VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995 (01) PDF Document

When converting wheels and tyres on your VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995, 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 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.

• For conversions recommended by Volkswagen, there are no general operating permits. Unless the wheels/tyres are included in the vehicle’s GTA or EU permit, the vehicle will no longer meet 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.

• When using listed combinations, the associated tyre inflation pressures must be followed. These can be found on a sticker inside the fuel tank flap or in the vehicle’s tables.

• Sufficient clearance to wheel housing, suspension, and braking system parts must be assured in all operating conditions.

• Unless stated otherwise, 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 the Touareg).

You can identify the official type designation for your VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995 by checking the vehicle identification plate or the vehicle title document. The following table provides a reference:

The sidewall of a tyre on your VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995 has several identification markings. Here is a guide to what they mean:

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

2. Position of TWIs (Tread Wear Indicators).

3. Manufacturer (trade name).

4. Construction: Indicates if the tyre is ‘Radial’ and ‘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: Information about the number of plies in the tread and sidewalls and the material.

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 date of manufacture.

12. DOT – Department of Transportation: Indicates the tyre fulfils standards of the United States of America.

13. Marking for Brazil.

14. Marking for China.

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

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.

21. Tread pattern name.

Here is an explanation of the tyre dimensions and speed ratings for your VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995.

Explanation of tyre dimensions

An example tyre marking could be 195/65 R 15 91 V. Here’s what each part means:

• 195: Tyre width in millimeters.

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

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

• 15: Rim diameter designation in inches.

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

• V: Speed rating code.

• M + S: Indicates a winter or all-season tyre.

Speed rating / maximum speed

The load rating, or load index (LI), is a number on the tyre’s sidewall that corresponds to the maximum load the tyre can support. The following table shows common load rating codes with their corresponding maximum load capacity in kilograms:

Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and safety of your tyres.

Storage Room Conditions:

The storage area should be:

• dark

• dry

• cool

• 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, leading to dangerous situations when the car is driven.

Storage Methods:

• 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. If 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.

• Snow chains must be fitted to the driven wheels only. For most four-wheel drive vehicles, this means the front wheels.

• It is not possible to use snow chains with all wheel and tyre combinations. Refer to the vehicle tables in your documentation for specifics.

• If no particular type of snow chain is specified, small-link chains may be used. These, including the fastener, 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.

• Snow chains should be removed when there is no snow on the road to avoid adversely affecting the vehicle’s handling and causing unnecessary stress and wear on the tyres and chains.

To measure the tyre tread depth correctly:

1. Measure the tread depth in the main tread channels, at the points where the tyre is most heavily worn.

2. Do not measure at the TWIs (Tread Wear Indicators). The position of the TWIs can be seen at various points on the shoulder of the tyre, often marked with “TWI”, a triangle symbol, or the manufacturer’s logo.

3. The TWI bars have a height of 1.6 mm, which is the minimum tread depth required by German law. Always check local regulations, as they may differ.

4. Tread depth should always be measured at the deepest point of the tread channel, not on top of the TWI bars.

One-sided wear is often caused by driving style but can also be a result of incorrect wheel alignment. It occurs when tyres roll with an extreme slip angle, causing them to “rub” on the road surface. Fast cornering, incorrect toe and camber settings, and running gear modifications can all contribute to this issue.

To prevent one-sided wear:

• Ensure wheel alignment is set correctly within the manufacturer’s specified tolerance. Deviations are often caused by external influences like hitting a kerb.

• Avoid using non-recommended “suspension-lowering kits” or alloy wheels that can alter wheel positions.

• Adhere to the prescribed minimum tyre inflation pressures.

• Rotate the wheels regularly (e.g., from front to rear) to compensate for different wear rates on driven vs. non-driven axles. The seasonal change between summer and winter tyres is an ideal time to do this.

• Address saw-tooth wear early. If it is light, swapping wheels between axles is usually sufficient. If it is very pronounced, the wheels should be changed so their direction of rotation is reversed.

Diagonal washout is a wear pattern that runs at an angle of approximately 45° to the circumference of the tyre. It usually occurs at one point but can appear at several points.

