Get Tires and wheels -> Important information on tires and wheels Guide for Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

vehicle, even if the reinstalled or

replacement wheels and tires are

identical to those that were re-

moved and even if the tire pres-

sure does not change.

ing safety and cause accidents

and severe injuries.

· Install only radial tires of the

same make, the same dimensions

(tread circumference), and similar

tread profile on all 4 wheels.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring

System stops working if there

is an ESC/ABS malfunction

→ page 191, Braking assistance sys-

tems.

· New tires tend to be slippery and

must be broken in. Always drive

with special care for the first

350 miles (560 km) to help re-

duce the risk of losing control,

a collision, and serious personal

injuries.

After a low tire pressure warn-

ing, the vehicle must stand

and must not be driven for at least

1 minute before the new benchmark

tire pressures can be stored.

· Check tire inflation pressure reg-

ularly when the tires are cold and

always maintain the prescribed

tire pressure. Low tire pressure

can cause tires to get too hot, re-

sulting in tread separation, sud-

den loss of pressure, and blow-

outs. Tires with excessively low

pressure flex (bend) more, which

can cause the tire to overheat

and fail suddenly without warn-

ing.

Important information on tires

and wheels

Introduction

Volkswagen recommends that all

work on tires and wheels be done by

an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Fa-

cility. They are familiar with the

technical requirements and recom-

mended procedures, have the neces-

sary special tools and spare parts,

and can properly dispose of old tires.

· Check tires regularly for wear and

damage.

· Never drive with worn or dam-

aged tires (for example, tires with

punctures, cuts, cracks, blisters,

or bumps). Driving with worn or

damaged tires can lead to loss of

vehicle control, sudden tire fail-

ure including blowouts and sud-

den deflation, crashes, and seri-

ous personal injuries.

WARNING

New tires or tires that are old, worn

or damaged cannot provide maxi-

mum control and braking perform-

ance.

· Have worn or damaged tires re-

placed immediately.

· Improper care and handling of

tires and wheels can reduce driv-

Important information on tires and wheels

269

· Never exceed the maximum

speed rating or the maximum

load rating of the tires on your

vehicle.

trol, collisions, and serious personal

injuries.

· Never drive with missing or loose

wheel bolts.

· The effectiveness of the driver

assistance systems and the brak-

ing support systems depends on

the tire traction.

· Only use wheel bolts that are de-

signed for your vehicle and for

the wheel being installed.

· Always tighten the wheel bolts to

the correct tightening torque. If

you do not have a torque wrench,

tighten the wheel bolts with a lug

wrench and have the torque

checked as soon as possible by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility.

· If you notice unusual vibration or

if the vehicle pulls to one side

when driving, always stop as

soon as it is safe to do so and

check the wheels and tires for

damage.

· To reduce the risk of losing con-

trol, crashes, and serious personal

injuries, never loosen the bolts on

wheels with bolted rim rings.

For technical reasons it is usu-

ally not possible to use wheel

rims from other vehicles. Even wheel

rims from the same model may not

fit properly. Check with an author-

ized Volkswagen dealer or author-

ized Volkswagen Service Facility if

necessary.

· Never mount used tires on your

vehicle if you are not sure of their

past use. Old, used tires and

wheels may have damage that

cannot be seen that can lead to

sudden tire failure and loss of ve-

hicle control.

· Tires age even if they are not be-

ing used and can fail suddenly,

especially at high speeds, causing

loss of vehicle control, accidents,

and severe personal injuries. Tires

that are more than 6 years old

can be used only in an emergency

and even then only with special

care and at low speed.

WARNING

Improperly tightened or missing

wheel bolts can come loose while

driving, causing loss of vehicle con-

270

Tires and wheels

good road holding and safe handling

when in good condition and properly

inflated.

Tire and wheel handling

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

Avoiding tire damage

and Notice

on page 269.

^—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 con-

tacting 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 pe-

netrated the inside of the tire

→ page 280, Tire wear and dam-

age.

^—Heed all warning messages from

the Tire Pressure Monitoring Sys-

tem (TPMS) → page 260, Tire Pres-

sure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Fig. 175 Tire rotation diagram.

Tires may be the least appreciated

and most abused parts of a motor

vehicle. Tires are very important,

since their small patches of rubber

are the only contact between your

vehicle and the road.

^—Replace worn or damaged tires im-

mediately → page 280, Tire wear

and damage.

Maintaining correct tire pressure,

making sure that your vehicle and its

tires do not have to carry more

weight than they can safely handle,

and regularly inspecting tires for

damage (such as cuts, slashes, irreg-

ular wear, and overall condition) are

the most important things that you

can do to help avoid sudden tire fail-

ure, including tread separation and

blowout.

^—Damage to tires and wheels is of-

ten 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 imme-

diately for hidden damage by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or

an authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility. See also → page 280, Tire

wear and damage.

The tires and wheels are essential

parts of the vehicle's design. The

tires and wheels approved by Volks-

wagen are specially matched to the

characteristics of the vehicle for

Important information on tires and wheels

271

^—Never exceed the load and permis-

sible maximum speed rating of the

tires → page 284, Tire labeling.

^—Always keep aggressive chemicals

including grease, oil, gasoline and

brake fluid off the tires, including

Volkswagen recommends that you

have your tires rotated by an author-

ized Volkswagen dealer or author-

ized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Tires more than 6 years old

Tires age even if they are not being

used. Physical and chemical process-

es reduce tire strength and perform-

ance and cause them to harden and

become brittle. Old tires can fail

suddenly and without warning.

the compact spare wheel →

.

^—Replace missing valve caps imme-

diately.

Unidirectional tires

Unidirectional tires are designed to

rotate only in one direction. Unidir-

ectional tires have arrows on the

sidewalls that show the direction of

rotation → page 284, Tire labeling.

Unidirectional tires must always be

mounted according to the specified

direction of rotation in order to de-

liver their best grip, braking per-

formance, low road noise, and good

wear as well as good hydroplaning

resistance.

Volkswagen recommends replacing

tires that are 6 years and older. This

also applies to tires that look new

(including the tire on the compact

spare wheel) or that seem to still be

usable with tread depth that has not

yet reached the legal minimum

depth →

.

