MY17/MQB Platform Tiguan Discussion Thread

[Delewin]

Hi All,
Can someone please tell me the standard Australian delivery tyre size for the Gen2 Tiguan highline with 18" rims?

Depending on where I look (on the web) I have seen both 235/55 R18 and 235/50 R18.

Is it 50% or 55% aspect ration?

Thank you,
David

[REGS12]

I understand that the 18's are all 55series, 19's are 50 and 20's as on Rline 45's. That is the reason I refused to order R-line

[Delewin]

Hi REGS12,

Thank you.

Trendline & Comfortline use 17x7 ET40 and 215/65 R17 with overall wheel diameter of 711 mm

Highline use 18x8 ET38 and 235/55 R18 with overall wheel diameter of 716 mm

R-Line use 20x8.5 ET38 and 255/40 R20 with overall wheel diameter of 712 mm

The space-saver is
18x4 ET 27.5 and 145/80 R18 with overall wheel diameter of 689 mm This is why you cannot exceed 80Km/Hr with the space-saver.

It is all about the difference in the rolling diameter and how that can cause problems with the diffs, axles and steering if it is on the front.

While patiently waiting for my 162 TSI to arrive I am trying to work out just what tyre /rim combo will replace the Spacesaver wheel and still fit under the tray top when it is placed on the higher position.

This brings up a question on how does one re-calibrate the speedo when you change the overall wheel diameter from standard?

Also has VW used the same calibration for all of its Tiguan models?

If so, then the Trend line, Comfort line and R line would be OK, but the High line would show a lower speed that actual based on the larger overall diameter tyres??

Does anyone know if the speedos are calibrated to the supplied tyres or does VW just assume all tyres are equal?

David

[NZ_GolfR]

Driving along the motorway here in NZ today and spotted the following. First thing I noticed was the exhaust and for a second thought it was the Tiguan R that has been spotted over in Europe but then realised it was a Touareg with aftermarket exhaust and body kit. I took a quick photo (excuse the bad shot but I was supposed to be driving) and it wasn't until this evening when I was comparing photos that I saw the exhausts look almost identical:



Doing a bit of hunting I am pretty sure this is the body kit that it had which includes the exhaust tips which you can also buy on their own (all be it rather expensive). Interestingly they bolt onto the existing OEM muffler just replacing the standard tips.

VW Touareg II Wide Body Kit ROYAL GT 470 by Hofele includes the Hofele – Hofele America LLC

VW Touareg II 7P Stainless Steel Double Tailpipes, Chromed – Hofele America LLC

Wonder if they or someone else will do something for the new Tiguan? Would have to find a way to remove the fake chrome outlets first though.

[IsDon]

Hi REGS12,

Thank you.

Trendline & Comfortline use 17x7 ET40 and 215/65 R17 with overall wheel diameter of 711 mm

Highline use 18x8 ET38 and 235/55 R18 with overall wheel diameter of 716 mm

R-Line use 20x8.5 ET38 and 255/40 R20 with overall wheel diameter of 712 mm

The space-saver is
18x4 ET 27.5 and 145/80 R18 with overall wheel diameter of 689 mm This is why you cannot exceed 80Km/Hr with the space-saver.

It is all about the difference in the rolling diameter and how that can cause problems with the diffs, axles and steering if it is on the front.

While patiently waiting for my 162 TSI to arrive I am trying to work out just what tyre /rim combo will replace the Spacesaver wheel and still fit under the tray top when it is placed on the higher position.

This brings up a question on how does one re-calibrate the speedo when you change the overall wheel diameter from standard?

Also has VW used the same calibration for all of its Tiguan models?

If so, then the Trend line, Comfort line and R line would be OK, but the High line would show a lower speed that actual based on the larger overall diameter tyres??

Does anyone know if the speedos are calibrated to the supplied tyres or does VW just assume all tyres are equal?

David

The difference between a 711mm and 716mm rolling diameter would result in a difference of 0.7% or less than 1km/hr at freeway speeds. This is significantly less difference than a new tyre vs one due for replacement as the tread is reduced on the same tyre.

Of note, on this subject, is that the Australian Standard for speedo calibration states (well at least it did a few years ago when I first researched it) that for a speedo to be in accordance with the standard it must not under-read at all, but can over-read by up to 10% + 6km/hr. So a true speed of 100km/hr could see your speedo read 116km/hr and still be considered correct.

You can thank the nanny state "speed kills" nonsense and the proliferation of speed cameras for this. If you stay below the limit on your speedo you will always be below the limit, sometimes by a long way. The worst car I've seen for this was my MY07 Subaru Liberty 3.0 RB which over-read by 10%. The MY13 A6 Allroad I currently drive over-reads by 2%. The easiest way to check this is on the freeway with the cruise control on, at a constant speed, on a straight road. Check the speed against a GPS. GPS speed does have a small time lag and works through a principle of time rate of change of position, so if you're accelerating, or going around a corner, the GPS will under-read slightly. It is far more accurate than most car speedos though.

So the Highline would be the more correct using your diameters above. The other models would over-read more, slightly.

