VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2009 (04) PDF Document

Conversions of wheels and tyres can only be carried out under certain conditions. The following points must be observed:

Legislative Conditions:

• If the size of the wheel and tyre, with the load index and speed symbol, is included in the vehicle’s General Operating Permit (GTA) and EU operating permit/type approval, this combination can be fitted without any problem.

• It is not necessary for the wheel and tyre combination specified in the registration certificate to be fitted. All combinations approved in the vehicle GTA or EU operating permit/type approval may be fitted.

• For conversions recommended by Volkswagen AG, there are no general operating permits in accordance with § 22 StVZO (German road traffic and licensing regulations).

• If the wheels and/or tyres are not included in the relevant vehicle GTA or EU operating permit/type approval, the vehicle will no longer meet the requirements of the road traffic regulations if converted.

Technical Conditions:

• The wheel and tyre combinations and conversions listed in the tables of this PDF refer exclusively to Volkswagen genuine disc-type wheels.

• Approval of wheel and tyre combinations or a change to wheels from the accessories trade is not possible with the certificate statement attached here.

• Tubeless radial tyres may only be fitted to rims with a safety hump feature on the shoulder.

• Tyres with run-flat properties (reinforced side walls) may only be used on disc-type wheels with an extended hump and on vehicles with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

• If the listed wheel and tyre combinations are used, the associated tyre inflation pressures must be adhered to. These can be found on the sticker on the inside of the tank flap or in the tables of the individual vehicles.

• Sufficient clearance to the wheels and tyres at parts of the wheel housing, suspension, and braking system is assured if the notes and specifications are observed in all operating conditions.

• Unless otherwise stated, snow chains may only be fitted to the drive wheels. On all-wheel drive vehicles, however, only the front wheels may be fitted with snow chains.

The tyre sidewall contains a lot of useful information. Using the example of a Continental ContiPremiumContact 2, here is a breakdown of the markings:

1. Size code: e.g., 205/55 R 16.

2. Position of TWIs (Tread Wear Indicators): Shows where the wear indicators are in the tread.

3. Manufacturer (trade name): e.g., Continental.

4. Construction: Indicates “Radial” for radial cord direction and “Tubeless” for tubeless tyres.

5. Load capacity index / speed rating: e.g., 91 H.

6. Specified direction of rotation/installation: For directional tyres.

7. Maximum permissible load: Data for North America.

8. Maximum permissible tyre pressure: Data for North America.

9. Number of plies: Information on the number of plies in the tread and sidewalls and the material used.

10. E number = Approval number: Indicates the tyre fulfils European guidelines.

11. Manufacturer code / date of manufacture: An identification number for the plant, tyre size, model, and the date of manufacture (tyre age).

12. DOT – Department of Transportation: Tyre fulfils standards of the US Department of Transportation.

13. Marking for Brazil.

14. Marking for China.

15. Country of origin: e.g., Made in Germany.

16. Safety notes: For use or fitting of the tyre.

17. Abrasion resistance: Relative expected service life based on a US standard test.

18. Wet-braking traction rating: A, B, or C, according to a US test.

19. Temperature resistance rating: A, B, or C, according to a US test.

20. Identifying tyres with run-flat properties: e.g., self-supporting run-flat.

21. Tread pattern: e.g., ContiPremiumContact.

The markings on a tyre provide crucial information about its dimensions and capabilities.

Explanation of tyre dimensions (Example: 195/65 R 15 91V):

1. 195: Tyre width in millimeters.

2. 65: Aspect ratio in % (height of the sidewall as a percentage of the width).

3. R: Code for tyre construction, “R” indicates radial.

4. 15: Rim diameter in inches.

5. 91: Load rating code/load index (LI).

6. V: Speed rating code.

7. M+S: Winter tyre/code for all-season tyre.

Speed Rating / Maximum Speed Table:

The load rating, found on the sidewall of the tyre, provides information about the maximum load that the tyre can bear. It is indicated as a code. The following table shows the load rating codes used at VW with the corresponding maximum load capacity of the tyres in kilograms.

Proper tyre storage is essential to maintain their safety and performance.

Storage Room Conditions:

• The storage area should be dark, dry, cool, and ventilated.

• WARNING: Stored tyres must not come into contact with fuel, oil, grease, or chemicals under any circumstances. The material in the tyre can be damaged by chemical reactions which are not always visible, leading to dangerous situations when the car is driven.

Storing Complete Wheels (Tyres on Rims):

• Tyres mounted on wheels can be stored flat, stacked one upon the other.

• Ensure the tyres are clean and dry before storage.

• The inflation pressure should be increased to a maximum of 3 bar.

Storing Tyres without Wheels:

• Tyres without wheels are best stored standing vertically.

• If tyres are stacked for a long period, they will be pressed together, making them more difficult to fit later.

• When storing tyres vertically, it is recommended to turn them every 14 days to avoid flat spots.

Tyres age due to physical and chemical processes which can impair their function. Here are some key points:

• It is recommended not to use summer and winter tyres which are older than 6 years, as their properties, especially wet grip and winter adhesion, deteriorate with age.

• The tyre’s age can be determined from the DOT designation on the sidewall, which includes the production date.

• How to read the DOT number:

– Until 31.12.1999: A number like “509 <" means the 50th week of 1999.

