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Driving on unpaved roads for long periods or a sporty driving style can temporarily deactivate the
Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator. In the event of a malfunction, the indicator lamp will flash for 65
seconds and then light up continuously. However, the indicator lamp will go out when the road
conditions or driving style change.
Useful information about wheels and tyres
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Handling wheels and tyres
⇒ Wheel rims and wheel bolts
⇒ Tyre pressure
⇒ Tread depth and wear indicators
⇒ Tyre damage
⇒ Spare wheel or temporary spare wheel
⇒ Tyre lettering and tyre type
⇒ Maximum load and speed range for tyres
⇒ Winter tyres
⇒ Snow chains
The tyres are the most heavily loaded and most underestimated parts of a vehicle. Tyres are very
important as the narrow tyre contact surfaces are the only contact between the vehicle and the
road.
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving style, handling and correct fitting.
WARNING
New tyres or tyres which are old, worn down or damaged cannot provide full vehicle control and
braking efficiency.
injuries.
s must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and
the same tread pattern.
particularly carefully for the first 600 km in order to prevent accidents and serious injury.
the tyre pressure is too low, it is possible that the tyre temperature will increase to such an extent
when driving that the tread peels off and the tyre bursts.
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in this condition can result in blown tyres, accidents and serious injuries. Worn or damaged tyres
must be replaced as soon as possible.
grip.
he vehicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the car
immediately and check the wheels and tyres for damage.
injury, never loosen the bolts on wheel rims with bolted-on rim rings.
damaged, even if the damage is not visible.
ally at high
speeds, and thus cause accidents and serious injuries. Avoid using tyres that are more than six years
old. If you have no alternative, drive slowly and with extra care at all times.
WARNING
If the wheels are incorrectly fastened or if wheel bolts are missing, the wheels could come loose,
leading to a loss of control over the vehicle, causing accidents and serious injuries.
type.
available, tighten the wheel bolts with the wheel wrench and have the torque checked without delay
by the nearest qualified workshop.
Handling wheels and tyres
Fig. 193 Illustration: diagram showing how to swap wheels
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
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Replacing tyres
lace tyres at least on an axle-by-axle basis ⇒ .
type.
-approved tyres.
Re-synchronising the Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator
The Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator must be re-synchronised each time one or more wheels is changed.
This also applies if the wheels have been swapped, e.g. from the front to the rear ⇒ Tyre monitoring
system .
WARNING
Aggressive liquids and other substances can cause visible and invisible damage to the tyres, which
can cause the tyre to burst.
from the tyres.
WARNING
Even if they have not been used, old tyres can suddenly lose pressure or burst, especially at high
speeds, and thus cause accidents and serious injuries.
ith
extra care at all times.
WARNING
New tyres must be run in as they initially have reduced grip and braking efficiency.
km in order to prevent accidents and serious injury.
WARNING
Wheels must have the necessary clearance. If the wheels do not have the necessary clearance, the
tyre could rub on parts of the running gear, vehicle body and the brake lines. This can lead to a fault
in the brake system and to tread separation and thus to a tyre bursting.
and must not rub on any vehicle body parts.
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NOTICE
Avoid heavy impacts and drive round obstacles whenever possible. Tyres can be deformed by
potholes and kerb edges especially. This can cause damage to the tyres and wheel rims.
Old tyres should be disposed of as required by legislation.
Volkswagen-approved tyres are guaranteed to have the dimensions that are suitable for the vehicle.
In the case of other tyres, the tyre seller must provide a certificate from the tyre manufacturer
stating that the tyre is also suitable for the vehicle. This certificate must be stored in a safe place in
the vehicle.
Wheel rims and wheel bolts
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
Wheel rims, tyres and wheel bolts are matched to the vehicle type. If different wheel rims are fitted,
the correct wheel bolts with the correct length and correctly shaped bolt heads must be used.
For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheel rims from other vehicles. This can
also apply to wheel rims of the same vehicle type.
The tightening torque of the wheel bolts must be checked regularly with a properly functioning
torque wrench.
Wheel bolts
The correct wheel bolts must be used for each vehicle type; these bolts must always be tightened
with the correct tightening torque ⇒ Wheel bolts .
Wheel rims with bolted rim rings or trim elements
Rims with bolted-on rings or trim elements consist of several components. These components are
joined together using special bolts. Damaged wheel rims must be replaced and must always be
repaired only by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for
this purpose ⇒ .