Yes, speedo calibration can be changed with VCDS, but if I recall correctly can only be changed in steps which equate to 3-5% so more than the error in most modern VAG cars. You can't fine tune it to the accuracy of less than 1% using VCDS. If you're changing tyres from the manufacturer spec my suggestion would be to check the over-read of your speedo with standard tyre first. Then work out what the change will be with the new set. If the new tyres have a larger rolling diameter it will reduce the over-read. This is what I did with the Liberty. Using the same 18" wheels, and the same aspect ratio tyres I increased the width by 10mm. As aspect ratio is a measure of sidewall height as compared to width, this increased the sidewall height by 5mm and the diameter by 10mm. This reduced the over-read in the speedo by a small amount.

Of interest is that different brands of the same sized tyre can have a variance in rolling diameter of up to 1%. Even though they may be the same wheel size, width and aspect ratio they should mathematically be the same rolling diameter they're not.

I hear what you say about the space saver speed limit being based on diff stress, I hadn't heard that. I'd been told it's based on the structure of the sidewall of the space saver not being able to handle stress of cornering or impact at high speed. It's possible what you say is correct, but I would have thought distance travelled with a space saver would be more of a consideration than speed if this were the case.

[Delewin]

The difference I am referring to are limited slip diff. I am assuming the Haldex system in the Tiguan are basically LSDs.

Using 2 tyres of different diameter will "wind up" the diff to the point that it effectively Locks. From that point on one of the tyres will start skidding as the diff "unlocks" itself.

This is not a problem with a std diff. A std diff allows any size tyre to be mated to one another.

As long as the rim clears the brake calipers and the offset gives zero scrub radius you are fine to.

It may not be a stable or comfortable ride but a ride it will be.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[IsDon]

The difference I am referring to are limited slip diff. I am assuming the Haldex system in the Tiguan are basically LSDs.

Using 2 tyres of different diameter will "wind up" the diff to the point that it effectively Locks. From that point on one of the tyres will start skidding as the diff "unlocks" itself.

This is not a problem with a std diff. A std diff allows any size tyre to be mated to one another.

As long as the rim clears the brake calipers and the offset gives zero scrub radius you are fine to.

It may not be a stable or comfortable ride but a ride it will be.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Yeah, I'm still not convinced.

If what you're saying is true then it would occur at slow speeds as well. I've also seen two wheel drive cars, both front and rear wheel drive, with the same space saver spares with the the same 80km/hr speed limits.

I'm still inclined to think it's tyre structure related rather than a diff problem. Vehicle dynamics could also be a possible issue. Obviously the vehicles handling and control is compromised with a mismatched set of tyres.

[Delewin]

Hi IsDon,

I agree with you regarding Spacesaver tyres. In Australia where large distances are traveled, full size spares should be mandatory.

Yes: Spacesavers are lighter, but they are a temporary tyre. They cannot go over 80Km/Hr or travel more than 400 to 500 Km. That is just not acceptable in Australia.

I will be replacing my Spacesaver with a full size spare and "chock up the floor of the boot area. I know I will be losing some space above the floor, but I will gain an equal amount of space below the floor. So, the net available space remains the same.

I agree that I may not be able to fit a large object in the boot, but when more space is needed (in that rare time) I will simply remove or re-position the spare and put the floor on the lowest setting.

Ideally I would buy a genuine 18" Kingston rim and the same tyre that came with the car. But as this is going to live in the spare wheel well, I think an "after market" 18" x 8 rim will work just as well and most likely be ~$1,000 cheaper.

[Gladbach]

One thing that bugs me a little about the Tiguan (well, will bug me when I get it) is that is has that hatch back style hard luggage compartment cover instead of a retractable cover that most SUVs and wagons get these days. Has anyone else been a bit put off by it? Retractable ones make so much more sense as you don't have that annoying hard panel to store somewhere when you're loading up the boot.

I would have even been prepared to buy a retractable one as an accessory.

[IsDon]

Hi IsDon,

I agree with you regarding Spacesaver tyres. In Australia where large distances are traveled, full size spares should be mandatory.

Yes: Spacesavers are lighter, but they are a temporary tyre. They cannot go over 80Km/Hr or travel more than 400 to 500 Km. That is just not acceptable in Australia.

I will be replacing my Spacesaver with a full size spare and "chock up the floor of the boot area. I know I will be losing some space above the floor, but I will gain an equal amount of space below the floor. So, the net available space remains the same.

I agree that I may not be able to fit a large object in the boot, but when more space is needed (in that rare time) I will simply remove or re-position the spare and put the floor on the lowest setting.

Ideally I would buy a genuine 18" Kingston rim and the same tyre that came with the car. But as this is going to live in the spare wheel well, I think an "after market" 18" x 8 rim will work just as well and most likely be ~$1,000 cheaper.

Yes mate agree.

The other issue is if you're half way to Timbuktu with a full load of family, dog, goods and chattels and get a flat. All fine to put the space saver on, but then where do you store the flat tyre?

I suppose you could use the Clark Griswold solution. Tie the dog to the bumper and then drive off.