Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual:  Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

⇒ Tire and wheel handling 

⇒ Wheel rims 

⇒ New and replacement tires 

⇒ Tire inflation pressure 

⇒ Tire inflation pressure in cold tires 

⇒ Tread depth and tread wear indicators 

⇒ Tire wear and damage 

⇒ Compact spare wheel 

⇒ Tire labeling 

⇒ Winter tires 

⇒ Snow chains 

⇒ Glossary of tire and loading terminology 

⇒ Tires and vehicle load limits 

⇒ Determining the correct load limit 

Volkswagen recommends that all work on tires and wheels be done by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. They are familiar with the technical requirements and recommended procedures, have the necessary special tools and spare parts, and can properly dispose of old tires.

More information:

• Transporting ⇒ Driving tips 

• Trailer towing ⇒ Trailer towing 

• Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ Braking, stopping, and parking 

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System ⇒ Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) 

• Vehicle tool kit ⇒ Vehicle tool kit 

• Exterior care and cleaning ⇒ Exterior care and cleaning 

• Consumer information ⇒ Consumer information 

• Wheel covers ⇒ Wheel covers 

• Changing a wheel ⇒ Changing a wheel 

Warning

New tires or tires that are old, worn or damaged cannot provide maximum control and braking performance.

• Improper care and handling of tires and wheels can reduce driving 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.

• 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 reduce the risk of losing control, a collision, and serious personal injuries.

• Check tire inflation pressure regularly when the tires are cold and always maintain the prescribed tire pressure. Low tire pressure can cause tires to get too hot, resulting in tread separation, sudden loss of pressure, and blowouts. Tires with excessively low pressure flex (bend) more, which can cause the tire to overheat and fail suddenly without warning.

• Check tires regularly for wear and damage.

• Never drive with worn or damaged 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 failure including blowouts and sudden deflation, crashes, and serious personal injuries.

• Have worn or damaged tires replaced immediately.

• Never exceed the maximum speed rating or the maximum load rating of the tires on your vehicle.

• The effectiveness of the driver assistance systems and the braking support systems depends on the tire traction.

• 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 control, crashes, and serious personal injuries, never loosen the bolts on wheels with bolted rim rings.

• 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 vehicle control.

• Tires age even if they are not being 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.

For technical reasons it is usually not possible to use wheel rims from other vehicles. Even wheel rims from the same model may not fit properly. Check with an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility if necessary.