Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual: Wheel bolts

Fig. 192 Changing a wheel: Loosening wheel bolts.

Fig. 193 Changing a wheel: Tire valve ① and installation points for the anti-theft wheel bolt ② or ③.

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

Loosen the wheel bolts only with the lug wrench that was supplied with the vehicle.

Loosen the wheel bolts only about 1 turn before lifting the vehicle with the jack.

If a wheel bolt does not come loose, carefully push the end of the lug wrench with your foot. Make sure you are standing firmly on the ground and hold on to the vehicle for support.

Loosening the wheel bolts

• Push the lug wrench over the wheel bolt all the way ⇒ Fig. 192 .

• Holding the lug wrench at the end, loosen the wheel bolt by turning it counterclockwise about 1 complete turn (360 °) ⇒ .

Loosening the anti-theft wheel bolt

On a wheel with a wheel cover, the anti-theft wheel bolt must be installed at points ⇒ Fig. 193②  or ③. Otherwise, the wheel cover cannot be installed.

• Take the adapter for the anti-theft wheel bolt out of the vehicle tool kit.

• Push the adapter all the way over the anti-theft wheel bolt ⇒ Fig. 193 .

• Slide the lug wrench onto the adapter until it stops.

• Holding the lug wrench at the end, loosen the wheel bolt by turning it counterclockwise about 1 complete turn (360 °) ⇒ .

Important information regarding wheel bolts

The design of rims and wheel bolts is matched to the factory-installed wheels. If different wheels are installed, wheel bolts with the right length and bolt head shape must be used. The attachment of the wheels and function of the brake system depend on this.

It may not be possible to use wheel bolts from different vehicles of the same model.

On a wheel with a wheel cover, the anti-theft wheel bolt must be installed at points ⇒ Fig. 193②  or ③ in relation to the position of the tire valve ①. Otherwise, the wheel cover cannot be installed.

Wheel bolt tightening torque

Correctly tightened bolts for steel and alloy wheel rims should have a torque of 103 ft lbs (140 Nm) for front-wheel drive vehicles and 88 ft lbs (120 Nm) for vehicles with four-wheel drive (4MOTION). After changing a wheel, have the wheel bolt tightening torque checked right away with an accurate torque wrench.

Before you check the tightening torque, replace corroded and difficult-to-turn wheel bolts and clean the threads in the wheel hub.

Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel hubs. The bolts can come loose while driving if greased or oiled, even if tightened to the required torque.

Warning

Improperly tightened wheel bolts can come loose while driving and cause you to lose control over the vehicle, resulting in accidents and serious injuries.

• Only use wheel bolts that belong your vehicle and to the wheel being installed.

• Never use different wheel bolts.

• Wheel bolts and wheel hub threads must always be clean, easy-to-turn and free of oil and grease.

• Only use the lug wrench that is supplied with the vehicle to loosen the wheel bolts.

• Loosen the wheel bolts only about one turn before lifting the vehicle with the jack.

• Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel hubs. The bolts can come loose while driving if greased or oiled, even if tightened to the required torque.

• Never loosen bolted connections on wheel rims with bolted rim rings.

• If the wheel bolts are not tightened to the proper torque, the wheel can come off the vehicle when it is moving. Extremely high torque can damage the wheel bolts and/or their threads.