The age of each tire can be deter-

mined with the manufacturing date

that is part of the U.S. DOT tire iden-

tification number (TIN) → page 284,

Tire labeling.

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 impor-

tant on wet roads. You must replace

or remount the tire as soon as possi-

ble in order to restore the correct di-

rection of rotation.

Tire storage

Mark tires before removing them to

help make sure that the previous lo-

cation (left, right, front, rear) and

rolling direction can be maintained

when remounting them. Store tires

in a cool, dry and preferably dark

place. Do not store tires mounted on

wheels standing up.

Rotating tires

To help ensure even wear on all

tires, regular tire rotation according

to the diagram → fig. 175 is recom-

mended. In this way all tires can

have about the same service life.

Tires not mounted on wheels should

be covered to help protect them

from dirt and stored vertically (sit-

ting on the tread).

272

Tires and wheels

Lower profile tires (low aspect ratio

tires)

Always dispose of old tires in

accordance with legal require-

ments.

Lower profile tires have a wider

tread surface, larger rim diameter,

and lower sidewalls than conven-

tional wheel/tire combinations →

Lower profile tires can improve the

vehicle’s handling and precision.

They may, however, result in a less

comfortable ride, for example, on

uneven road surfaces.

Wheel rims and bolts

.

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

The design of the wheel bolts is

matched to the factory-installed

wheels. If different wheels are in-

stalled, wheel bolts with the right

length and bolt head shape must be

used. This helps to ensure that

wheels can be mounted securely and

that the brakes will work correctly

→ page 299, Changing a wheel.

WARNING

Aggressive fluids and materials can

cause visible and invisible tire dam-

age that can cause tire blowouts.

· Always keep chemicals, oils,

grease, fuels, braking fluids and

other aggressive substances

away from tires.

In most cases, you cannot use wheel

bolts from a different vehicle. Even

wheel rims from the same model

may not fit properly.

WARNING

Tires age even if they are not being

used and can fail suddenly, espe-

cially at high speeds, causing loss

of vehicle control, accidents, and

severe personal injuries.

Tires and wheel rims approved by

Volkswagen have been matched pre-

cisely to your vehicle model and

contribute considerably to good

handling and safe vehicle perform-

ance.

· Tires that are more than 6 years

old can be used only in an emer-

gency and even then only with

special care and at low speed.

The wheel bolt tightening torque

must be checked regularly with an

accurate torque wrench.

NOTICE

Tires and rims, especially lower pro-

file tires and their rims, can be se-

verely damaged and even destroyed

by driving through potholes or over

curbs and other obstacles.

Tightening torque

Wheel bolts must always be installed

with the correct tightening torque

→ page 299, Changing a wheel. The

required tightening torque for your

vehicle's wheel bolts is 88 ft-lbs

Important information on tires and wheels

273

(120 Nm). After changing a wheel,

the bolt torque must be checked as

soon as possible with an accurate

torque wrench. See an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility.

· Regularly check wheel rims for

damage and replace them if nec-

essary.

WARNING

Improper loosening and tightening

of the bolts on wheel rims with

bolted rim rings can cause acci-

dents and severe personal injury.

Wheel rims with bolted rim rings

have several parts. The parts are

bolted together with special screws

in a special process. This helps to en-

sure that they will work properly,

prevent leaks, run true and safely.

Damaged wheel rims must be re-

placed, and you must never take

them apart or try to repair them

yourself. Have an authorized Volks-

wagen dealer or an authorized

· Never loosen bolted connections

on wheel rims with bolted rim

rings.

· Have all work on wheel rims with

bolted rim rings performed by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service

Facility.

Volkswagen Service Facility repair

New and replacement

tires

them for you →

.

Wheel rims with bolted decorative

covers

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

Light-alloy wheels may have inter-

changeable decorative covers at-

tached to the rim with self-locking

screws. If you want to replace dam-

aged wheel covers, contact your au-

thorized Volkswagen dealer or an

authorized Volkswagen Service Fa-

and Notice

on page 269.

New tires

^—Drive a vehicle with new tires es-

pecially carefully for the first

350 miles (560 km) because the

tires must first be broken in. Tires

that are not broken in have re-

duced traction and braking per-

cility →

.

WARNING

Using improper or damaged wheel

rims can affect driving safety,

cause accidents and severe person-

al injury.

formance →

.

^—Install only radial tires of the same

make, the same dimensions (tread

circumference), and similar tread

profile on all 4 wheels.

^—The tread depth of new tires can

differ between tire models and

· Use only wheel rims approved for

the vehicle.

274

Tires and wheels

manufacturers because of differ-

ent design features and tread de-

sign.

help reduce the risk of losing

control, a collision, and serious

personal injuries.

WARNING

Replacing tires

^—Tires should be replaced in pairs

and not individually (both front

tires or both rear tires at the same

Tires must have the required clear-

ance. Tires that do not have

enough clearance can rub against

parts of the vehicle body, suspen-

sion, and brake system, causing

brake system failure, tread delami-

nation, and sudden blowouts.

time) →

.

^—Replace tires only with tires that

have the same specifications, in-

cluding width and diameter, load

and top speed rating as the tires

approved by Volkswagen for your

vehicle and model.

^—Never use tires that are larger or

wider than the dimensions of the

tires approved by Volkswagen for

your vehicle and model. Larger

tires could scrape and rub on the

vehicle body or other parts of the

vehicle.

· Always make sure that new tires

are not larger than the tires ap-

proved for your vehicle and that

the new tires do not rub against

parts of the vehicle.

NOTICE

· When switching to different tires,

make certain the valves are not

damaged.

· Never drive without valve stem

caps. The valves could be dam-

aged.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

(TPMS) considerations: The Tire

Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

must be recalibrated whenever you

remove and remount or change any

wheel or tire on the vehicle, even if

the reinstalled or replacement

wheels and tires are identical to

those that were removed and even if

the tire pressure does not change

→ page 260, Tire Pressure Monitor-

ing System (TPMS).

Always dispose of old tires in

accordance with legal require-

ments.

