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Wheels and tyres -> Tread depth and wear indicators for Your Volkswagen Up 4 Door First Generation (2011-2019)

After altering the tyre pressures, ensure that the valve caps are screwed on.  
The spare wheel or temporary spare wheel are filled to the highest tyre pressure permissible for  
the vehicle.  
WARNING  
Too high or too low a pressure may cause the tyre to suddenly lose pressure or burst while  
the vehicle is in motion. This can cause serious accidents and fatal injuries.  
If the tyre pressure is too low, it is possible that the tyre temperature will increase to such  
an extent that the tread peels off and the tyre bursts.  
Fast speeds or overloading of the vehicle can cause overheating, sudden tyre damage  
including tyre bursts and ripping of the tread surface and thus to a loss of control of the  
vehicle.  
If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prematurely and the vehicle  
will not handle well.  
Check tyre pressures regularly, at least once a month, and before every long journey.  
All tyres must have the correct tyre pressure to suit the vehicle load.  
Never reduce excess pressure when the tyres are warm.  
NOTICE  
When attaching the tyre pressure gauge, ensure that you do not position it at an angle to  
the valve shaft. This can damage the tyre valve.  
Missing valve caps, or valve caps that are not suitable or not screwed on properly, can  
cause damage to the tyre valve. Always use valve caps that comply with the factory-fitted  
valve cap specifications. Always screw on valve caps fully.  
Under-inflated tyres can contribute to an increase in fuel consumption.  
Tread depth and wear indicators  
Fig. 132 Tyre tread: wear indicators  
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒  
Introduction  
Tread depth  
Difficult driving situations demand the deepest possible tread depth for the tyres and the same  
tread depth for the tyres on the front and rear axles. This applies in particular for driving in winter  
weather and cold temperatures and in wet conditions ⇒  
.
In most countries, the minimum tread depth required by law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread  
grooves next to the tread wear indicators). Observe any country-specific legal requirements.  
Winter tyres lose a large degree of their effectiveness when the tread is worn down to a depth of  
4 mm.  
The tread depth of new tyres can vary according to type and manufacturer due to construction and  
tread design.  
Tread wear indicator in tyres  
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high tread wear indicators running across the tread  
⇒ Fig. 132. These wear indicators are positioned at set intervals around the tyre. Markings on the  
tyre sidewall (for instance the letters TWI or other symbols) indicate the positions of the tread wear  
indicators.  
The tread wear indicators show if a tyre is worn down. The tyre must be replaced at the latest when  
the tread depth is just before the tread wear indicator.  
WARNING  
Worn tyres are a safety risk and can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and cause serious  
injury.  
Tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread is worn down to the tread wear  
indicators.  
Worn tyres have considerably less tread, particularly on wet roads, which can cause the  
vehicle to glide along the road surface (aquaplaning).  
Worn tyres reduce the possibility of controlling the vehicle well in normal and difficult  
driving situations and increase braking distance and the risk of sliding.  
Tyre damage  
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒  
Introduction  
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. Any unusual vibrations or signs that the car is  
pulling to one side may indicate that one of the tyres is damaged ⇒  
.
Reduce your speed immediately if you suspect that a wheel is damaged.  
Check the tyres and rims for damage.  
If the tyre is damaged, do not drive on. Seek expert assistance.  
If there is no visible damage, drive slowly and cautiously to the next qualified workshop in order  
to have the vehicle checked.  
Foreign bodies in the tyre  
Leave the foreign body in the tyre if it has entered the inner tyre. However, foreign bodies that  
are stuck between the tyre tread blocks can be removed.  
For vehicles with a spare wheel or temporary spare wheel: where appropriate, change the  
damaged wheel ⇒ Changing a wheel If required, seek expert assistance when changing the  
damaged wheel. Volkswagen recommends using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.  
For vehicles with a breakdown set: if required, seal the tyre and pump it up using the  
breakdown set ⇒ Breakdown set. Proceed to a qualified workshop. Volkswagen recommends  
using a Volkswagen dealership for this purpose.  
Check the pressure and adjust it as required.  
Tyre wear  
Tyre wear is affected by several factors. These include:  
Driving style.  
Unbalanced wheels.  
Running gear setting.  
Driving style – fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear. The  
running gear should be checked by a qualified workshop if the tyres show excessive wear despite a  
normal driving style.  
Unbalanced wheels – the wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors  
encountered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results in steering  
vibration. Unbalanced wheels will affect levels of wear on the steering system and the suspension.  
In this case the wheels should be balanced again. A new tyre will have to be balanced after fitting.  
Running gear setting – incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety  
of the vehicle. The wheel alignment should be checked by a qualified workshop if tyres show  
excessive wear.  
WARNING  
If you notice unusual vibration or the car pulling to one side while the vehicle is in motion, this  
may indicate that one of the tyres is damaged.  
Reduce speed immediately and park the vehicle without obstructing traffic.  
Check the tyres and rims for damage.  
Never drive on if wheels or tyres are damaged. Seek expert assistance instead.  
If there is no visible damage, drive slowly and cautiously to the next qualified workshop in  
order to have the vehicle checked.  
Spare wheel or temporary spare wheel