– From 01.01.2000: A number like “0100” means the 1st week of 2000. The first two digits are the week, and the last two are the year.

• When new tyres are fitted, a spare tyre may be used if it is in flawless condition and not more than 6 years old.

• For safety, tyres of the same make and with the same tread pattern should be mounted on one axle.

• For four-wheel drive vehicles, they must always be equipped with four wheels with tyres of the same size, construction, tread pattern, and make.

Several factors influence a tyre’s service life to varying degrees:

Driving Style:

• Speed: Higher speeds cause significantly more wear. Driving at 180 km/h can cause 9 times more wear than at 100 km/h.

• Braking: Most wear is caused during braking. Heavy braking causes exponentially more wear than gentle braking.

• Acceleration: Driving off with wheels spinning can cause 100-200 times more wear than driving off gently.

• Cornering: “Sporty” driving and higher speeds through corners cause greater wear. Wear increases 16-fold when the cornering speed is doubled.

Maintenance:

• Tyre Pressure: The weight of the vehicle flattens the tyre contact area. If the tyre is underinflated, it flexes more, resulting in increased heat, rolling resistance, and wear. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is crucial for tyre life. For example, a tyre at 40% of its specified pressure may only last for 25% of its normal life.

Environment:

• Road surface

• Ambient temperature and climate

Vehicle:

• Weight

• Dynamic toe and camber settings (wheel alignment)

If a customer complains about “vibration”, a road test is essential before balancing the wheels. This will help you determine the nature of the rough running and the speed range in which it occurs.

1. Perform the road test to gather information on the vibration.

2. Immediately after the road test, raise the vehicle on a lifting platform.

3. Mark the positions of the tyres on the vehicle as follows:

4. Remove the wheels from the vehicle.

5. Proceed with balancing the wheels.

Before balancing, ensure the tyre pressure is correct, the tread is not unevenly worn, the tyre has no damage, and the suspension is in perfect condition.

1. Cleanliness is essential. Dirt and rust on contact surfaces will distort the result.

2. Clean the contact surfaces, the centre of the wheel, and the recess on the inside of the wheel before mounting it on the wheel balancer.

3. Mount the wheel with the tyre on the wheel balancer. Use a centring system like VAS 5271 to ensure the wheel is 100% centred and clamped without damage.

4. Rotate the wheel and tyre on the balancer.

5. Check that the indicator lines on the sidewall run evenly and that the body of the tyre runs true. If there is one-sided wear, flat spots, or severe wash-out, balancing may not achieve smooth running, and the tyre must be renewed.

6. Check for radial or lateral runout. If runout is within tolerance, balance the wheel and tyre.

7. More than 60 grams of weight per tyre should not be used. If more is required, “matching” the tyre and rim may be necessary.

8. The wheel balancer display should indicate 0 grams when finished.

9. Bolt the wheel to the vehicle. First hand-tighten the lowest wheel bolt to about 30 Nm, then tighten the remaining bolts diagonally to about 30 Nm. This centres the wheel.

10. Lower the vehicle onto its wheels and use a torque wrench to tighten the wheel bolts to the specified torque in a diagonal sequence.

11. After balancing, carry out a road test.

If your vehicle is pulling to one side, a strategic rotation of the wheels can often correct the issue, which may be caused by tyre conicity. Before starting, mark the tyres (e.g., FR, FL, RR, RL) and perform road tests on the same level, straight road, preferably in both directions.

For Non-Directional Tyres:

1. Perform a road test to determine which side the vehicle pulls to.

2. Interchange the front wheels.

3. Carry out a road test.

• If the vehicle now travels in a straight line, the process is complete (END).

• If the vehicle now pulls to the other side, proceed to the next step.

• If the vehicle pulls to the same side, interchange the front and rear tyres and re-test.

4. Interchange the front and rear wheels (from the previous step where it pulled to the other side).

5. Carry out a road test.

• If the vehicle now travels in a straight line, the process is complete (END).

• If not, you may need to reverse one front tyre on its rim, mount new tyres, or check the wheel alignment.

For Unidirectional Tyres:

1. Perform a road test to determine which side the vehicle pulls to.

2. Interchange the front and back wheels with tyres.

3. Carry out a road test.

• If the vehicle travels in a straight line, the process is complete (END).

• If the vehicle does not travel in a straight line, proceed to the next step.

4. First, renew one tyre on the front axle.

5. Carry out a road test.

• If it travels straight, the process is complete (END).

• If not, renew the other tyre on the front axle. If the issue persists, check the front and rear wheel alignment.

The following table shows the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2009 (sales type 5K) from model year 2009 to 2011.

* 225/45 R 17 91T/H/V/W tyres on 7 1/2 J x 17 rims with an offset of 51 are permitted only on vehicles with sports running gear!

** 225/40 R 18 92Y tyres on 7 1/2 J x 18 rims with an offset of 51 are permitted only on vehicles with sports running gear and a rear axle camber of -1°45′!

*** Only snow chains with fine links of no more than 8 mm may be used.

The following table shows the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF BlueMotion (sales type 5K) from model year 2009 to 2011.

The following table shows the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI (sales type 5K) from model year 2010 to 2011.

* Only snow chains with fine links of no more than 8 mm may be used.