If the replacement wheel is

different from the tires that

you have mounted on your vehicle

— for example, winter tires, wider,

low-profile tires, or a compact spare

— only use the replacement wheel

for a short time and drive cautiously.

WARNING

^—Replace it with a tire matching the

others on your vehicle as soon as

possible.

New tires tend to be slippery and

must be broken in.

· Always drive with special care for

the first 350 miles (560 km) to

Important information on tires and wheels

275

Although tire size specifica-

tions can be the same, the ac-

tual dimensions may differ from

those nominal values for different

tire makes, or the tire contours may

be significantly different.

Tire inflation pressure

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and No-

tice

on page 269.

Fig. 176 On the driver door jamb: Location of the tire inflation pressure label.

The correct tire inflation pressure for warm, the pressure will be higher

the factory-installed tires is listed on than when the tires are cold.

a label. The factory-installed tires

Do not reduce the tire pressure on

may be summer, winter, or all-sea-

warm tires to match the required

son tires. The label → fig. 176 is on

cold tire inflation pressure. The tire

the driver door jamb.

inflation pressure would then be too

Under- or over-inflation significantly low and could cause sudden tire fail-

shortens the service life of your tires

and affects the handling of the vehi-

cle → . The correct tire pressure is

very important, particularly when

the vehicle is driven at higher

speeds. Incorrect tire pressure caus-

es increased wear and even sudden

tire failure and blowouts.

ure and blowout.

Checking tire inflation pressure

Always check the tire pressure only

on “cold” tires when the vehicle has

not been driven more than a couple

of miles (kilometers) at low speed

within the last 3 hours.

^—Check tire inflation pressure regu-

larly and on cold tires. Check all

the tires, including the compact

spare, if any. In colder climates tire

pressure should be checked more

often, but only when the tires are

Therefore, tire pressure should be

checked at least once a month and

always before long trips.

The specified tire inflation pressure

applies to a cold tire. When tires are

276

Tires and wheels

cold. Always use an accurate tire

pressure gauge.

more, which can cause the tire to

overheat and fail suddenly with-

out warning.

^—After adjusting the tire inflation

pressures, make sure to screw the

valve caps back on; replace miss-

ing valve caps immediately. Please

read and heed the information on

resetting the Tire Pressure Moni-

toring System (TPMS), if necessary

→ page 260, Tire Pressure Moni-

toring System (TPMS).

^—Remember that the vehicle manu-

facturer, not the tire manufacturer,

determines the correct tire pres-

sure for the tires on your vehicle.

Never exceed the maximum infla-

tion pressure listed on the tire

sidewall for any reason.

· Excessive speed and/or overload-

ing can cause heat buildup, sud-

den tire failure including a blow-

out and sudden deflation and loss

of control.

· If the tire pressure is too low or

too high, the tires will wear pre-

maturely and the vehicle will not

handle well.

· Regularly check tire inflation

pressure, at least once a month,

and also especially before a long

trip.

· Check the pressure in all 4 tires

when the tires are still cold. Nev-

er reduce air pressure in warm

tires to match cold tire inflation

pressure.

Inflate a spare wheel to the pressure

specified for the vehicle's road

wheels on the tire pressure label; in-

flate a compact spare wheel to the

pressure specified for the compact

spare on the tire pressure label or on

a separate label for the compact

spare, if there is one.

NOTICE

· Make sure not to jam the tire pres-

sure gauge into the valve stem.

Otherwise, you can damage the

tire valves.

WARNING

· Driving without valve caps, with

the wrong valve caps, or with valve

caps that are not properly screwed

on can damage the tire valves. To

help prevent damage, always use

valve stem caps like those original-

ly installed at the factory. The caps

must be screwed on tightly. Do not

use metal valve caps or “comfort”

valve stem caps.

Incorrect tire pressure can cause

a sudden tire failure or blowout,

loss of control, collision, serious

personal injury, and even death.

· Always inflate tires to the recom-

mended and correct cold tire

pressure before driving off.

· Low tire pressure can cause tires

to get too hot, resulting in tread

separation, sudden loss of pres-

sure, and blowouts. Tires with ex-

cessively low pressure flex (bend)

Underinflation increases fuel

consumption.

Important information on tires and wheels

277

When the TPMS warns that

the pressure in at least one

tire is too low, check the tire pres-

sure in all 4 tires with an accurate

tire pressure gauge. Low tire pres-

sure usually cannot be spotted by

looking at the tire. This is especially

true for low-profile tires. When

checking the tire pressures, refer to

→ page 260, Tire Pressure Monitor-

ing System (TPMS).

Tire inflation pressure in cold tires

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and No-

tice

on page 269.

Standard tire pressure

(full load)

Model

Tire size

psi

kPa

bar

195/65 R15 91H

205/55 R16 91H

225/45 R17 91H

225/40 R18 92H XL

225/45 R17 91W

225/45 R17 91H

225/40 R18 92H XL

225/40 R18 92Y XL

32

35

39

220

240

250

270

2.2

2.4

2.5

2.7

Golf

Golf GTI

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System the above figures and the tire pres-

(TPMS) is configured at the factory

with the correct tire inflation pres-

sure applicable for the vehicle mod-

sures listed on the tire inflation

pressure label, the pressures listed

on the label are the ones you should

el, engine and factory-installed tires. use. The listed pressure applies to all

The tire inflation pressure is listed on road tires. The Tire Pressure Moni-

the tire inflation pressure label on

the driver door jamb → fig. 176. The

tire inflation pressures for the road

tires are listed on this label. The in-

flation pressure for the compact

toring System (TPMS) must be recali-

brated whenever you change or ad-

just the cold tire inflation pressures

or remove and remount or change

any wheel or tire on the vehicle,

spare is as specified on the tire pres- even if the reinstalled or replace-

sure label or on a separate label for

the compact spare, if there is one. In

the event of a discrepancy between

ment wheels and tires are identical

to those that were removed and

even if the tire pressure does not

278

Tires and wheels

change → page 260, Tire Pressure

Monitoring System (TPMS).

pattern is worn down to a depth of

3/16 in. (4.8 mm).

