A man walks to his grey VW car with polished VW rims with orange coloured accents

Find and understand the Volkswagen wheel/tyre combinations

Rims – an especially interesting topic when it comes to the design of a car. For rim enthusiasts and newcomers to the area: This page is for everyone. To help you understand, search for and find steel and aluminium rims!

Wheel and tyre combinations

FAQs and answers

Can I use these rims on my Volkswagen without registering them? General operating permit, CoC, part-specific technical report: Where can I find this information? Get the information you’re looking for online and find the answers to these and many more questions here in our FAQs.

Volkswagen Genuine wheel and tyre combination for VW cars

Where do I find the possible wheel/tyre combinations for my Volkswagen?

A basic distinction should be made between Volkswagen wheel/tyre combinations and Volkswagen Genuine Parts® or Volkswagen Accessories – you can choose from both.

When you buy a Volkswagen, or one is delivered to you, you will be given a Certificate of Conformity (CoC). This contains a list of all approved wheel/tyre combinations that are permitted for your exact model and its engine system. This always refers to Volkswagen Genuine Parts®, as they are used exclusively for the equipment of our new vehicles.

The Volkswagen Accessories wheels expand the offer for a (subsequently) individually designed Volkswagen. With regards to the accessories items, the specific general operating permits are what’s important: They explicitly list all the vehicles for which the particular accessory or rims are approved. In both cases, there’s no need for a MOT (or any comparable testing facility) registration.

What exactly is the Certificate of Conformity (CoC)?

As a motor vehicle manufacturer, Volkswagen must apply for an EC operating licence for every car. This is roughly equivalent to the general operating permit, but it’s valid for the whole of the EU. In addition to the permit, the respective parts are given an E-test mark. A certificate is then generated as a result – the so-called CoC (Certificate of Conformity). This document verifies that the vehicle conforms with the EC operating licence (EC type approval) and can be approved for every country in the EU without the need for individual licences. These vehicles are equipped with an EC type plate in the form of a black sticker in the driver door area or, in older vehicles, in the engine compartment. The CoC document is equally as important as the registration certificate: Therefore, the original document should not be kept in the car. The CoC document contains the EC type approval number and comprehensive technical information on the vehicle, such as its emissions classification and all permitted wheel/tyre combinations, insofar as it refers to Genuine Parts rather than accessories wheels.

What is a general operating permit?

A general operating permit can be awarded to both entire vehicles and individual vehicle components.

The general operating permit for a vehicle is/used to be the national authorisation for vehicles and was issued by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority in Flensburg following the completion of a type test. This was the approved procedure until 31.12.1997 – and beyond in exceptional cases. As of 01.01.1998, all vehicles that are permitted for general road use within the European Union must be in possession of a type approval/EC operating licence in accordance with European Union directives.

You should always have a part-specific general operating licence in the car when driving – you may need to show it during an inspection.

What does “recommended by Volkswagen” mean with regards to the wheel/tyre combinations?

The CoC list contains all the combinations for each particular vehicle that have been tested and deemed safe and suitable by Volkswagen during the development phase. They are so precise that these combinations are inspected straight away by the MOT association and as such are already approved when the vehicle goes on sale. The selection and thus the recommendation of these combinations are based on practical tests. The results of these tests must meet Volkswagen high demands in terms of driving behaviour, safety and comfort.

Combinations that are not recommended by the vehicle manufacturer often result in structural changes to the wheel and/or the vehicle. These changes must first be checked by a state certified testing facility, although it should be noted that not all changes are tested. The easiest way to avoid such inconveniences is to stick to the recommended wheel/tyre combinations in the CoC or the part-specific general operating permit.

What is a part-specific technical report?

In contrast to a part-specific general operating permit, a part-specific technical report is not always a direct permit to execute a structural amendment. But: The part-specific technical report generally includes a section on "Fields of application". For example, this may read as follows: “The amendment described in the appendix to the vehicle listed may be executed in consideration of the conditions and information provided”. In this case, the part-specific technical report is in fact a direct approval for the retrofitting of the wheel/tyre combination specified in the appendix. And in exactly the same way, Volkswagen has the respective part-specific technical reports from the MOT association for the approved wheel/tyre combinations named in the CoC.

Most importantly, however, a part-specific technical report contains the requirements concerning the correct installation of the particular part. Without an approved appendix, as it were, an MOT facility (or a comparable testing facility) will have to check that the retrofitting has been conducted correctly in accordance with the technical report. The structural amendment to the vehicle must first be successfully tested before it can be added to part I of the registration certificate, formerly the vehicle registration document, by an accreditation office.

Which wheel/tyre combinations are listed in part I of my registration certificate, formerly the vehicle registration document?

The registration certificate only contains a selection of possible wheel/tyre combinations for the relevant vehicle. These tend to be the minimum sizes. But: It is not essential for one of the combinations listed to actually be mounted. All combinations that are approved according to the vehicle general operating permit or the EC operating licence/type approval can be used, plus all combinations that may come about by way of a part-specific general operating permit and the vehicle stated within it.

What happens if I lose my documents (general operating permit/CoC)?

Why are there different wheel/tyre recommendations for summer and winter?

In general, the following applies: All approved wheel/tyre combinations are valid for both summer and winter tyres. Nevertheless, winter tyres are specifically mentioned in e.g. part-specific technical reports. The recommended winter tyres differ from the other possible tyres in two main aspects: the speed index (indicated in the last letter of the labelling on the tyre) and the diameter. Winter tyres generally have a lower speed index as road conditions tend to be very different in winter. And: The larger a tyre or wheel, the smaller the amount of space available for snow chains. That’s why the recommended winter tyres tend not to be the largest size that is permitted for the respective vehicle.

What do I have to be aware of with wheel/tyre combinations and snow chains?

The larger the rim, the larger the tyre – and the smaller the amount of space between the wheel and the surrounding vehicle body. This means that not all approved wheel and tyre combinations are suitable for snow chains. Therefore, the part-specific technical reports contain a “yes/no” field for snow chains alongside the listed combinations. So, before selecting a rim or complete wheel, make sure you think about whether you can do without the option of having snow chains. If you have any questions concerning snow chains and their various types, fitting and approval with different wheel and tyre combinations, contact your Volkswagen Partner.

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What else should I be aware of from a legal point of view?

If a wheel/tyre combination is mounted for which no operating licence is available – via the CoC, a part-specific technical report plus appendix or a part-specific general operating permit – the operating licence for the vehicle in question is automatically rendered void. It can no longer be driven in road traffic. Regardless of whether the structural retrofitting appears to have made no difference to the driving. The only road that remains open is the road to the MOT facility (or a comparable testing facility) to have the amendment to the vehicle officially tested. If the testing facility issues a report (normally based on the part-specific technical report) stating that the structural amendment has been correctly executed and the driving safety has not been impaired, you can take this new report to an accreditation centre. They will add the amendment to part I of the registration certificate, formerly the vehicle registration document. As long as the retrofitting is not officially added to the vehicle documents, you should keep the new report or the new operating permit in your car at all times. You may be requested to show them during an inspection.

Additional questions?

Rim labelling – explained in six steps

Discover here what the abbreviations on your rims mean, such as 7.0 J X 17, ET49, LK112/5.

Rim width
7,0 J x 17, ET49, LK112/5

The first number indicates the width the rim in inches. In this example, it’s 7" wide.

Illustration of the rim width of a Volkswagen rim

Rim type
7,0 J x 17, ET49, LK112/5

The letter after the width indicates the shape of the rim flange, i.e. how the rim is built. Older rims, e.g. for the Beetle sometimes have the letter B as a rim contour.

Illustration of the rim types of Volkswagen rims

Rim diameter
7.0 J x 17, ET49, LK112/5

16" or 19". The number after the x indicates the diameter of the rim. In this example, this is 17".

Illustration of the rim diameter of a Volkswagen rim

Rim offset
7,0 J x 17, ET49, LK112/5

The offset (ET) describes the distance in millimetres between the vertical wheel centre and the inner wheel contact surface. In the example it is 49 mm.

Illustration of the rim offset of a Volkswagen rim

Bolt pattern
7.0 J x 17, ET49, LK112/5

The bolt pattern (LK) is the circle diameter on which the holes of the wheel bolts are located.

Illustration of the bolt pattern of a Volkswagen rim

Number of screws
7.0 J x 17, ET49, LK112/5

The number of screws with which the rims are fixed to the wheel flange is different on every vehicle. In this example, there are five.

Illustration of the screws of a Volkswagen rim

Parts and accessories: A wider choice for you

View details on both Volkswagen Genuine Rims and rims from Volkswagen Accessories here.

A red Volkswagen in the light of a sunset with dynamic VW Genuine Rims

Volkswagen Genuine Rims

The Certificate of Conformity (CoC) contains a list of the genuine rims that are suitable for your vehicle – all of which have been tested as wheel/tyre combinations by the MOT association. These rims are Volkswagen Genuine Parts®, which are mounted ex-works. Of course, you can also equip your vehicle with genuine rims at a later date. The middle number of a genuine rim is -601-. Have you chosen a wheel and tyre combination from the CoC for Volkswagen Genuine Rims? Contact your Volkswagen Partner to place an order.

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Volkswagen Accessories Rims

Of course, you can also use Volkswagen Accessories Rims to to create a totally individual design for your car. We also offer items for modifying your vehicle, in particular for kitting it out later on down the line. The middle number of a Volkswagen Accessories Rim is -071-.

Your Volkswagen Partner will be happy to advise you on rims specifically for your model and recommends a suitable combination.

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A white VW vehicle with Volkswagen Genuine Alloy rims

Sporty alloy rims

Thanks to top quality materials, there’s no need to forego attractive alloy rims, even when temperatures start to drop. Even in the most unpleasant of temperatures and weather conditions, we make sure you still enjoy a dynamic performance.

The attractive appearance of alloy rims versus the resilience of steel rims – or at least that’s how the theory goes. Our alloy rims have been specially designed for use in snow and slush. The winter-specific surfaces are extremely resistant to corrosion. They’re easy to clean and incredibly resilient – especially against road salt.

Robust steel rims

Ready for practically any weather: With our complete steel wheels, you’ll benefit from both their great value and the convenience they offer.

Customer and mechanic at a tyre inspection

Tyre packages – an all-round success

The right tyres, professional mounting and storage... there’s quite a bit involved with changing your tyres. How about this: You pay a monthly fee and as a result you get financial planning security – we’ll take care of everything else.

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AirStop®

Fewer flat tyres, more mobility. Find out about self-sealing tyres with sealing technology here.

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