Wheels and tires -> Wheels and tires in snow and ice for Your Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

Fig. 199 Tire tread: tread wear indicator.  
The tread wear indicator indicates if a tire is worn out. At the latest, the tire must be replaced if the tread depth is worn down to the tread wear indicator.  
The tread wear indicator is 1.6 mm (1/16 in) above the base of the tread fig. 199. Markings on the sides of the tire indicate the location of the tread wear indicator  
fig. 199.  
WARNING  
Worn tires are a safety risk and can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and lead to serious injuries.  
You must replace tires with new tires at the latest when the tires are worn down to the wear indicator.  
Worn tires have significantly less grip, especially on wet roads, and the vehicle is more likely to “hydroplane”.  
Worn tires reduce the driver’s ability to control the vehicle well in normal and difficult driving situations, and they increase the braking distance as well as  
the risk of skidding.  
Wheels and tires in snow and ice  
Winter tires  
Summer tires offer very little holding force on icy or snowy roads. Winter or all-season tires improve vehicle handling and braking performance in winter road  
conditions. Volkswagen recommends using winter tires on the vehicle at temperatures below +45 °F (+7 °C) or in winter road conditions. This also applies to  
vehicles with all-wheel drive (4MOTION).  
The effectiveness of winter or all-season tires is greatly reduced when the tire tread is worn down to a depth of 3/16 in (4 mm).  
The following applies when using winter tires:  
Follow all applicable laws in the country of operation.  
Use winter tires on all four wheels at the same time.  
Only use in winter road conditions.  
Only use the tire sizes permitted for the vehicle.  
Only use winter tires that have the same belt construction, size, and tread pattern.  
Follow the speed restriction based on the speed rating  
Speed restriction  
.
Winter tires have a speed restriction based on their speed rating Tire labeling and tire classifications.  
A speed warning can be set in the Vehicle settings menu in the Infotainment System under the Tires menu.  
On V winter tires, the speed restriction and required tire pressure depend on the engine. Always ask an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen  
Service Facility about the permitted speed and required tire pressure. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized  
Volkswagen Service Facility.  
WARNING  
Do not be tempted into taking safety risks due to the improved vehicle handling that the winter tires provide in winter conditions.  
Exceeding the speed limit for the winter tires may lead to sudden tire failure and loss of vehicle control.  
Never ignore the speed limit for the winter tires fitted to your vehicle, even if the permissible maximum speed for the vehicle is higher.  
Never exceed the maximum load for the winter tires fitted to your vehicle.  
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Adapt your speed and driving style to the visibility, weather, road and traffic conditions.  
When temperatures are above +45 °F (+7 °C), summer tires provide better vehicle handling. There is less road noise, the tires wear more slowly, and economy  
is better.  
For vehicles with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, the system must be recalibrated after changing to winter tires Tire Pressure Monitoring System.  
You can contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for permitted winter tire sizes. Volkswagen recommends  
contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.  
Snow chains  
Note the legal requirements and the permitted maximum speed when driving with snow chains.  
Snow chains improve driving and braking handling when on roads covered with ice or snow.  
Snow chains may only be mounted on the front wheels and only on the following tire/rim combinations:  
Tire size  
Rim  
245/65 R 17  
7 1/2 J x 17 ET 31  
If possible, use fine-mesh snow chains that include a chain lock no larger than 13.5 mm (17/32 in).  
Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for more information about wheel, tire, and snow  
chain sizes. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.  
Snow chains may only be used on tire and rim combinations that are approved for snow chain operation.  
If using snow chains, remove the wheel covers and rim accent rings before mounting the snow chains. However, the wheel bolts must be covered with caps for  
safety reasons. Caps can be obtained from an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Volkswagen recommends contacting an  
authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.  
Using snow chains on the compact spare tire or collapsible spare tire  
Using snow chains on the compact spare tire or collapsible spare tire is not permitted for technical reasons.  
1. If a front tire is flat, mount the compact spare tire or collapsible spare tire on the rear axle.  
2. Replace the damaged front wheel with the removed rear wheel. Pay attention to the running direction when doing this.  
Volkswagen recommends attaching the snow chains before mounting the wheel.  
WARNING  
Using unsuitable snow chains or installing snow chains incorrectly can cause accidents and serious injuries.  
Always use the correct snow chains.  
Follow the installation instructions provided by the snow chain manufacturer.  
Never drive faster than permitted when snow chains are mounted.  
NOTICE  
Remove snow chains when driving on roads without snow. Otherwise, snow chains can impair handling and damage the tires, and the chains will quickly  
be destroyed.  
Snow chains that come into contact with the rim directly can scratch or damage the rim. Volkswagen recommends using snow chains with integrated rim  
protection.  
On vehicles with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, the system must be reprogrammed after snow chains are mounted Tire Pressure Monitoring System.  
Troubleshooting  
Damage to tires and rims can often occur where it is not visible ⇒  
.
If you suspect that a wheel is damaged, slow down and stop as soon as traffic allows and it is safe to do so.  
Vehicle pulls to one side or unusual vibrations  
The vehicle pulls to the left or right when driving, or there are unusual vibrations. This could indicate tire damage or too low a tire inflation pressure.  
Check the tires!  
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