Tread depth and tread

wear indicators

The tread depth of new tires can dif-

fer between tire models and manu-

facturers because of the different

design features and tread patterns.

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

Make sure to use snow chains when

required and to install them only on

the approved tire and rim combina-

tions → page 289, Snow chains.

Tread wear indicator (TWI) in the

tire

The 1/16 in. (1.6 mm) high wear in-

dicators are molded into the bottom

of the tread grooves of the original

tires running across the treads

→ fig. 177. Several wear indicators

are evenly spaced around the tire.

Markings on the sides of the tires

(for example “TWI” or symbols)

show the position of the wear indi-

cators.

Fig. 177 Tread pattern: Wear indica-

tor.

Tread depth

Most driving situations require as

much tread depth as possible and

similar tread depth for the tires on

the front and rear wheels. This is es-

pecially true when driving in winter

weather, at low temperatures and

Wear indicators show when the tires

are worn down. The tires must be

replaced no later than when the

tread pattern is worn down to the

wear indicators.

under wet conditions →

.

In most countries the legally permis-

sible minimum tread depth is

1/16 in. (1.6 mm), as measured in

tread grooves next to the wear indi-

cators. Please be sure to obey coun-

try-specific legal requirements.

WARNING

Worn tires are dangerous and can

cause loss of vehicle control includ-

ing serious personal injuries.

Winter tires are no longer suitable

for winter operation once the tread

· Never drive a vehicle when the

tread on any tire is worn down to

Important information on tires and wheels

279

the wear indicators, replace them

sooner.

Objects embedded in the tire

^—If embedded objects have pene-

trated to the inside of the tire, do

not remove them! If objects are

stuck in the tread grooves of the

tire, they can be removed.

· Worn tires do not grip the road

properly, especially on wet roads,

increasing your risk of “hydro-

planing” and loss of control.

^—If necessary, change the damaged

wheel → page 299, Changing

a wheel. If necessary, get profes-

sional assistance to change the

wheel.

· Worn tires reduce the ability of

your vehicle to handle well in

normal and difficult driving situa-

tions and increase braking distan-

ces and the risk of skidding.

^—Check tire pressure and adjust if

necessary.

Tire wear and damage

Tire wear

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

Tire wear depends on several fac-

tors, including:

^—Driving style.

and Notice

on page 269.

^—Unbalanced wheels.

^—Wheel alignment.

Wheel rim and tire damage is often

difficult to see. Unusual vibrations

or pulling to one-side can be an indi-

Driving style – Fast cornering, hard

acceleration and braking increase

tire wear. If you experience in-

creased tire wear under normal driv-

ing conditions, have the vehicle sus-

pension checked by an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility.

cation of tire damage →

.

^—If you suspect tire damage, imme-

diately reduce speed!

^—Check tires and wheel rims for

damage.

^—If a tire is damaged, do not drive

any farther. Change the damaged

wheel → page 299, Changing

a wheel. If necessary, get expert

assistance.

^—If no external damage is visible,

slowly and carefully drive to the

nearest authorized Volkswagen

dealer, authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility, or other qualified

workshop and have the vehicle

checked.

Unbalanced wheels – The wheels on

a new vehicle are balanced. When

driving, however, various conditions

can cause a wheel to become unbal-

anced. Unbalanced wheels can cause

wear to the steering and suspension

systems. Have all wheels rebalanced.

A wheel must always be rebalanced

if a new tire has been mounted.

280

Tires and wheels

Wheel alignment – Incorrect wheel

alignment causes excessive and un-

even tire wear, impairing vehicle

safety. If you notice excessive or un-

even tire wear, have the wheel align-

ment checked by an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility.

Spare wheel or compact

spare wheel

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

WARNING

Unusual vibrations or pulling to one

side can indicate tire damage.

· Reduce speed immediately and

stop when it is safe to do so.

· Check tires and wheel rims for

damage.

· Never drive with a damaged tire

or rim. Get expert assistance in-

stead.

Fig. 178 In the luggage compart-

ment: Handwheel holding the spare

wheel in place (if equipped).

· If no external damage is visible,

slowly and carefully drive to the

nearest authorized Volkswagen

dealer, authorized Volkswagen

Service Facility, or other qualified

workshop and have the vehicle

checked.

Fig. 179 In the luggage compart-

ment: Compact spare wheel (label de-

sign may vary).

Removing the spare wheel or com-

pact spare wheel (if applicable)

^—Open the trunk lid and remove the

variable luggage compartment

Important information on tires and wheels

281

floor → page 215, Variable lug-

gage compartment floor.

^—Pull the securing clip → fig. 178 1

If the replaced wheel does not fit in

the spare wheel well, stow it secure-

ly in the luggage compartment on

top of the luggage compartment

floor.

(if equipped) out and up.

^—Completely unscrew the hand-

wheel 2 in the center of the spare

wheel or compact spare wheel

→ fig. 179 counterclockwise.

^—If applicable, remove the subwoof-

er → page 204, Removing the sub-

woofer.

Differences between the road

wheels and the compact spare

The compact spare wheel is different

in design from the road wheels and

must be used only in the event of

a flat tire, only for a brief time, and

only when driving with extra caution

^—Remove the spare wheel.

→

.

Stowing the replaced wheel

Replace it with a tire matching the

others on your vehicle as soon as

possible.

^—Open the trunk lid and remove the

variable luggage compartment

floor → page 215, Variable lug-

gage compartment floor.

^—If the wheel you took off the vehi-

cle fits in the spare wheel well, po-

sition it so that the center hole of

the rim is aligned with the thread-

ed pin in the center of the well.

^—Turn the handwheel → fig. 178 2

clockwise until the wheel is se-

curely in place.

^—Insert the securing clip 1 (if

equipped) in the stud slot so that

the handwheel can no longer be

turned.

Please heed the following:

^—Do not drive faster than 50 mph

(80 km/h)!

^—Avoid full-throttle acceleration,

hard braking, and fast cornering!

^—Do not use snow chains on the

compact spare wheel → page 289,

Snow chains.

^—After installing the spare wheel or

compact spare wheel, check the

tire pressure as soon as possible

→ page 276, Tire inflation pres-

sure.

