VOLKSWAGEN POLO CLASSIS 1996 (01) PDF Document

If your vehicle is pulling to one side, follow these steps to diagnose and remedy the issue. Experience shows that in 90% of complaints, the tyres are the cause.

Test Conditions Before and During the Road Test:

1. Check all suspension components on the front and rear axles for damage.

2. Check tyre pressure and correct if necessary.

3. Check the tyres for external damage such as punctures, cuts, bubbles on the sidewalls, flat spots from braking, and/or damage to the tread.

4. Check tyres for even wear and tread depth. If there are large differences in the tread depth of the tyres on the front and rear axles, the tyres with the deeper tread should always be mounted on the front axle.

5. Ensure all tyres are of the same type, manufacture, and tread pattern.

6. Perform the road test on a road which is level, straight, ungrooved, and does not drop off to one side. There must be no crosswind during the test.

Strategic Rotation of Wheels (Non-Directional Tyres):

If the complaint is justified, rotating the wheels and tyres can help. Mark the tyres before the first rotation (e.g., FR, FL, RR, RL).

1. Perform a road test to determine if the vehicle pulls to one side and, if so, which side.

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

3. Perform another road test.

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

• If the vehicle now pulls to the other side, the issue is with one of the front tyres. Proceed to the next step.

• If the vehicle pulls to the same side, the issue is not with the front tyres. Proceed to the next step.

4. Reverse one front tyre on its rim (so the direction of rotation is reversed) OR interchange the front and rear tyres. Then perform another road test.

5. Continue interchanging wheels (e.g., interchange front and rear, mount new tyres on front axle) and performing road tests until the vehicle travels in a straight line.

6. If the problem persists after all strategic rotations, check the alignment of the front and rear wheels and adjust if necessary.

To ensure wheels are properly secured, follow these instructions for changing or fitting wheels.

Preparation:

1. Check to ensure that contact surfaces on the brake disc are free of corrosion and dirt.

2. Check to ensure that the contact surface on the centring seat of the brake disc is free of corrosion and dirt.

3. Check to ensure that the contact surface on the inner side of the wheel (rim) and the centring seat of the rim are free of corrosion and dirt.

4. The concave seats in the holes for the wheel bolts and the threads of the wheel bolts must also be free of corrosion, dirt, oil, or grease.

5. Check whether the wheel bolts can be easily screwed in by hand. The thread of the wheel bolts must not come into contact with the bore in the brake disc.

6. Remove any dirt, corrosion, oil, or grease from contact surfaces, threads in the wheel hub, and/or wheel bolts as necessary.

WARNING: 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. The specified torque for steel and alloy wheels is 110 Nm.

WARNING: Do not use an impact driver when screwing in the bolts!

Proper tyre storage is essential to maintain their performance and safety. Stored tyres must not come into contact with fuel, oil, grease, or chemicals under any circumstances.

Storage Room Conditions:

The storage room should be:

• dark,

• dry,

• cool, and

• ventilated.

Storage of 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.

Storage of Tyres without Wheels:

• Tyres without wheels are best stored standing vertically.

• If tyres are stacked for long periods, they can be pressed together, making them more difficult to fit.

• If tyres are stored standing vertically, it is recommended to turn them every 14 days to avoid flat spots.

To correctly measure the tread depth, follow these instructions:

1. The tread depth must be measured in the main tread channels.

2. Do not measure at the TWIs (Tread Wear Indicators). The TWIs are small bars within the tread grooves that indicate the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm.

3. Measure the tread depth in the main tread channel at the points where the tyre is worn most heavily.

4. The position of the TWIs can be identified by various points on the shoulder of the tyre, often marked with “TWI”, a triangle symbol, or the manufacturer’s logo.

5. Always measure at the deepest point of the tread channel, not on top of the TWI bars.

When using snow chains, adhere to the following guidelines:

• Snow chains must be fitted to driven wheels only.

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

• If no particular type of snow chain is specified, small-link chains may be used. These chains, including the fastener, must not protrude more than 15 mm beyond the wheel’s tread and the 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 prevent adverse effects on handling, unnecessary stress on the tyres, and excessive wear on the chains.

The following table lists the approved wheel and tyre combinations for the VOLKSWAGEN POLO CLASSIC from model year 1996 to 2002.