Get Wheels and tyres -> Useful information about wheels and tyres Guide for Volkswagen E Golf 4 Door Second Generation (2017-2020)

Useful information about wheels and tyres

Introduction to the topic

The tyres are the most heavily loaded and most underestimated parts of a vehicle. Tyres are very

important as the narrow tyre 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 levels of vehicle

control and braking efficiency.

●

Incorrect handling of wheels and tyres can reduce vehicle safety and cause accidents and

serious injuries.

All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference)

and the same tread pattern.

New tyres will have to be run in as they will initially have reduced grip and braking effect.

Drive particularly carefully for the first 600 km in order to prevent accidents and serious

injury.

●

Check tyre pressures regularly when the tyres are cold, and always keep to the specified

value. If 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.

Never drive with worn tyres or tyres that are damaged (i.e. they have holes, cuts, cracks or

blisters). Driving with tyres in this condition can result in burst tyres, accidents and serious

injuries. Worn or damaged tyres must be replaced as soon as possible.

●

Never exceed the top speed and load permitted for the fitted tyres.

The effectiveness of the driver assist systems and brake support systems depends on the

tyre grip.

●

If you notice unusual vibrations or if the vehicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the car

immediately and check the wheels and tyres for damage.

In order to reduce the risk of losing control of the vehicle, and the risk of accident and

serious injury, never loosen the bolts on rims with bolted-on rim rings.

Do not use wheels or tyres if you do not know their history. Used wheels and tyres could be

damaged, even if the damage is not visible.

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. 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 of the vehicle, causing accidents and serious injuries.

●

Never drive if wheel bolts are missing or loose.

Always use wheel bolts that match the wheel rims and the vehicle type.

Always tighten the wheel bolts with the correct tightening torque. If you do not have a

torque wrench available, tighten the wheel bolts with the wheel bolt wrench and have the

torque checked without delay by the nearest qualified workshop.

Handling wheels and tyres

Fig. 1 Illustration: diagram showing how to swap wheels.

The wheels and tyres approved by Volkswagen have been carefully selected.

Rotating wheels

Regularly rotating the wheels as shown in the illustration → Fig. 1 is recommended to help

ensure that tyres wear evenly. All the tyres will then last for about the same time.

Volkswagen recommends having the wheels changed by a qualified workshop.

Avoiding damage to the wheel rims and tyres

—Always drive over kerbs slowly and at a right angle.

—Check the tyre pressure regularly.

—Never exceed the maximum speed and load permitted for the tyres that are fitted (→ Tyre

lettering and tyre type, Standards/Directives).

—Damaged or worn tyres must be replaced immediately (→ Wheels and tyres, Limits/System

limits).

—Protect the tyres from contact with aggressive substances, including grease, oil, petrol and

brake fluid →

—Replace missing dust caps on the valves immediately.

Tyres that are more than six years old

Tyres age through physical and chemical processes that can impair their function. Tyres that have

been stored unused for an extended period of time age more quickly than tyres that are used all

the time.

Volkswagen recommends replacing tyres that are more than six years old with new tyres. This

also applies to tyres which appear to still be in good condition and whose tread depth has not yet

reached the minimum value stipulated by legislation →

Winter and all-year tyres also largely lose their effectiveness through ageing – regardless of the

remaining tread depth.

The age of each tyre can be determined on the basis of the manufacturing date (→ Tyre pressure,

Introduction/General information).

Storing tyres

—Always store tyres in a cool, dry and preferably dark place. Do not store tyres mounted on the

rim vertically.

—Any tyres not fitted on rims should be kept in suitable sleeves to protect against dirt and

should be stored vertically (standing on the tread).

New tyres

—Drive particularly carefully for the first 600 km (370 miles) with new tyres as the tyres have to

be run in. Tyres that have not been run in have reduced grip →

and braking efficiency →

—All four wheels must be fitted with tyres of the same type, size, and the same tread pattern.

Replacing tyres

—At the factory, the vehicle is fitted with low-rolling resistance tyres. The specified energy

consumption and the specified range can be achieved only with these tyres. Make sure that

any new tyres purchased have optimised rolling resistance (→ Driving economically,

Introduction/General information).

—Seek advice at a qualified workshop before purchasing new low rolling resistance tyres.

Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.

—Always replace tyres at least on an axle-by-axle basis →

—Old tyres should only be replaced by tyres that have been approved by Volkswagen for the

vehicle type.

—Never use tyres with an effective size that is larger than Volkswagen-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 Pressure Loss Indicator, Function).

WARNING

Corrosive liquids and other substances can cause visible and invisible damage to the tyres,

which can cause the tyre to burst.

●

Always keep chemicals, oils, lubricants, fuel, brake fluid and other corrosive substances away

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.

●

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

New tyres will have to be run in as they will initially have reduced grip and braking effect.

●

Drive particularly carefully for the first 600 km (370 miles) 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, the 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.

●

The actual tyre size must not exceed the tyre dimensions of manufacturers approved by

Volkswagen and must not rub on any vehicle body parts.

NOTICE

Avoid heavy impacts and drive round obstacles whenever possible. Tyres can be deformed in

particular by potholes and kerb edges. This can cause damage to the tyres and wheel rims.

NOTICE

Do not damage the valves when fitting different tyres. Never drive without valve caps. This

could cause damage to the valves.

Old tyres should be disposed of properly and 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.

Wheels and tyres -> Useful information about wheels and tyres for Your Volkswagen E Golf 4 Door Second Generation (2017-2020)

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