Check the tire inflation pressure of

the spare or compact spare whenev-

er you check the tire pressure of the

road wheels, at least once a month.

Inflate a spare wheel to the cold tire

pressure specified for the vehicle's

road wheels on the tire pressure la-

bel; inflate a compact spare wheel

to the cold tire pressure specified for

^—If necessary, return the vehicle tool

kit to its location in the luggage

compartment.

^—Reinstall the variable luggage

compartment floor in the luggage

compartment.

^—Close the trunk lid.

282

Tires and wheels

the compact spare on the tire pres-

sure label or on a separate label for

the compact spare, if there is one.

Tire labeling. Tires age even if

they are not being used and can

fail suddenly, especially at higher

speeds.

WARNING

· Tires that are more than 6 years

old can only be used in an emer-

gency and then with special care

and at lower speeds.

Improper use of a spare wheel or

a compact spare wheel can cause

loss of vehicle control, a crash or

other accident, and serious person-

al injury.

· The compact spare wheel must

always be secured with the wheel

bolts provided by the factory.

· Never use a spare wheel or com-

pact spare wheel if it is damaged

or worn down to the wear indica-

tors.

· Never drive using more than one

compact spare wheel.

· After installing the compact

spare wheel, the tire pressure

must be checked as soon as pos-

sible → page 276, Tire inflation

pressure.

· In some vehicles, the spare wheel

or compact spare wheel is small-

er than the original tire. A smaller

compact spare wheel is identified

with a sticker and the words

· Snow chains cannot be used on

the compact spare wheel. 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

you do not change the tire's di-

rection of rotation. Install the

snow chains on the full-sized

road tire.

“50 mph” or “80 km/h”. This is

the maximum permissible speed

when driving with this tire.

· Never drive faster than 50 mph

(80 km/h) with a compact spare

wheel. Avoid full-throttle acceler-

ation, heavy braking, and fast

cornering!

· Never drive more than 125 miles

(200 km) if a compact spare

wheel is installed.

· Replace the compact spare with

a normal wheel and tire as soon

as possible. Compact spare

wheels are designed for brief use

only.

NOTICE

When the spare wheel or compact

spare wheel is being used, the TPMS

indicator light can light up after sev-

eral minutes → page 260, Tire Pres-

sure Monitoring System (TPMS).

· Regularly check the U.S. DOT Tire

Identification Number (TIN) to

determine the age of the com-

pact spare wheel → page 284,

Important information on tires and wheels

283

If possible, attach the spare

wheel, the compact spare

vehicle securely in the luggage com-

partment.

wheel, or the wheel you took off the

Tire labeling

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and No-

tice

on page 269.

Fig. 180 International tire labeling.

Knowing about tire specifications

specifications marked on the side-

makes it easier to choose the correct wall.

replacement tires. Radial tires have

Tire labeling (example)

Meaning

Brand, Logo

Manufacturer

Tire name

Individual tire designation of the manufacturer.

284

Tires and wheels

Tire labeling (example)

Meaning

Dimensions:

P

Tire application: Passenger car

Nominal sidewall-to-sidewall width of tire

in millimeters.

255

P255 / 55 R 18

55 Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)

Tire belt design letter code for radial.

R

18 Rim diameter (in inches)

Load rating code → page 286 and speed rating

code → page 287.

109 H

XL

Indicates “reinforced” tire (heavy-duty)

Indicates Mud and Snow capability (also M/S)

→ page 287.

M+S or M/S

RADIAL TUBELESS

E4 ...

Tubeless radial tire.

Labeling according to international regulations (E)

including number of the approving country. The

multi-digit approval number is listed next.

Tire identification number (TIN) ^a)– In some cases

the manufacturing date is only on one side of the

tire:

The tire complies with the requirements of

the United States Department of Transpor-

tation, responsible for issuing safety stand-

DOT

ards.

DOT BT RA TY5 1709

Identification letter of the manufacturing

site.

BT

Manufacturer information regarding tire di-

mensions.

RA

Tire characteristics provided by the manu-

facturer.

TY5

1709 Manufacturing date: 17th week in 2009.

Marks the position of the treadwear indicator

→ page 279.

TWI

Made in Germany

MAX LOAD 615 KG

(1356 LBS)

Country of manufacture.

United States maximum load rating per wheel.

MAX INFLATION 350 KPA United States maximum permissible inflation

(51 PSI)

pressure.

ROTATION

Rotation direction (unidirectional tires)

Important information on tires and wheels

285

Tire labeling (example)

Meaning

Tire ply composition and materials used:

1 layer of rayon.

SIDEWALL 1 PLY RAYON

Tire tread composition and materials used:

In this example there are 4 layers under the tread:

1 layer of rayon, 2 layers of steel belt and 1 layer

of nylon.

TREAD 4 PLIES

1 RAYON + 2 STEEL

+ 1 NYLON

Consumer information regarding comparison to specified base tires (stand-

ardized test procedure) → page 297 , →

:

Relative service life expectancy of the tire refer-

enced to a U.S.-specific standard test.

Traction rating under wet conditions (AA, A, B or

C).

TREADWEAR 220

TRACTION A

Temperature stability of the tire at increased test

bench speeds (A, B or C).

TEMPERATURE A

Additional numbers found on the tire could either be tire manufacturer in-

ternal labels or country-specific labels (such as for Brazil and China).

a

)

TIN represents the serial number of the tire.

Unidirectional tires

ble in order to restore the correct di-

rection of rotation.

Unidirectional tires are designed to

rotate only in one direction. Unidir-

ectional tires have arrows on the

sidewalls that show the direction of

rotation. Make sure you mount the

tire so that it rotates in the proper

direction. The tire's performance

with regard to hydroplaning, trac-

tion, noise, and wear is worse if it is

not mounted in the proper direction

of rotation.

Load rating code

The load index indicates the maxi-

mum permissible load per individual

tire in pounds (kilograms).

91

92

93

95

97

98

99

100

101

102

103

104

1356 lbs (615 kg)

1388 lbs (630 kg)

1433 lbs (650 kg)

1521 lbs (690 kg)

1609 lbs (730 kg)

1653 lbs (750 kg)

1709 lbs (775 kg)

1763 lbs (800 kg)

1819 lbs (825 kg)

1874 lbs (850 kg)

1929 lbs (875 kg)

1984 lbs (900 kg)

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 impor-

tant on wet roads. You must replace

or remount the tire as soon as possi-

286

Tires and wheels

110

2337 lbs (1060 kg)

· Always use tires, wheels and

wheel bolts that meet the speci-

fications of the original factory-

installed tires or other combina-

tions that have been specifically

approved by the vehicle manu-

facturer.

Speed rating code letter

The speed rating code letter indi-

cates the maximum permissible road

speed of the tires.

P

up to 93 mph (150 km/h)

up to 99 mph (160 km/h)

up to 106 mph (170 km/h)

up to 112 mph (180 km/h)

up to 118 mph (190 km/h)

up to 124 mph (200 km/h)

up to 130 mph (210 km/h)

up to 149 mph (240 km/h)

up to 168 mph (270 km/h)

up to 186 mph (300 km/h)

over 149 mph (over 240 km/h)

Q

R

S

· All 4 wheels must be fitted with

radial tires of the same type, the

same size (tread circumference),

and the same tread pattern. Driv-

ing with different tires reduces

vehicle handling and can lead to

a loss of control.

T

U

H

V

W

Y

· Never drive faster than the maxi-

mum speed for which the tires

installed on your vehicle are rated

because tires that are driven fast-

er than their rated speed can fail

suddenly.

Z

Some tire manufacturers label tires

with a maximum permissible road

speed above 149 mph (240 km/h)

with the letter combination “ZR.”

· Overloading tires can cause heat

build-up, sudden tire failure, in-

cluding a blowout and sudden

deflation and loss of control.

WARNING

Using incorrect or unmatched tires

and/or wheels or improper tire and

wheel combinations can lead to

loss of control, collision and serious

personal injury.

· Temperature grades apply to tires

that are properly inflated and not

over- or underinflated.

icantly when driving under wintry

road conditions. Summer tires have

less traction on snow and ice be-

cause of their design (width, rubber

composition, tread design). Volkswa-

gen strongly recommends that you

always have winter tires or all-sea-

son tires installed on all 4 wheels on

Winter tires

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

Winter tires improve the handling

characteristics of your vehicle signif-

Important information on tires and wheels

287

your vehicle, especially when winter

changed in the Vehicle settings menu in

road conditions are expected. Winter the Infotainment system → page 26,

tires also improve the vehicle's brak-

ing performance and help reduce

stopping distances during winter

weather. Volkswagen recommends

installing winter tires once tempera-

tures are below +45 °F (+7 °C).

Infotainment system operation and

displays.

Top speed rating and tire inflation

pressure for V winter tires depend

on the engine installed in your vehi-

cle. Be sure to ask your authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility about

the maximum permissible speed and

the required tire inflation pressure

for the winter tires that you plan to

use.

Winter tires are no longer suitable

for winter driving once the tread

pattern is worn down to a depth of

3/16 in (4.8 mm). In addition, winter

tire performance decreases with age

– independent of the tread profile

depth.

All-wheel drive (4MOTION)

When using winter tires:

^—Obey state and country-specific le-

gal requirements.

^—Install winter tires on all 4 wheels.

^—Use winter tires only under wintry

road conditions.

^—Only use winter tires with dimen-

sions approved for the vehicle.

^—Use only winter tires of the same

tire belt design, the same dimen-

sions (tread circumference), and

the same tread design.

Vehicles with all-wheel drive and

standard road wheels have good for-

ward motion and traction even un-

der wintry road conditions. However,

Volkswagen recommends installing

winter tires or all season tires on all

4 wheels to improve handling as well

as braking performance.

If you use snow chains, please read

and heed information and directions

→ page 289, Snow chains.

WARNING

Driving faster than the maximum

speed for which the winter tires on

your vehicle were designed can

cause sudden tire failure including

a blowout and sudden deflation,

loss of control, crashes and serious

personal injuries.

^—Follow speed restrictions accord-

ing to the winter tire's speed rat-

ing code letter →

.

Speed restrictions

Winter tires are certified up to a top

speed identified by speed rating

code letters on the sidewall

· Winter tires have a maximum

speed rating that may be lower

than your vehicle's maximum

speed.

→ page 284, Tire labeling.

In appropriately equipped vehicles,

the speed warning can be set and

288

Tires and wheels

· Never drive faster than the maxi-

mum speed for which the winter

tires installed on your vehicle are

rated because tires that are driv-

en faster than their rated speed

can fail suddenly.

Snow chains

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

Obey local regulations as well as the

applicable speed limits when driving

with snow chains.

· Never exceed the maximum load

rating for the winter tires instal-

led on your vehicle.

Snow chains improve forward mo-

tion, traction and braking character-

istics under wintry conditions.

Install summer tires promptly

in the spring. Summer tires of-

fer better handling characteristics

for temperatures above +45 °F

(+7 °C). They are quieter, do not

wear as quickly, and can help reduce

fuel consumption.

Snow chains may be used only on

the front wheels and only in tire and

wheel combinations that have been

approved by Volkswagen. This ap-

plies even to all-wheel drive vehicles

(4MOTION).

The Tire Pressure Monitoring

System must be recalibrated

Please contact your authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility about

appropriate wheel, tire and snow

chain dimensions.

whenever you remove and remount

or change any wheel or tire on the

vehicle, even if the reinstalled or re-

placement wheels and tires are iden-

tical to those that were removed and

even if the tire pressure does not

change → page 265, Recalibrating

the Tire Pressure Monitoring System

(TPMS).

If possible, use only chains with low

profile links that are not thicker than

37/64 in. (15 mm) including the ten-

sioner.

Remove center hubcaps and decora-

tive rim rings before installing snow

chains → . However, for safety

reasons, caps must be installed on

the wheel bolts. These are available

from authorized Volkswagen dealers

and authorized Volkswagen Service

Facilities.

If necessary, ask your author-

ized Volkswagen dealer or au-

thorized Volkswagen Service Facility

about permissible winter tire dimen-

sions.

