VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 (01) PDF Document

For your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992, it is important to understand that tyres are high-tech products optimally adapted to the operating conditions of modern vehicles. Proper care, maintenance, and service are essential for safety, performance, and comfort throughout the tyre’s service life.

Key points to remember:

• Only fit tyre makes recommended by VW, as they have been specifically tested and designed for your vehicle model.

• Vehicle safety is the top priority, and tyres are designed to find an optimal compromise for various conditions, including different speed ranges, winter and summer use, and wet and dry roads.

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

• Normal wear and tear on a tyre will alter its characteristics, which may result in tyre noise and vibration. These are indications of wear, not a tyre defect.

When converting wheels and tyres on your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992, you must observe the following conditions:

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 issues.

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

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

• If the wheels or tyres are not included in the relevant vehicle permits, the vehicle will no longer meet road traffic regulations if converted.

Technical Conditions:

• The listed combinations 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.

• 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 between the wheels/tyres and the wheel housing, suspension, and braking system must be assured under all operating conditions.

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

The sidewall of a tyre on your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 contains various identification markings. An example is “195/65 R 15 91V”. Here is a breakdown of what these markings mean:

Tyre Dimensions (e.g., 195/65 R 15 91V):

1. 195: Tyre width in millimeters.

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

3. R: Code for tyre construction, indicating “Radial”.

4. 15: Rim diameter in inches.

5. 91: Load index (LI), which corresponds to the maximum load the tyre can bear.

6. V: Speed rating code, indicating the maximum permitted speed.

7. M + S: This marking indicates a winter or all-season tyre.

Speed Rating / Maximum Speed:

Load Rating Code / Load Index (LI):

Proper storage is crucial for maintaining the condition of your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 tyres.

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, as this can cause damage that is not always visible but can lead to dangerous situations when driving.

Storage of Tyres:

• Complete wheels (tyres on rims): These can be stored flat, stacked one upon the other. 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 they are stacked for long periods, they can be pressed together and become difficult to fit. If stored 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. Tyres stored for long periods can harden and become brittle faster than those in regular use. You can determine the tyre’s age from the DOT number on the sidewall.

Recommendation:

• It is recommended not to use summer and winter tyres that are older than 6 years, as their original properties deteriorate. Winter tyres, in particular, lose their adhesion properties.

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

• All VW vehicles are factory-fitted with four identical tyres and wheels.

Renewing Tyres:

Tyres on your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 must always be renewed when:

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

• There is visible mechanical damage.

For safety, it is recommended that tyres of the same make and with the same tread pattern should be mounted on one axle. For four-wheel drive vehicles, all four wheels must have tyres of the same size, construction, tread pattern, and make.

Uneven tyre wear can be categorized into different types, each with specific causes and remedies.

One-Sided Wear:

• Cause: This is often caused by driving style (e.g., fast cornering) or incorrect wheel alignment (toe and camber values). Using “suspension-lowering kits” or non-recommended alloy wheels can also alter wheel positions and cause wear.

• Prevention: Ensure wheel alignment is set to the specified tolerances. Avoid hard contact with kerbstones. Regular servicing helps prevent wear. Adhere to prescribed minimum tyre inflation pressures.

Outer Shoulder Wear:

• Cause: Unsuitable use of self-levelling adjustments on pneumatic suspension systems or consistently fast cornering.

• Prevention: Use the vehicle only for its intended purpose and ensure wheel alignment is correct.

Wear in Middle of Tyre:

• Cause: This pattern is common 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 there.

• Prevention: It is not possible to counter this by reducing tyre pressure. For safety, never reduce pressure below the specified level. Rotating tyres between driven and non-driven wheels can help achieve more even wear.

Diagonal Washout:

• Cause: This occurs almost exclusively on non-driven wheels, often at the rear left, and appears as diagonal wear spots. It is intensified by high toe-in values and low tyre pressure.

• Prevention: Ensure toe-in values of the rear wheels are identical and specified tyre pressures are observed. If detected early, move the affected wheel to the drive axle.

General Prevention Tips:

• Rotate Tyres: To compensate for different wear rates on front and rear axles, swap the wheels from front to rear regularly (e.g., during seasonal changes).

• Saw-Tooth Wear: This is a normal wear pattern that can increase rolling noise. If it occurs, exchanging wheels between axles is usually sufficient. For pronounced cases, the direction of rotation must be reversed (swap diagonally for non-directional tyres).

If your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 pulls to one side, it can be caused by the running gear, but experience shows that in about 90% of cases, the tyres are the cause due to a characteristic called “conicity” (a slight taper in the tyre carcass).

Initial Checks:

• Perform a road test on a level, straight road without a crosswind to confirm the issue.

• Check all suspension components for damage.

• Check tyre pressure and correct if necessary.

• Inspect tyres for external damage (punctures, cuts, bubbles, flat spots).

• Ensure all tyres are of the same type, manufacturer, and tread pattern, with even wear and tread depth. Tyres with deeper tread should be on the front axle.

Troubleshooting through Tyre Rotation:

The following steps describe a strategic rotation process for non-directional tyres to diagnose and remedy the pulling issue.

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

2. Interchange the front wheels.

3. Perform another road test.

• If the vehicle now travels in a straight line, the problem is solved. END.

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

• If the vehicle still pulls to the same side, interchange the front and rear tyres and perform another road test. If it still pulls to the same side, check wheel alignment. If it pulls to the other side, reverse one front tyre on its rim and test again.

4. If the vehicle pulls to the other side after step 2, interchange the front and rear wheels.

5. Perform another road test.

• If the vehicle now travels straight, the problem is solved. END.

• If the vehicle does not travel straight, reverse one front tyre on its rim and test again. Continue with strategic interchanges until the issue is resolved or wheel alignment is identified as the problem.

For unidirectional tyres, the process is simpler: interchange front and back wheels, test, and if the issue persists, renew one tyre at a time on the front axle, testing after each replacement.

Proper procedure is important for safety when changing wheels on your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992.

Preparation:

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

• Check that the centring seat of the brake disc is free of corrosion and dirt.

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

• Damaged or badly corroded 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 approximately 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 lists the approved standard and optional (modification) wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT model years 1994 to 1998, which corresponds to the Mk3 generation of your 1992 model. Always check your specific vehicle documentation.

The following table shows the recommended summer tyres for your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 (Estate model years 1994-1998).

The following table shows the recommended winter tyres for your VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VARIANT 1992 (Estate model years 1994-1998).