Things You'll Need:
- Tire pressure gauge
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Step 1
Inspect the tread. Check for tire wear bars—bars in the tires across the treads. If you see these, the tire needs replacing. You can also take a penny and insert it into the tire groove with Lincoln's head upside-down. If you see all of Lincoln's head, the tire's too worn and needs replacing. Make sure you check the tread in all four tires—not just one. This is also a good way to check for wear; if the tread is different in different areas, the tire's not wearing correctly and may need replacing.
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Step 2
Examine the tires for wear; all tires should wear evenly. Wear on the edges or in the middle of the tires may indicate over- or under-inflation. If you notice odd bulges or rough edges, the tires may need replacement and realignment. Make sure you rotate the tires if you notice wear in the same spots on all the tires.
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Step 3
Check your tires' pressure (PSI) with a tire pressure gauge. Insert the gauge into the nozzle on the side of the tire called the tire's valve stem. Press the gauge down until you don't hear a hiss of air. Note the reading on the tire pressure gauge. Look for a sticker on the driver's side door that lets you know what the maximum tire pressure should be for your tires. Add or subtract air to your tires if your PSI indicates it. Once you add or subtract air from tires, don't forget to double check the PSI again.
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Step 4
Look at the tires for embedded objects such as nails. You should also check for other damage, cracking or odd bulges in the tires and replace the tires as needed. If you're not sure whether a tire needs replacing or patching, speak to a mechanic. When in doubt, always replace the tire.
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Step 5
Verify any previous owners have put the correct size tires on your VW Passat. If your tires need replacing, make sure you replace them with the correct size tires. In general, the correct size tires for your VW Passat are 235/40R18, 215/55R16, 235/45R17, 195/65R15 or 205/55R16 depending on the year of your car.
