VOLKSWAGEN GOLF CABRIO 1998 (01) PDF Document

When converting wheel and tyre combinations on your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF CABRIO 1998, the following legislative and technical conditions must be observed:

Legislative Conditions:

• If the size of the wheel and tyre, including the load index and speed symbol, is included in the vehicle’s General Type Approval (GTA) or 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’s GTA or EU operating permit may be fitted.

• Unless the wheels and/or tyres are included in the relevant vehicle GTA or EU operating permit, the vehicle will no longer meet the requirements of road traffic regulations if converted.

Technical Conditions:

• The wheel and tyre combinations listed in the manual refer exclusively to Volkswagen genuine disc-type wheels.

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

• Tyres with run-flat properties (reinforced sidewalls) 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 inside the tank flap or in the vehicle’s tables.

• 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.

• Unless otherwise stated, snow chains may only be fitted to the drive wheels. On all-wheel drive vehicles, only the front wheels may be fitted with snow chains (with the exception of some models).

The tyre sidewall contains various markings that provide important information. Here is a guide to understanding them:

1 – Size code (e.g., 205/55 R 16)

2 – Position of TWIs (Tread Wear Indicators)

3 – Manufacturer (trade name)

4 – Construction (e.g., Radial, Tubeless)

5 – Load capacity index / speed rating (e.g., 91 H)

6 – Specified direction of rotation/installation for tyre

7 – Maximum permissible load (Data for North America)

8 – Maximum permissible tyre pressure (Data for North America)

9 – Number of plies in the tread and sidewalls, and material information

10 – E number = Approval number (Tyre fulfils European guidelines)

11 – Manufacturer code / date of manufacture (DOT code)

12 – DOT – Department of Transportation (Tyre fulfils US standards)

13 – Marking for Brazil

14 – Marking for China

15 – Country of origin

16 – Safety reference for use or fitting of tyre

17 – Relative expected service life – abrasion resistance (based on a US standard test)

18 – Rating of wet-braking traction, A, B or C (According to a US test)

19 – Rating of temperature resistance, 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

Tyre markings provide details about the tyre’s dimensions and capabilities. An example like 195/65 R 15 91V can be broken down as follows:

• 195: Tyre width in millimeters.

• 65: Aspect ratio (the tyre’s height as a percentage of its width).

• R: Code for radial tyre construction.

• 15: Rim diameter in inches.

• 91: Load index, indicating the maximum load the tyre can support.

• V: Speed rating code, indicating the maximum speed the tyre can sustain.

The speed rating code corresponds to a maximum speed in km/h:

Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and safety of your tyres. Follow these guidelines:

Storage Room Conditions:

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

• Stored tyres must not come in contact with fuel, oil, grease, or chemicals under any circumstances, as this can cause damage that is not always visible.

Storage of Tyres:

• Complete wheels (Tyres on rims): These can be stored flat and stacked on top of one another. Ensure they are clean and dry. The inflation pressure should be increased to a maximum of 3 bar.

• Tyres without wheels: These are best stored standing vertically. To avoid flat spots, it is recommended to turn them every 14 days.

Tyres age due to physical and chemical processes which can impair their function. Here’s what you need to know about tyre ageing and renewal:

Tyre Ageing:

• It is recommended not to use summer and winter tyres that are older than 6 years. Their original properties deteriorate over time.

• A spare tyre may be used if it is in flawless condition and not more than 6 years old, but combining an old spare with new tyres can adversely affect handling.

• All VW vehicles are factory-fitted with four identical tyres and wheels. For safety, tyres of the same make and tread pattern should be mounted on each axle.

Renewing Tyres:

Tyres must always be renewed when:

• The legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm is reached.

• There is visible mechanical damage.

Winter Tyres:

• For driving in winter, it is recommended to equip the vehicle with winter tyres on all wheels for the best possible handling.

• The handling characteristics may be affected by the use of winter tyres. Adapt your speed to the changed conditions.

• The suitability of winter tyres with less than 4-5 mm tread depth for winter operation is limited. Some countries require a minimum of 4 mm.

• It is recommended that winter tyres be replaced after no more than six years, as their special “winter properties” decline with age.

• The tyre pressure for winter tyres should be 0.2 bar more than the applicable pressure for standard tyres, but not more than 3.5 bar.

Snow Chains:

• Snow chains must be fitted to driven wheels only.

• It is not possible to use snow chains with all wheel and tyre combinations. Check your vehicle’s documentation.

• If no specific type is mentioned, small-link chains may be used. They must not protrude more than 15 mm beyond the wheel’s tread and inner wall.

• The maximum speed permitted by law when driving with snow chains is 50 km/h.

• Remove snow chains when there is no snow on the road.

To ensure your tyres are safe and legal, follow these steps to measure the tread depth:

• The tread depth should be measured in the main tread channels, at the points where the tyre is worn most heavily.

• Do not measure at the TWIs (Tread Wear Indicators). The TWIs are small raised bars in the grooves that indicate the legal wear limit.

• The position of the TWIs can be identified by a “TWI”, a triangle symbol (Δ), or the manufacturer’s logo on the shoulder of the tyre.

• The TWI bars have a height of 1.6 mm, which is the minimum tread depth required by German law. Different values may apply in other countries.

• Always measure at the deepest point of the tread channel, away from the TWI bars.

Different driving styles and vehicle conditions can cause specific wear patterns on your tyres:

• One-Sided Wear: This is often caused by driving style (e.g., fast cornering) or incorrect wheel alignment (toe and camber). It appears as increased wear on either the inner or outer shoulder of the tyre.

• Outer Shoulder Wear: A rounded outer shoulder with high wear on the outer tread blocks indicates frequent fast cornering.

• Wear in Middle of Tyre: This pattern is found on the driven wheels of high-performance vehicles driven at high speeds for long distances. Centrifugal forces cause the tyre to expand more in the middle, leading to increased wear in the center of the tread.

• Diagonal Washout: This appears as diagonal “wear spots” running at an angle of approx. 45° across the tread. It occurs almost exclusively on non-driven wheels and is often caused by incorrect toe-in values or low tyre pressure. If detected early, the wheel can be moved to a driven axle to even out the wear.

• Saw-tooth Wear: This is a stepped wear pattern on individual tread blocks, which can cause increased tyre noise. It’s more pronounced on non-driven wheels. Reversing the tyre’s direction of rotation (e.g., by swapping wheels diagonally) can help reduce this effect.

To ensure wheels are properly and safely secured, follow these instructions:

Preparation:

• Check that the contact surfaces on the brake disc and the inner side of the wheel (rim) are free of corrosion and dirt.

• Ensure the concave seats in the wheel bolt holes and the wheel bolt threads are also clean and free of corrosion, dirt, oil, or grease.

• Damaged, badly corroded, or difficult-to-remove wheel bolts must be renewed.

Fitting Wheels:

1. When fitting the wheel, screw in all wheel bolts uniformly by hand.

2. Tighten the wheel bolts in a diagonal sequence to approx. 30 Nm.

3. Lower the vehicle to the floor and tighten all wheel bolts diagonally to the specified torque using a torque wrench. Do not use an impact driver when screwing in the bolts.

The following table outlines the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF CABRIO 1998, based on engine output.

The following are recommended summer and all-season tyre makes and tread patterns for your vehicle. It is advised to use these specific types as they have been tested for your vehicle.

Recommended Summer Tyres:

Recommended All-Season Tyres: