2021 VOLKSWAGEN T-ROC wheel

Coolant temperature display: the display corresponds to the temperature display on the instrument
cluster ⇒ Coolant temperature display .
Oil temperature display: the display corresponds with the oil temperature display on the instrument
cluster ⇒ Engine oil .
Adapting the display areas to the driving situation
The displayed instruments can be selected according to the driving situation, the ambient conditions
and the offroad conditions:
Sandy terrain: oil, steering angle and coolant temperature display
Inclines: steering angle and coolant temperature display, altimeter
Alpine terrain: steering angle display, altimeter, compass
Offroad driving situations
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the followingsubjects:
⇒ Safety instructions for offroad driving 
⇒ Explanation of some technical terms 
⇒ Checklist  
⇒ General rules and driving tips 
⇒ Useful accessories for offroad driving 
⇒ Changing gear correctly 
⇒ Driving on rough terrain 
⇒ Driving through water 
⇒ Offroad driving in snow 
⇒ Driving on sand and mud 
⇒ Driving on steep terrain 
⇒ Traversing a slope 
⇒ Driving through ditches 
⇒ Stuck vehicle 
⇒ After offroad driving 
You can also drive vehicles with all-wheel drive offroad in addition to on normal roads. It is very
important to read the contents of this section before driving offroad.
The vehicle is not built for expedition-type journeys.

The examples given in this chapter are an aid for safe offroad driving. However, we cannot predict
whether these guidelines will be valid for all situations that could occur.
The many different types of terrain and the associated risks and dangers make it impossible to
describe all possible driving situations. The examples are only general guidelines which are intended
to help you to drive offroad safely. It is crucial that you know what to expect when you drive into
offroad terrain you are unfamiliar with. This will enable you to assess potential dangers in advance.
The driver can use 4MOTION Active Control to activate a variety of vehicle settings in an all-wheel
drive vehicle as required ⇒ Setting a driving profile .
Checklist
Before driving offroad for the first time, take the following steps so you can operate and drive the
vehicle safely offroad:
Observe the basic safety notes Safety instructions for offroad driving.
Familiarise yourself with the vehicle controls.
Check and adjust the seat position Sitting position and fasten the seat belts Seat belts.
Check distance to steering wheel and adjust Steering wheel.
Always wear suitable, well-fitting shoes that provide good grip for your feet when operating the
pedals.
Safety instructions for offroad driving
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 

WARNING
The intelligent vehicle technology cannot overcome the laws of physics, and functions only within
the limits of the system. Despite ABS, instability through locked wheels can occur on adverse terrain
– e.g. if you brake hard when driving on a loose gravel road. The Electronic Stability Control will be
able to stabilise the vehicle only to a limited extent in these circumstances.

WARNING
Driving offroad can be dangerous and could cause accidents, serious injury, damage to the vehicle
and also a vehicle breakdown far from any assistance.
Never select a dangerous route and never take risks that could endanger you and your passengers. If
you cannot drive on or if you are in any doubt about the safety of the route, turn round and choose
another route.
Even terrain that looks harmless can be difficult and dangerous, and could get you and your
passengers into difficulties. We recommend inspecting the terrain on foot beforehand.

You should drive particularly carefully and think ahead when driving offroad. If you drive too fast or
if a driving manoeuvre is unsuccessful, this could result in serious injuries and vehicle damage.
Never drive faster than the current terrain, road conditions, traffic and weather allow.
Never drive too fast over embankments, ramps or slopes. This could cause the vehicle to lose
contact with the ground. If this happens, you will be unable to steer and will lose control of the
vehicle.
If the vehicle does lose contact with the ground, always point the front wheels straight ahead. If the
wheels are not pointing straight ahead when the vehicle lands, it could roll over.
Terrain might look harmless, but there could be hidden dangers. Potholes, hollows, ditches,
precipices, obstacles, shallows, soft and boggy surfaces are often not recognisable as such and can
be covered either fully or partly by water or grass or branches lying on the ground. Inspect terrain on
foot if necessary.

