VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI 2005 (01) PDF Document

Tyres are high-tech products optimally adapted to the operating conditions of modern vehicles. Proper care, maintenance, and service are essential to ensure safety, performance, and comfort for the entire service life of the tyre.

Key Points:

– Recommendations: It is recommended to fit only tyre makes that have been tested and designed specifically for your vehicle model in collaboration with tyre manufacturers.

– Safety Priority: Vehicle safety is the top priority. Tyres are designed to find an optimal compromise for various operating conditions, including different speed ranges, winter/summer use, and wet/dry roads.

– Wheel Alignment: Proper adjustment of the axle geometry during wheel alignment is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring the optimum service life of the tyre. The wheel alignment must always be within the specified tolerance range.

– Wear and Tear: Normal wear and tear on a tyre will alter its characteristics, which can result in tyre noise and vibration. These are indications of wear and do not constitute a defect.

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

Legislative Conditions:

• If the wheel and tyre size, including the load index and speed symbol, is listed in the vehicle’s general operating permit (GTA) or EU operating permit/type approval, it can be fitted without any problem.

• It is not necessary for the specific wheel and tyre combination listed in the registration certificate to be fitted. Any combination approved in the GTA or EU operating permit may be fitted to the vehicle.

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

• If the wheels/tyres are not included in the relevant vehicle permit, the vehicle will no longer meet road traffic regulations if converted. An entry in the registration documents would be required.

Technical Conditions:

• The combinations and conversions listed 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 may only be used on disc-type wheels with an extended hump and on vehicles with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

• The specified 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 wheel housing, suspension, and braking system parts must be assured.

• Snow chains may generally only be fitted to the drive wheels (front wheels on all-wheel drive vehicles, with the exception of the Touareg).

The sidewall of a tyre contains various markings that provide important information. Here is a breakdown of what they mean:

1. Size code: e.g., 205/55 R 16. This indicates the tyre’s width, aspect ratio, construction, and rim diameter.

2. Position of TWIs: Tread Wear Indicators show the minimum legal tread depth.

3. Manufacturer (trade name): The brand of the tyre.

4. Construction: Indicates if the tyre is ‘Radial’ and ‘Tubeless’.

5. Load capacity index / speed rating: e.g., 91 H. This indicates the maximum load and speed the tyre can handle.

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 about the material and number of plies in the tread and sidewalls.

10. E number: Approval number indicating the tyre meets European guidelines.

11. Manufacturer code / date of manufacture (DOT code): Identifies the plant, tyre size, model, and the week/year of manufacture.

12. DOT: Department of Transportation, indicating the tyre meets US standards.

13. Marking for Brazil

14. Marking for China

15. Country of origin

16. Safety reference: 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.

21. Tread pattern name.

Tyre dimensions are presented in a standard format. For example, “195/65 R 15 91 V”. Here is what each part means:

1. Tyre width (195): The width of the tyre in millimeters.

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

3. Construction (R): Code for the tyre construction. “R” indicates it is a radial tyre.

4. Rim diameter (15): The diameter of the wheel rim in inches.

5. Load index (91): A code representing the maximum load the tyre can carry.

6. Speed rating (V): A code representing the maximum speed the tyre can sustain.

7. Winter/All-season code (M+S): Indicates a tyre suitable for mud and snow conditions.

Maximum Speed Ratings:

Load Index (LI) and Maximum Load:

Proper tyre storage is important to maintain their condition and extend their service life.

Storage Room Conditions:

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

Important Precautions:

• Stored tyres must not come into contact with fuel, oil, grease, or chemicals under any circumstances. These substances can damage the tyre material through chemical reactions that may not be immediately visible.

Storage Methods:

• Complete Wheels (Tyres on Rims): These can be stored flat, stacked on top of one another. Ensure the tyres are clean and dry. It is recommended to increase the inflation pressure to a maximum of 3 bar.

• Tyres without Wheels: These are best stored standing vertically. If stacked for long periods, they can be pressed together, making them difficult to fit later. If stored vertically, it is recommended to turn them every 14 days to prevent flat spots.

Tyres age due to physical and chemical processes, which can impair their function. Tyres stored for long periods can harden and become brittle faster than tyres in constant use.

Determining Tyre Age:

The tyre’s age can be determined from the DOT designation on the sidewall.

• Before the year 2000: A number like “509<" means the 50th week of 1999.

• From the year 2000: A number like “0100” means the 1st week of 2000.

Replacement Recommendations:

• It is recommended not to use summer and winter tyres that are older than 6 years.

• 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.

• Tyres must be renewed when the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm is reached or if there is visible mechanical damage.

Tyre wear is influenced by driving style, tyre pressure, and wheel alignment. Understanding the different patterns can help identify underlying issues.

Types of Tyre Wear:

• Even Wear: Caused by normal use. Greater vehicle weight, high speeds, and an aggressive driving style will increase the rate of even wear.

