
Unidirectional tires are designed to rotate only in one direction. Unidi-
rectional tires have arrows on the sidewalls that show the direction of 
rotation ⇒ Tire labeling. Unidirectional tires must always be mounted 
according to the specified direction of rotation in order to deliver their 
best grip, braking performance, low road noise, and good wear as 
well as good hydroplaning resistance. 
If you have to mount a tire opposite to its proper direction of rotation, 
you must drive more carefully, since the tire is no longer being used 
as designed. This is particularly important on wet roads. You must  

 
miles (kilometers) at low speeds in the 3 hour period before the tire 
pressure is measured or adjusted. 
Curb weight 
The weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the 
maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, air conditioner, and addi-
tional weight of optional equipment. 
Extra load tire 
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation pres-
sures than the corresponding standard tire. 
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) 
The load-carrying capacity of a single axle system, measured where 
the tire contacts the ground. 
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) 
The maximum loaded weight of the vehicle. 
Groove 
The space between 2 adjacent tread ribs. 
Load rating (code) 
The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation 
pressure. You may not find this information on all tires because it is 
not required by law. 
Maximum load rating 
The load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure for that tire. 
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 
The total of: 
  Curb weight. 
  Accessory weight. 
  Vehicle capacity weight. 
  Production options weight. 
Maximum (permissible) inflation pressure 
The maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated. 
Also called “maximum inflation pressure.”  

 
There are limits to the load any vehicle or any tire can carry. A vehicle 
that is overloaded will not handle well and is more difficult to stop. 
Overloading can damage important parts of the vehicle. Overloading 
can also lead to blowout, sudden loss of pressure or other tire failure 
that can cause loss of control. 
Your safety and the safety of your passengers depends on making 
sure that load limits are not exceeded. Vehicle load includes every-
body and everything in and on the vehicle. These load limits are 
technically referred to as the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 
(GVWR). 
The GVWR includes the weight of the basic vehicle, all factory-
installed and other accessories, a full tank of fuel, oil, coolant and 
other fluids plus maximum load. The maximum load includes the 
number of passengers that the vehicle is intended to carry (seating 
capacity) with an assumed weight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each passen-
ger at a designated seating position and the total weight of any lug-
gage in the vehicle. If you tow a trailer, the weight of the trailer hitch 
and the tongue weight of the loaded trailer must be included as part 
of the vehicle weight. At altitudes above 3000 ft (1000 m), combined 
towing weight (vehicle plus trailer) must be reduced by 10% for every 
3000 ft (1000 m). 
The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum load that 
can be carried at each of the vehicle's 2 axles (by the front or rear 
tires). GVWR and GAWR are listed on the safety compliance label on 
the driver door jamb. Because there is an upper limit to your vehicle's 
total weight (GVWR), the weight of whatever is being carried (includ-
ing the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of the loaded 
trailer) is also limited. More passengers, or passengers who are heav-
ier than the assumed 150 lbs (68 kg), mean that less weight can be 
carried as luggage or other cargo. The tire pressure label on your 
Volkswagen also lists the maximum combined weight of all of the oc-
cupants and luggage or other cargo that the vehicle can carry.  

 
Brake booster 
The brake booster works only when the engine is running. It increas-
es the force on the brakes above and beyond the pressure put on the 
brake pedal by the driver. 
If the brake booster is not working, or if the vehicle has to be towed, 
you will have to push the brake pedal harder to make up for the lack 
of booster assistance and the resulting longer stopping distance ⇒ . 
  WARNING 
New brake pads do not provide maximum braking performance. 
  New brake pads do not have the best stopping power for the 
first 200 miles (320 km) and must be “broken in.” You can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by putting more 
pressure on the brake pedal. 
  Drive with extra care while the new brake pads are being bro-
ken in. This reduces the risk of collisions and serious personal 
injuries due to a loss of control over the vehicle. 
  Never follow other vehicles too closely or put yourself into 
other situations that might require sudden, hard braking, espe-
cially when the brake pads have not been broken in.  
  WARNING 
Overheated brakes will reduce the vehicle's stopping power 
and increase stopping distances considerably. 
  When driving downhill, the brakes have to work especially 
hard and heat up quickly. 
  Before driving downhill, especially on hills that are long or 
steep, always reduce speed and shift into lower gear (manual or 
automatic transmission). This will let the vehicle use engine 
braking and reduce the load on the brakes. Otherwise, the 
brake system could overheat and possibly fail. Only use the 
brakes when you need them to slow the vehicle down more or 
to stop. 
  A damaged front spoiler or a non-standard spoiler can re-
duce airflow to the brakes and make them overheat.   

 
Adjust the tire pressure 
The proper tire pressure helps reduce rolling resistance as well as 
fuel consumption. 
When purchasing new tires, always make sure that the tires are opti-
mized for lower rolling resistance. 
Use low viscosity engine oil 
Fully “synthetic,” low viscosity engine oils that expressly comply with 
Volkswagen oil quality standards reduce fuel consumption. Low vis-
cosity engine oils reduce the frictional resistance on the engine and 
are distributed more evenly and quickly, particularly when cold-
starting the engine. The effect is particularly apparent in vehicles that 
frequently travel short distances. 
Always ensure the right engine oil level is maintained and keep to the 
scheduled service intervals (engine oil changes). 
Make sure the engine oil that you purchase expressly complies with 
Volkswagen oil quality standards and is the oil approved by 
Volkswagen for your vehicle. 
Avoid unnecessary weight 
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical and eco-friendly it will 
be. For example, an extra 220 lbs (100 kg) of weight increases fuel 
consumption by up to 1 pint per 60 miles (0.3 l/100 km). 
Remove all unnecessary items and unnecessary dead weight from 
the vehicle. 
Remove unnecessary aftermarket components 
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the less fuel it will consume. Af-
termarket components such as bicycle racks reduce its aerodynamic 
performance. 
Therefore, remove unnecessary structures and unused rack systems, 
particularly if planning to drive at higher speeds.