WARNING
Sporty multipurpose vehicles are subject to a considerably higher risk of rolling over than normal
road passenger vehicles ⇒ Explanation of some technical terms .
In the event of an accident, vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are subjected to a considerably
higher risk of fatal injury than those wearing seat belts.
The vehicle has a higher centre of gravity and is more prone to rolling over than a normal passenger
car which is unsuited for offroad driving.
Never drive too fast, especially when driving through bends, or carry out any extreme driving
manoeuvres.
Always adjust your speed and driving style to the terrain.
Luggage and other items transported on the roof of the vehicle raise the centre of gravity and will
make the vehicle more likely to roll over.

WARNING
The terrain might look harmless, but there could be hidden dangers. Potholes, hollows, ditches,
precipices, obstacles, shallows, soft and boggy surfaces are often not recognisable as such and can
be covered either fully or partly by water or grass or branches lying on the ground. Driving offroad
over such terrain could cause accidents, serious injury and also a vehicle breakdown.
Carefully inspect any unknown sections of the terrain on foot before driving through them.
Never choose an unsafe route or take a risk which could endanger you or your passengers. If you are
in any doubt about the safety of the route, turn round and choose another way.
Always adjust your speed and driving to match vehicle load levels and visibility, terrain and weather
conditions.

Checklist
To ensure your own safety and the safety of your passengers, observe the following points before
driving offroad:

Obtain sufficient information before driving into offroad terrain with the vehicle.

Do not plan day stages that are too long. Take increased fuel consumption for offroad driving into
account.

Fill up the tank. Fuel consumption is considerably higher offroad.

Check that your tyres are suitable for the offroad journey you have planned. Recommendation for
difficult offroad terrain: always have offroad tyres fitted to your vehicle.

Check the tyre pressure on all tyres and correct if necessary. This includes the temporary spare
wheel, if present.

Check engine oil level and refill engine oil as necessary. The engine will be supplied with engine oil
when it is driven on or across a slope only if the engine oil level is sufficient.

Completely refill the washer fluid reservoir with water and washer fluid.

Fit the towing eye at the front or rear. It is not always possible to fit the towing eye when the vehicle
is stuck.

Check the vehicle toolkit and add tools according to individual requirements Useful accessories for
offroad driving.

Stow luggage in the vehicle as evenly and as low as possible. Secure all loose items.
Before driving offroad, Volkswagen recommends attending an offroad driving course, particularly if
you have no or very little experience.

Do not slip the clutch or rest your foot on the clutch when driving offroad. When travelling over
uneven ground, you could press the clutch by mistake and lose control of the vehicle. This also
prevents power being transferred between the engine and the gearbox. In addition, driving with the
clutch partially engaged causes premature wear to the clutch lining.
Useful accessories for offroad driving
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 
The checklist contains just a few items of equipment that can be very useful for offroad driving. If
you have an instruction manual or fitting instructions for these accessories, you should always take
them with you and observe them as necessary when driving offroad.
Checklist
Useful items when driving offroad:

Water, compass, maps and torch with spare batteries.

Winch, tow bar or rope with sufficient strength.

Mobile telephone, shovel, blankets and rubber boots.

Electrical air compressor for connection to the 12-volt sockets in the vehicle to inflate the tyres.

A wooden board approx. 4 cm thick and approx. 1 metre long or an aluminium frame of similar size:
this can be used to free a vehicle stuck in the mud and provide a platform for a vehicle jack.

Snow chains, additional spare wheels, a breakdown set, jack and box spanner.
Changing gear correctly
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 
The correct choice of gear depends on the offroad terrain.
Before attempting to drive through difficult terrain it can be helpful to stop and consider which gear
you should select. After several trips offroad, you will learn which gear to select in conjunction with
the step-down ratio and differential locks for different types of terrain.
General rules

With the correct gear selected, the vehicle will normally not have to be braked so much using the
foot brake when driving downhill as the engine braking effect will normally be sufficient.
You should only depress the accelerator as much as is required. If you accelerate too hard, the
wheels could lose traction and you could lose control of the vehicle.
DSG® dual clutch gearbox
Select position D when driving in normal, flat offroad terrain.
Adjust your speed when driving on soft or slippery ground, and select the highest suitable position
for the Tiptronic.
If driving through mud, sand, water or hilly terrain, drive with Tiptronic in the positions 3 or
2⇒ DSG® dual clutch gearbox .
Use the offroad display ⇒ Offroad display .
Driving on rough terrain
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 
Use the offroad driving profile ⇒ Setting a driving profile .
You should drive through rocky terrain at no faster than walking pace.
If you are not able to drive around a rock, drive carefully onto the rock with one front wheel and
drive over it slowly ⇒ .

