Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual: Tire and wheel handling

Fig. 170 Tire rotation diagram.

Read and follow the introductory information and safety information first⇒Introduction to the subject 

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.

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, irregular wear, and overall condition) are the most important things that you can do to help avoid sudden tire failure, including tread separation and blowout.

The tires and wheels are essential parts of the vehicle's design. The tires and wheels approved by Volkswagen are specially matched to the characteristics of the vehicle for good road holding and safe handling when in good condition and properly inflated.

Avoiding tire damage

• 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 contacting 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 penetrated the inside of the tire⇒ Tire wear and damage .

• Heed all warning messages from the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ⇒ Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) .

• Replace worn or damaged tires immediately ⇒ Tire wear and damage .

• Damage to tires and wheels is often 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 immediately for hidden damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. See also ⇒ Tire wear and damage .

• Never exceed the load and permissible maximum speed rating of the tires ⇒ Tire labeling .

• Always keep aggressive chemicals including grease, oil, gasoline and brake fluid off the tires, including the compact spare tire ⇒ .

• Replace missing valve caps immediately.

Unidirectional tires

Unidirectional tires are designed to rotate only in one direction. Unidirectional tires have arrows on the sidewalls that show the direction of rotation ⇒ Tire labeling . Unidirectional tires must always be mounted according to the specified direction of rotation in order to deliver their best grip, braking performance, low road noise, and good wear as well as good hydroplaning resistance.

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 important on wet roads. You must replace or remount the tire as soon as possible in order to restore the correct direction of rotation.

Rotating tires

To help ensure even wear on all tires, regular tire rotation according to the diagram ⇒ Fig. 170  is recommended. In this way all tires can have about the same service life.

Volkswagen recommends that you have your tires rotated by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Tires more than 6 years old

Tires age even if they are not being used. Physical and chemical processes reduce tire strength and performance and cause them to harden and become brittle. Old tires can fail suddenly and without warning.

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 determined with the manufacturing date that is part of the U.S. DOT tire identification number (TIN) ⇒ Tire labeling .

Tire storage

Mark tires before removing them to help make sure that the previous location (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.

Tires not mounted on wheels should be covered to help protect them from dirt and stored vertically (sitting on the tread).

Warning

Aggressive fluids and materials can cause visible and invisible tire damage that can cause tire blowouts.

• Always keep chemicals, oils, grease, fuels, braking fluids and other aggressive substances away from tires.

Warning

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.

Always dispose of old tires in accordance with legal requirements.