• One-Sided Wear: Often caused by incorrect wheel alignment (toe and camber) or aggressive cornering. It can appear as scuffing on the tread ribs.

• Outer Shoulder Wear: Driving fast on roads with many curves causes increased wear on the outer shoulder.

• Wear in Middle of Tyre: Found on driven wheels of high-performance vehicles driven at high speeds. Centrifugal forces cause the tyre to expand more in the middle, leading to increased wear there.

• Diagonal Washout: Appears as diagonal wear spots, usually on non-driven wheels. It is often caused by high toe-in values or incorrect tyre pressure. The vehicle’s toe adjustment should be examined.

• Saw-tooth Wear: A stepped wear pattern on individual tread blocks, more pronounced on non-driven wheels. It is caused by uneven deformation of the tread blocks and can lead to increased tyre noise.

How to Measure Tread Depth:

1. Measure the depth in the main tread channels, not at the Tread Wear Indicators (TWIs).

2. Measure at the points where the tyre is most heavily worn.

3. The TWI bars are 1.6 mm high, which is the legal minimum tread depth in Germany. Different values may apply in other countries.

4. Always measure at the deepest point of the tread channel.

Vibration can be caused by several factors, most commonly tyre wear that is not uniform across the tread, leading to slight imbalances. It is recommended to have wheels and tyres balanced at least twice during the tyre’s service life.

Before Balancing:

• Ensure tyre pressure is correct.

• The tread must not show one-sided wear and should be at least 4 mm deep.

• The tyre must be free of damage (cuts, foreign bodies, etc.).

• The wheel suspension and steering components must be in perfect condition.

Conducting a Road Test:

1. Perform a road test to determine the nature of the vibration and the speed at which it occurs.

2. Immediately after the test, raise the vehicle and mark the tyre positions (e.g., FL for Front Left).

3. Remove the wheels for balancing.

Balancing Procedure:

1. Clean all contact surfaces of the wheel and the wheel balancer.

2. Mount the wheel on the balancer. Use a proper centring system to ensure it is 100% centred.

3. Rotate the wheel and check for even running. If one-sided wear, flat spots, or severe washouts are apparent, the tyre must be renewed.

4. Check for radial and lateral runout. If within tolerance, balance the wheel.

5. Do not use more than 60 grams of weight per tyre. If more is needed, consider match mounting the tyre and rim.

6. After balancing, bolt the wheel back onto the vehicle, tightening the bolts diagonally to the specified torque.

7. Perform a final road test.

If your vehicle pulls to one side, it can be caused by the running gear, but experience shows that in 90% of cases, the tyres are the cause due to a characteristic called “conicity”. Strategic rotation of the wheels can often compensate for this.

Initial Checks:

• Perform a road test on a level, straight road with no crosswind to confirm the issue.

• Check all suspension components for damage.

• Check and correct tyre pressure.

• Inspect tyres for damage, uneven wear, and ensure all tyres are of the same type and make.

Strategic Rotation for Non-Directional Tyres:

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

2. If it pulls to one side, interchange the front wheels.

3. Perform another road test. If the vehicle now:

• Travels straight: The problem is solved.

• Pulls to the other side: Reverse one of the front tyres on its rim (this reverses its direction of rotation) and re-test. If it still doesn’t travel straight, interchange the front and rear tyres.

• Pulls to the same side: Interchange the front and rear tyres and re-test. If it still pulls to the same side, check wheel alignment. If alignment is correct, contact Product Support.

Strategic Rotation for Unidirectional Tyres:

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

2. If it pulls to one side, interchange the front and back wheels on the same side (maintaining the direction of rotation).

3. Perform another road test. If the vehicle now:

• Travels straight: The problem is solved.

• Does not travel straight: First, renew one tyre on the front axle and re-test. If the issue persists, renew the other tyre on the front axle. If it still pulls, check the front and rear wheel alignment.

The following tables show the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI model years 2005 to 2008 with a 2.0l 147 kW or 169 kW petrol engine.

The following tables detail the specifications for wheels that can be allocated to the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI, type 1K, from model year 2005 to 2009. The pitch circle diameter is 112 mm, and the number of wheel bolt holes is 5.

6 J x 16 Winter Wheels

6 1/2 J x 16 Wheels

7 J x 17 Wheels

7 1/2 J x 17 Wheels

7 1/2 J x 18 Wheels

Note: The specific wheel part number determines the exact load rating and design. Always observe the allocation of wheels and tyres to the respective engines as listed in the vehicle’s documentation.

The following makes and tread patterns are recommended for summer use on the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI 2005 model year.

Tyre size: 225/45 R 17 91W

Tyre size: 225/40 R 18 92Y

The following makes and tread patterns are recommended for winter use on the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI 2005 model year.

Tyre size: 205/55 R 16 91H

Tyre size: 205/55 R 16 94H

Tyre size: 205/55 R 17 93H