NOTICE
You should never drive straight over large obstacles, e.g. boulders or tree stumps, or drive over such
obstacles with one side of the vehicle. Obstacles which require more ground clearance than is
available could damage vehicle components when you drive over them and thus cause the vehicle to
break down.
Even obstacles that are smaller than the available ground clearance could come into contact with
the vehicle underbody and thus cause damage which could lead to a vehicle breakdown. This applies
in particular if there is a hollow or soft ground either in front of or behind the obstacle. This also
applies in cases when you drive too quickly over the obstacle causing the vehicle to bounce.

Escaping engine oil and brake fluid can pollute the environment. Spilt service fluids must be
collected and then disposed of properly and in an environmentally responsible way.
Driving through water
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 
Driving through flooded terrain could damage the vehicle ⇒ Checklist before driving offroad .

You can drive the vehicle carefully through water with a depth reaching to the bottom edge of the
body, for example puddles or shallow water. Never stop in the water, do not reverse, and never
switch off the engine.
Observe further information on driving through water on roads ⇒ Driving through water .

WARNING
Flowing water can develop enormous power and sweep the vehicle away. This can lead to very
dangerous situations which can cause accidents and serious or even fatal accidents.
Never stop the vehicle when in water.
Water in the engine compartment can cause the vehicle to break down in the water.
Soft ground surfaces, underwater obstacles and shallows can cause accidents and can cause the
vehicle to breakdown in the water. This could lead to critical situations.

NOTICE
If you drive through water, parts of the vehicle, such as the engine, drive train, running gear and
vehicle electrics, could sustain severe damage.
When driving through water, always select a section where the ground is solid and where the depth
of the water does not exceed the maximum permitted fording depth of the vehicle.
Never drive through salt, salty surfaces or salt water as salt can cause corrosion. Rinse off all
components that have been exposed to salt or salt water immediately with fresh water.
Offroad driving in snow
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 
Fit snow chains to the front wheels only before driving on snow-covered terrain.
Terrain might look harmless, but there could be hidden dangers. This is particularly true of sections
where there are no visible tyre tracks or other tracks.

WARNING
Driving in snow-covered terrain is very dangerous.
Both shallow and deep potholes, hollows, ditches, precipices, frozen surfaces and other obstacles
can be fully or partially covered by snow.
Dangers concealed by snow can cause an accident, serious injuries, or cause the vehicle to break
down in extreme weather conditions.

Always adjust your speed and driving to match vehicle load levels and visibility, terrain and weather
conditions.
Driving on sand and mud
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒Introduction 
Always drive at a steady speed through sand or mud and, do not carry out any manual gear changes
or stop the vehicle.
Check whether ESC is active. The indicator lamp or in the instrument cluster display must not
light up ⇒ Brake support systems .
Keep the vehicle moving constantly.
Use the Offroad driving profile ⇒ Setting a driving profile .
Select a suitable gear and remain in this gear until you have reached more solid ground ⇒ Changing
gear correctly .
If the tyres have lost their grip, turn the steering wheel to and fro quickly. This can briefly give the
tyres on the front wheels better grip for these ground conditions.
Driving through sand
Do not under any circumstances reduce the tyre pressure to drive through sand ⇒ . If the tyre
pressure has been reduced for driving through sand, the correct tyre pressure must always be
restored before driving on. Driving with reduced tyre pressure can lead to a loss of control over the
vehicle and increase the risk of serious and fatal injuries.
Driving through mud
Do not change speed or direction. The tyres can lose their traction when driving through mud. If the
vehicle slides, steer in the direction needed to get the vehicle under control.

WARNING
Driving through mud and sand can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide uncontrollably. This increases
the risk of injury. Always drive carefully through sand and mud.
Never choose an unsafe route or take a risk which could endanger you or your passengers. If you are
in any doubt about the safety of the route, turn round and choose another way.

WARNING
Incorrect tyre pressure can cause severe or even fatal accidents.
Incorrect tyre pressures will increase the levels of wear on the tyres and will negatively affect the
vehicle's handling.