Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual: Wheel change, installation requirements

Volkswagen Golf Service & Repair Manual / Running gear, axles, steering / Wheels, tyres, axle align / Wheels, tyres / Wheel change, installation requirements

Warming cold tyres to minimum installation temperature

Note

This instruction also applies to ultra-high performance tyres (height/width ratio smaller than/same as 45 % and speed symbol greater than/same as V).

WARNING

The minimum installation temperature of a tyre should be between 15 °C and 30 °C in the core of the tyre.

To install tyres without damage, it is especially important to warm the upper part of the sidewall and the inside of the upper bead to at least 15 °C.

This internal temperature is referred to as the core temperature.

Rubber is a poor conductor of heat. Therefore, a cold tyre must be left in an area with the correct temperature for a sufficiently long period so the inner rubber layers can warm up to at least 15 °C.

The surface temperature of the tyre during the warming up phase is no indication of the internal temperature of the tyre.

To enable cold tyres to absorb heat from the ambient air as quickly as possible, they should not be stacked on top of one another. Instead, the tyres should be stored individually in order to allow the warm air to “circulate” around them effectively.

Tyres must never be placed in front of a radiator or hot air blower for warming, since this can very quickly lead to critical surface temperatures.

Heating the tyres without damage can only be achieved by heating with warm water or warm air (max. 50 °C)!

If cold tyres (below 0 °C) are transferred to a warm environment (above 0 °C), a layer of condensation immediately forms on the surface of the tyre. This layer of condensation indicates that the tyre is intensively absorbing heat from its environment through the process of water vapour in the air condensing out on the tyre surface.

Once the layer of frost has thawed, condensate water forms. The condensation should be dried with a cloth so that the further warming process is not delayed due to a temperature drop caused by evaporation.

Warming times:

Tyres with a temperature of above 0 °C must be kept at least at 19 °C for at least 2 hours.

Tyres with a temperature of below 0 °C must be kept at least at 19 °C for at least 2.5 hours.

Warming recommendations:

If possible, tyres should be stored in the workshop 1 day before they are fitted (order preparation).

Store on an insulated base, pallet or on a similar surface raised from the floor.

Position the tyres individually to allow the warm air to “circulate” around them effectively.

Wipe off condensation

Never heat with a radiator or hot air blower!

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