Causes:

• It occurs almost exclusively on the tyres of non-driven wheels.

• High toe-in values intensify the effect. Wheels with positive toe-in roll with a slip angle even when driving straight, leading to a diagonal strain.

• Low tyre pressure worsens the wear pattern.

• The most pronounced washout is often found where the tyre components are joined.

Remedy:

To avoid this, ensure the toe-in values of the two rear wheels are identical and the specified tyre pressures are observed. If washout is detected early, the affected wheels should be moved to the drive axle. Deeper washout cannot be repaired. Tyres with diagonal washout caused by incorrect wheel alignment are not covered by warranty.

Tyre Noise:

Tyre noise is caused by vibrations transmitted through the air. The primary causes are:

• Road Surface: The structure, material, and condition (wet or dry) of the road greatly affect noise levels.

• Tread Pattern: Tyres with transverse grooves generate more noise than those with diagonal grooves. Coarse, open treads with small, unstable blocks also increase noise.

• Tyre Width: Wider tyres are louder as they displace more air.

• “Tyre vibration” and “Air pumping”: The agitation and compression/expansion of air in the tread channels as the tyre rolls is a principal cause of noise.

Saw-tooth Wear:

Saw-tooth wear is a stepped, uneven wear pattern on individual tread blocks that can cause increased tyre noise. It is more pronounced on non-driven wheels.

Causes of saw-tooth wear:

• Toe-in values are too high.

• Tyre pressures are incorrect.

• The tread is coarse and open.

• Tyres are fitted on the non-driven axle.

• Very fast cornering.

To reduce the effect, the direction of rotation of the tyre must be reversed. If the wear is pronounced, interchange the tyres diagonally.

Before balancing the wheels, it’s essential to conduct a road test to identify the nature of the vibration and the speed at which it occurs. After the road test, follow these steps:

Preparation:

1. Mark the positions of the tyres on the vehicle (e.g., FL, FR, RL, RR).

2. Remove the wheels from the vehicle.

3. Ensure the tyre pressure is correct, the tread is not one-sided, and there are no signs of damage.

4. Clean the contact surfaces, the center of the wheel, and the recess on the inside of the wheel thoroughly.

Balancing Procedure:

1. Mount the wheel with the tyre on the wheel balancer.

2. Rotate the wheel on the balancer and check that the indicator lines on the sidewall and the body of the tyre run evenly.

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

4. More than 60 grams of weight per tyre should not be used. If more is required, you may need to perform a match mounting.

5. Balance until the display indicates 0 grams.

Installation:

1. Bolt the wheel to the vehicle.

2. First hand-tighten the lowest wheel bolt to about 30 Nm.

3. Tighten the remaining wheel bolts diagonally to about 30 Nm to center the wheel on the hub.

4. Lower the vehicle onto its wheels.

5. Use a torque wrench to tighten the wheel bolts diagonally to the specified torque.

After balancing, perform another road test to confirm the vibration is resolved.

If your vehicle pulls to one side, follow this strategic troubleshooting and wheel rotation procedure. First, perform a road test to confirm the issue and determine which side it pulls to.

For vehicles with non-directional tyres:

1. Interchange the front wheels.

2. Perform another road test.

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

• 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 test again. If it still pulls to the same side, check wheel alignment. If alignment is correct, contact Product Support.

3. Reverse one front tyre on its rim (so the direction of rotation is reversed).

4. Perform another road test.

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

• If it does not travel straight, interchange the front and rear wheels and test again. If the problem persists, mount new tyres on the front axle and re-test. If it still pulls, contact Product Support.

For vehicles with unidirectional tyres:

1. Interchange the front and back wheels on the same side.

2. Perform a road test.

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

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

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

4. Perform a road test.

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

• If it does not, renew the other tyre on the front axle. If it still pulls, check the front and rear wheel alignment. If the problem persists after confirming alignment, contact Product Support.

The following table outlines the recommended wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995, type 6N, produced up to and including July 1995.

Note: Modifications other than the standard wheel and tyre combinations are not permissible.

The following table outlines the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1995, type 6N, from August 1995 up to and including model year 1996.