Things You'll Need:
- Lug nut wrench
- Car jack
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Step 1
Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with a lug nut wrench and jack up the car. Remove the lug nuts and take off the tire.
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Step 2
Check for tread separation by looking for parts of the tread pulling away from the carcass of the tire. Tread separation is the top cause of rollovers and vehicle control loss on highways. Contact your dealer about warranty information if your tires experience tread separation.
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Step 3
Inspect the inner liner of the tire for damage. If you see any metal or separation from the inner liner, the tire is defective. This is also a good time to check that the bead is intact and in good shape.
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Step 4
Look for cracked or dried tire edges. This signifies dry rot and is more prominent when purchasing used tires for your Passat. Dry rot can cause the tire to fall apart while driving, so replace the tire as soon as possible.
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Step 5
Make sure the sidewall doesn't have any bulges or bubbles. These defects can cause a tire blow out, which causes loss of control for many drivers.
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Step 6
Examine your tires for small leaks, if you notice an increase in pressure loss but can't find any blatant defects. Do this by inflating the tire and spraying a soap and water solution onto the tire. Look for bubbling, which signifies an air leak.
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Step 7
Get replacement tires for your Passat if you have a 4.0L engine and the tires have a load rating of 93H. Many Passat models have defective tires, with the load rating too low. The correct tires should have a load rating of 97H.