Compact spare wheel

For technical reasons, snow chains

cannot be used on the compact

Important information on tires and wheels

289

spare wheel → page 281, Spare

wheel or compact spare wheel.

· Follow the installation instruc-

tions provided by the snow chain

manufacturer.

If you must use snow chains and

have a compact spare wheel mount-

ed, 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.

· 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, im-

pair vehicle handling and can be

quickly worn down.

· Snow chains can scratch or dam-

age wheel rims if they have direct

contact with the rims. Volkswagen

recommends using coated snow

chains.

WARNING

Using the wrong snow chains or in-

stalling snow chains improperly can

cause accidents and severe person-

al injuries.

· Always use the proper snow

chains.

Glossary of tire and loading terminology

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and No-

tice

on page 269.

Accessory weight

Aspect ratio

The combined weight (in excess of

those standard items which may be

replaced) of automatic or DSG trans-

mission, electro-mechanical power

steering, power brakes, power win-

dows, power seats, radio, and heat-

The ratio of sidewall height to tire

width, expressed as a percentage.

A number of 50 (0.5:1 or 50%)

means that the cross-sectional

height is 50% of the tread width.

A shorter sidewall can improve

er, to the extent that these items are steering response and provide better

available as factory-installed equip-

ment (whether installed or not).

overall handling, for example, on dry

pavement.

290

Tires and wheels

Bead

Curb weight

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.

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.

Bead separation

Extra load tire

A breakdown of the bond between

components in the bead.

A tire designed to operate at higher

loads and at higher inflation pres-

sures than the corresponding stand-

ard tire.

Carcass

The tire structure, except tread and

sidewall rubber which, when inflat-

ed, bears the load.

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)

The load-carrying capacity of a sin-

gle axle system, measured where the

tire contacts the ground.

Chunking

The breaking away of pieces of the

tread or sidewall.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

The maximum loaded weight of the

vehicle.

Cord

The strands of material forming the

plies in the tire.

Groove

The space between 2 adjacent tread

ribs.

Cord separation

The parting of cords from adjacent

rubber compounds.

Load rating (code)

The maximum load that a tire is rat-

ed to carry for a given inflation pres-

sure. You may not find this informa-

tion on all tires because it is not re-

quired by law.

Cracking

Any parting within the tread, side-

wall, or inner liner of the tire extend-

ing to cord material.

Cold tire inflation pressure

Maximum load rating

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.

The load rating for a tire at the maxi-

mum permissible inflation pressure

for that tire.

Maximum loaded vehicle weight

The total of:

^—Curb weight.

^—Accessory weight.

Important information on tires and wheels

291

^—Vehicle capacity weight.

Ply separation

^—Production options weight.

A parting of rubber compound be-

tween adjacent plies.

Maximum (permissible) inflation

pressure

Pneumatic tire

A mechanical device made of rubber,

chemicals, fabric, and steel or other

materials, that, when mounted on an

automotive wheel, provides the trac-

tion and contains the gas or fluid

that sustains the load.

The maximum cold inflation pres-

sure to which a tire may be inflated.

Also called “maximum inflation pres-

sure.”

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.

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 bat-

tery, and special trim.

Occupant distribution

The placement of passengers in

a vehicle.

Outer diameter

The diameter of a new, properly in-

flated tire.

Radial ply tires

Overall width

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.

Total width measured at the exterior

sidewalls of an inflated tire, includ-

ing the additional width of labeling,

decorations, or protective bands or

ribs.

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.

Passenger car tire

A tire intended for use on passenger

cars, multipurpose passenger vehi-

cles, and trucks, that have a gross

vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of

10,000 pounds or less.

Ply

Reinforced tire

A tire designed to operate at higher

loads and at higher inflation pres-

A layer of rubber-coated parallel

cords.

292

Tires and wheels

sures than the corresponding stand-

ard tire.

Speed rating (letter code)

A standardized letter code indicating

the maximum speed at which a tire

is designed to be driven for extend-

ed periods of time. The ratings range

from 93 mph (150 km/h) “P” to

186 mph (300 km/h) “Y”.

Rim

The outer edge of a wheel upon

which the tire beads are seated.

Rim diameter

The speed rating letter code, where

applicable, is molded on the tire

sidewall → page 284, Tire labeling.

You may not find this information on

all tires because it is not required by

law.

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.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Rim size

A system that detects when at least

one of a vehicle's tires is underinflat-

ed and illuminates a low tire-pres-

sure warning light.

Designation means rim diameter and

width.

Rim type designation

The industry or manufacturer's des-

ignation for a rim by style or code.

Tread

The portion of a tire that normally

touches the road.

Rim width

The nominal distance between

wheel rim flanges.

Tread rib

A tread section running circumferen-

tially around a tire.

Section width

The linear distance between the ex-

teriors of the sidewalls of an inflated

tire, excluding elevations due to la-

beling decoration, or protective

bands.

Tread separation

Tire failure caused by the tread pull-

ing away from the tire carcass.

Tread wear indicators (TWI)

Sidewall

The portion of a tire between the

bead and the tread.

Raised areas within the main tread

grooves that show, visually, when

tires are worn and near the end of

their useful life → page 279, Tread

depth and tread wear indicators.

Sidewall separation

The parting of the rubber compound

from the cord material in the side-

wall.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)

A tire information system developed

by the U.S. National Highway Traffic

Important information on tires and wheels

293

Safety Administration (NHTSA) that

is designed to help buyers compare

other numbers are marketing codes

used by the tire manufacturer. This

tires. UTQG is not a safety rating, nor information is used to help identify

is it a guarantee that a tire will last

for a certain number of miles or per-

form a certain way. It gives tire buy-

ers more information to compare

with factors such as price, brand loy-

alty and dealer recommendations.

Under UTQG, tires are graded by the

tire manufacturers in 3 areas: tread

wear, traction and temperature re-

sistance. UTQG information is mold-

ed into the tire sidewalls.

affected 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 ve-

hicle's total seating capacity (as list-

ed 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 vehi-

cle weight (GAWR) and dividing by 2.

U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number

(TIN)

A tire's serial number. It begins with

the letters “DOT” (“Department of

Transportation”) and indicates that

the tire meets all federal standards.