Wheel rim identification
In some countries, new wheel rims must contain information on certain properties. The following
information may appear on the wheel rim:
ed (month/year)
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WARNING
The use of unsuitable or damaged wheel rims can impair vehicle safety and cause accidents and
serious injuries.
ave been approved for the vehicle.
WARNING
Incorrect loosening and tightening of the bolts on wheel rims with bolted-on rings can cause
accidents and serious injuries.
on wheel rims with bolted-on rings.
-on rings must be carried out by a qualified workshop. Volkswagen
recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.
Tyre pressure
Fig. 194 Symbols on the tyre pressure sticker.
Fig. 195 On the driver door pillar: tyre pressure sticker (alternatively on the inside of the tank flap).
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First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
Information on the sticker ⇒ Fig. 194 :
Tyre pressure for the tyres on the front axle.
Tyre pressure for the tyres on the rear axle.
Note: check the tyre pressure when the tyres are cold.
Tyre pressure for partial load.
Vehicle-dependent: comfort tyre pressure for partial load.
Tyre pressure for full load.
Tyre pressure level for the spare or temporary spare wheel.
The sticker provides the correct tyre pressure for approved tyres and is located either on the driver
door pillar ⇒ Fig. 195 or inside the tank flap.
The appearance of the sticker may differ between vehicles. It may include additional tyre sizes.
The wrong tyre pressure will have a negative effect on the vehicle handling and leads to high levels
of wear or even a burst tyre ⇒ . The correct tyre pressure is particularly important at high speeds.
Comfort tyre pressure
Depending on the vehicle, the tyre pressure sticker may show details of a comfort tyre pressure
⇒ Fig. 194③ . The comfort tyre pressure allows increased driving comfort. Fuel consumption may
increase when driving with comfort tyre pressure.
Checking the tyre pressure
tyres. Tyre pressure is always higher in warm tyres than it is in cold tyres. For this reason, never
reduce the pressure in warm tyres to adjust the tyre pressure.
⇒ Fig. 194④ .
and observe the
information on the tyre monitoring system.
which is given on the sidewall of the tyre.
WARNING
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Incorrect tyre pressure may cause the tyre to suddenly lose air or burst while the vehicle is in
motion. This can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries.
extent when driving that the tread peels off and the tyre bursts.
tyre bursts and ripping of the tread surface and thus to a loss of control of the vehicle.
tyres will wear prematurely and the car will not handle well.
s pressure when the tyres are warm.
NOTICE
valve stem. This can damage the tyre valve.
iving.
Underinflated tyres will result in increased fuel consumption.
Tread depth and wear indicators
Fig. 196 Tyre tread: wear indicators.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
Tread depth
In most countries, the minimum tread depth required by law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread
grooves next to the tread wear indicators); observe any differing country-specific regulations. The
tyres should have the same tread depth, at the minimum on each axle ⇒ .
Observe any country-specific legal requirements relating to the permissible minimum tread depths
for winter and all-year tyres.
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Tread wear indicators in tyres
The tread wear indicators show if a tyre is worn down. The tyre must be replaced at the latest when
the tread is worn down to the tread wear indicator.
The bottom of the tyre tread has 1.6 mm high tread wear indicators ⇒ Fig. 196 . Markings on the
tyre sidewall indicate the position of the wear indicators ⇒ Fig. 196 .
WARNING
Worn tyres are a safety risk and can lead to a loss of control over the vehicle and cause serious
injuries.
indicators.
roads, which can cause the vehicle to
float along the road surface (aquaplaning).
situations and increase braking distance and the risk of skidding.
Tyre damage
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction
Damage to tyres and wheel rims is often hidden ⇒ .
and wheel rims for damage.
⇒ Changing a wheel or seal the
tyre with the breakdown set and inflate it ⇒ Breakdown set . Seek expert assistance if necessary.
, drive slowly and carefully to the next qualified workshop in order to
have the vehicle checked.
Foreign bodies in the tyre
between the tyre tread blocks can be removed.
⇒ Changing a wheel or seal the tyre with the breakdown set and
inflate it ⇒ Breakdown set . Seek expert assistance for this if necessary.
olkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this
purpose.
Tyre wear
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear.