Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Winter tyres

Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual / Wheels and Tyres Guide - General Information / Information on tyres / Run-flat tyres, PAX / Winter tyres

M+S symbol

On an “M and S tyre” the tread profile, tread composition or construction are designed so that the handling characteristics are improved on snow as compared with a normal tyre - especially when pulling away or stabilisation of vehicle movements.

Winter tyres

Snowflake symbol

The “snowflake” symbol indicates a winter tyre according to the industrial standard based on which winter tyres are defined in the USA. These tyres are extremely capable on snow, icy roads and at low temperatures as far as safety and control are a concerned.

M+S marking for 4x4/SUV tyres

Some vehicles are equipped with tyres which have the symbol “M+S” on the outer tyre wall. The reason is, these models were first available on the North American market where all-season tyres with the symbol “M+S” are common. The marking “M+S” is officially defined in a EU Directive as the following: “A tyre where the tyre tread and structure are designed for improved properties in snow as opposed to a normal tyre (translation, not from EU regulation)”. The performance of “M+S” marked tyres are therefore not defined nor tested. The snow performance of winter tyres in North America are specified by the “Snowflake on the Mountain symbol”. Only tyres that fulfil or exceed these requirements may carry the “Snowflake on the Mountain symbol”.

Use of winter tyres

As of 01.05.2006, a change to the German road traffic regulations (StVO) came into force which caused the following supplement to be made: "The equipment in motor vehicles has to be adapted to the weather conditions. In particular, this includes suitable tyres and antifreeze in the windscreen washing system."

Please point out to customers that, since May 1st 2006, they are legally obliged to adapt their vehicle's equipment, particularly the tyres, to winter weather conditions.

For driving in winter, we recommend that the vehicle be equipped with winter tyres in the sizes recommended in the certificate statements.

As a basic rule:

All tyre sizes listed in the vehicle documents can also be used as winter tyres.

The handling characteristics may be affected by the use of winter tyres and the possible change in the dimensions of the wheel and tyre. Therefore, when using winter tyres, you must adapt your speed to the changed handling characteristics and to the road conditions.

To achieve the best possible handling, winter tyres must be fitted on all wheels.

If the vehicle is equipped with rims other than the factory-fitted rims, you must take the following into consideration when you fit winter tyres:

Wheels and wheel bolts are matched.

Whenever the wheels are changed, corresponding wheel bolts of the correct length and with the correct type of convex seats must be used → Anchor. The secure fit of the wheels and the functioning of the brakes depends this.

The suitability of winter tyres with less than 4…5 mm tread depth for winter operation is limited.

Some countries require winter tyres to have a tread depth of at least 4 mm.

We recommend that winter tyres be replaced after no more than six years. The special “winter properties” of these tyres decline with age, regardless of how much they are used.

Explanations regarding convex seats

There are two different versions of the convex seats, the spherical taper and the bevel taper.

Winter tyres

The spherical seat is the curved surface of a section of a sphere -arrow A-. This type of convex seat is sometimes used for genuine wheel rims.

The tapered seat is the flat surface of a section of a taper -arrow B-. This type of convex seat is sometimes used for wheel rims of the accessories trade.

I -	Wheel bolts with spherical seat

II -	Wheel bolts with tapered seat

Vehicles with tyre pressure control

On vehicles with tyre pressure control, the tyre inflation pressure has to be resaved or matched when changing over between summer and winter tyres and visa verse → Owner's manual for relevant model.

Registration regulations in the Federal Republic of Germany

Only when winter tyres are in use may the top speed that a vehicle can achieve be greater than the maximum speed specified by the speed symbol of the tyre.

In this case, a label stating the following must be attached:

Winter tyres

Important! Winter tyres!

Maximum speed … km/h

Note

This label must be clearly visible to the driver!

Reinforced and Extra Load (XL) tyres

Some tyre manufacturers have for some time replaced the designation “Reinforced” with the designation “Extra Load”. This designation has long been standard in ...

Winter tyres with speed symbol V

Table → Anchor The tyre industry now supplies winter tyres with speed symbol "V". But only under certain conditions may these tyres ...

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