The next 2 numbers or letters indi-

cate the plant where the tire was

manufactured. The last 4 numbers

represent the week and year of

manufacture.

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.

For example, the numbers

1709 mean that the tire was pro-

duced in the 17th week of 2009. Any

Wheel size designation

Wheel rim diameter and width.

Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for various desig-

nated seating capacities

Designated seating ca- Vehicle normal load,

pacity, number of occu- number of occupants

pants

Occupant distribution in

a normally loaded vehi-

cle

2, 3, or 4

5

2

3

2 in front

2 in front, 1 in back

294

Tires and wheels

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 what-

ever is being carried is also limited.

More passengers, or passengers who

are heavier than the assumed

Tires and vehicle load lim-

its

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

There are limits to the load any vehi-

cle 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.

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 occupants and luggage or other

cargo that the vehicle can carry.

WARNING

Your safety and the safety of your

passengers depends on making sure

that load limits are not exceeded.

Vehicle load includes everybody and

everything in and on the vehicle.

These load limits are technically re-

ferred to as the vehicle's Gross Vehi-

cle Weight Rating (GVWR).

Overloading a vehicle can cause

loss of vehicle control, a crash or

other accident, serious personal in-

jury, and even death.

· Carrying more weight than your

vehicle was designed to carry will

prevent the vehicle from handling

properly and increase the risk of

the loss of vehicle control.

The GVWR includes the weight of

the basic vehicle, all factory-instal-

led and other accessories, a full tank

of fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids

plus maximum load. The maximum

load includes the number of passen-

gers that the vehicle is intended to

carry (seating capacity) with an as-

sumed weight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for

each passenger at a designated

seating position and the total weight

of any luggage in the vehicle.

· The brakes on a vehicle that has

been overloaded may not be able

to stop the vehicle in a safe dis-

tance.

· Tires on a vehicle that has been

overloaded can fail suddenly, in-

cluding a blowout and sudden

deflation, causing loss of control

and a crash.

· Always make sure that the total

load being transported does not

make the vehicle heavier than the

vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating.

The Gross Axle Weight Rating

(GAWR) is the maximum load that

can be carried at each of the vehi-

cle's 2 axles (by the front or rear

Important information on tires and wheels

295

Determining the correct load limit

Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and No-

tice

on page 269.

Never overload tires. The following

example illustrates how to deter-

mine the combined weight of all ve-

hicle occupants and luggage or other

vehicle payloads. Never overload the

vehicle!

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit:

Locate the statement “THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND

1.

CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX LBS” on your vehicle's

placard (tire inflation pressure label) → page 276.

Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will

be riding in your vehicle.

Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from

XXX kg or XXX lbs.

2.

3.

The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage

load capacity.

4.

For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be

five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo

and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)

Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on

the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and

luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.

If your vehicle is capable of towing a trailer: The load from your trailer

will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine

how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your

vehicle.

5.

6.

Check the tire sidewall to determine the load index specified for the

tire.

296

Tires and wheels

Traction

UTQG classification

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

Please read the introductory in-

formation and heed the Warnings

and Notice

on page 269.

Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):

Quality grades can be found where

applicable on the tire sidewall be-

tween the tread shoulder and maxi-

mum section width. Example:

marked C may have poor traction

performance →

.

Temperature

^—Treadwear (number)

^—Traction: AA, A, B or C

^—Temperature: A, B or C

The temperature grades are A (the

highest), B, and C representing the

tire's resistance to the generation of

heat, and its ability to dissipate heat

when tested under controlled condi-

tions on a specified indoor laborato-

ry test wheel.

For example: Treadwear 200, Trac-

tion AA, Temperature A.

All passenger car tires must conform

to Federal Safety Requirements in

addition to these grades.

Sustained high temperature can

cause the material of the tire to de-

generate and reduce tire life, and ex-

cessive temperature can lead to sud-

den tire failure.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a compara-

tive rating based on the wear rate of

the tire when tested under control-

led conditions on a specified govern-

ment test course.

The grade C corresponds to a level of

performance which all passenger car

tires must meet under the Federal

Motor Vehicle Safety Standard

No. 109. Grades B and A represent

higher levels of performance on the

laboratory test wheel than the mini-

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.

mum required by law →

.

The relative performance of tires de-

pends 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.

WARNING

The traction grade assigned to this

tire is based on straight-ahead

braking traction tests, and does not

include acceleration, cornering, hy-

droplaning or peak traction charac-

teristics.

Important information on tires and wheels

297

WARNING

Hubcaps

The temperature grade for this tire

is established for a tire that is prop-

erly inflated and not overloaded.

Excessive speed, underinflation or

excessive loading, either separately

or in combination, can cause heat

buildup and possible tire failure.

Please read the introductory information and

heed the Warnings and Notice

298.

and on page

Wheel trim

Introduction

WARNING

Unsuitable wheel covers and improper installation

of wheel covers can cause accidents and severe in-

juries.

Fig. 181 Pulling the hubcap off.

Improperly installed wheel covers can come

loose while driving and endanger other moto-

rists and cyclists.

·

Do not use damaged wheel covers.

·

Always make sure that the flow of air for brake

system cooling is not blocked or reduced before

installing wheel covers. This applies to both fac-

tory-installed wheel covers and aftermarket

wheel covers. Insufficient air supply may signifi-

cantly increase stopping distance.

NOTICE

To help prevent damage to the vehicle, be careful

when removing wheel covers and be sure to install

them properly.

Fig. 182 Twisting the hubcap off.

The hubcaps are designed to protect the wheel bolts

and should be installed again after a wheel change.

Depending on the vehicle model, the hubcaps can

either be pulled off → fig. 181 or removed by twist-

ing → fig. 182.

Vehicles with pull-off hubcaps

— To remove: Take the wire clip out of vehicle tool

kit and hook it into one of the holes in the hubcap

→ fig. 181.

— Pull the hubcap off in the direction of the arrow.

— To install: Press the hubcap against the rim until it

latches.

298

Tires and wheels

Tires and wheels -> Important information on tires and wheels for Your Volkswagen Golf 4 Door 2023

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