Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (2015 year). Instruction — part 10

Luggage compartment

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Folding the rear seat backrest forward and back into place

Shopping bag hooks

Always stow heavy objects in the luggage compartment and make sure that the rear seat backrests
are securely latched in their upright position. Never overload the vehicle. Remember that the vehicle

load, as well as how it is distributed, can affect vehicle handling and braking

⇒ .

More information:

Safety belts
Airbag system
Lights
Transporting
Tires and wheels

WARNING

An open or unlocked luggage compartment poses special risks for children.

Close and lock the luggage compartment lid and all doors when the vehicle is not in use.

First, make certain that no one is left inside.

Never leave your vehicle unattended or let children play around the vehicle, especially

with the luggage compartment lid left open. A child could crawl into the vehicle and pull the
lid shut, becoming trapped and unable to get out. This could cause severe or fatal injuries.

A closed vehicle can become very hot or very cold, depending on the season. Tempera-

tures can quickly reach levels that can cause unconsciousness or death, particularly to small
children.

Never let children play in or around the vehicle.

Never let anyone ride in the luggage compartment.

WARNING

Unsecured or incorrectly stowed items can fly through the vehicle, causing serious personal
injury during hard braking or sharp steering or in an accident. Loose items can also be struck
and thrown through the passenger compartment by the front airbags if they inflate. To help
reduce the risk of serious personal injury:

Always stow all objects securely in the vehicle. Always put luggage and heavy items in the

luggage compartment.

Always secure objects in the passenger compartment properly with suitable straps so that

they cannot move into the deployment zone of a side or front airbag during sudden braking,
in a sudden maneuver, or in a collision.

Always keep storage compartments closed while driving.
Never stow hard, heavy, or sharp objects in the vehicle's open storage compartments, on

the shelf behind the rear seat backrest, or on the top of the instrument panel.

Always remove hard, heavy, or sharp objects from clothing and bags in the vehicle interi-

or and stow them securely in the luggage compartment.

WARNING

Transporting heavy objects causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change and
increases braking distances. Heavy loads which are not properly stowed or secured in the
vehicle can lead to a loss of vehicle control and cause serious personal injury.

Transporting heavy items causes the handling characteristics of the vehicle to change by

shifting the vehicle's center of gravity.

Always distribute luggage evenly and as low as possible within the vehicle. The vehicle

capacity weight figures apply when the load is distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers
and luggage).

Always stow luggage and heavy items in the luggage compartment as far forward of the

rear axle as possible.

Never exceed the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Axle Weight Ratings,

which are printed on the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the door jamb of
the driver door. Exceeding the permissible weight can cause the vehicle to skid and behave
differently.

Always adapt your speed and driving style to accommodate your payload and its weight

distribution within your vehicle.

Be especially cautious and gentle when stepping on the accelerator pedal and avoid sud-

den braking and other maneuvers.

Brake earlier than you would if you were not driving a loaded vehicle.

NOTICE

The defroster heating wires in the rear window can be damaged by objects that rub against
them.

Folding the rear seat backrest forward and back into place

Fig. 93 In the luggage compartment: Release lever for the left and right sections of the rear seat backrest.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The rear seat backrest is divided into 2 sections. Each section of the rear seat backrest can be folded
down individually to increase luggage space.

Folding the rear seat backrest forward with the remote release lever

Open the luggage compartment lid

⇒ Luggage compartment lid.

Pull the release lever for the left or right

⇒

fig. 93

rear seat backrest in the direction of the arrow.

Remove the head restraint

⇒ Adjusting the seating position.

Fold the unlocked section of the rear seat backrest forward.

Close the luggage compartment lid, if necessary

⇒ Luggage compartment lid.

If the rear seat backrest is folded down, no one, including children, may ride on the rear seat.

Folding the rear seat backrest back into place

Install the head restraint

⇒ Adjusting the seating position.

Fold the rear seat backrest back until it engages securely

⇒ .

The rear seat backrest must be securely latched into place for the safety belts on the rear seats to

provide optimal protection.

WARNING

Improper folding and improper latching of the rear seat backrest can cause serious personal
injury.

Always make sure there are no people or animals in the area around the rear seat backrest

when folding it forward.

Never fold the rear seat backrest forward or back while the vehicle is moving.
When folding the rear seat backrest back up, make sure that the safety belt does not get

caught or damaged.

Keep hands, fingers, feet and other body parts out of the way when folding the rear seat

backrest forward or back.

Each rear seat backrest must be securely latched in the upright position so that the safety

belts on the rear seats can provide protection.

If a seat is used with an unsecured backrest, the passenger will move forward together

with the rear seat backrest during sudden braking, driving maneuvers, or in a collision.

No one, including children, may ride on the rear seats if the rear seat backrest is folded

down or not correctly latched.

NOTICE

Before folding the rear seat backrest forward, adjust the front seats so that the rear seat's head
restraint or backrest cushion will not touch the front seats.

Shopping bag hooks

Fig. 94 In the luggage compartment: Shopping bag hooks (arrows).

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Shopping bag hooks may be located on the upper left and right of the luggage compartment

⇒

fig. 94

(arrow).

WARNING

Never use the shopping bag hooks as tie-downs. The hooks could break off during sudden
braking maneuvers or in a collision.

NOTICE

The maximum load for each shopping bag hook is 5 lbs. (2.5 kg).

Roof rack

Important information about roof racks

For technical reasons, the vehicle body is not designed to carry a roof rack. Never mount a roof rack

on your vehicle. Mounting a roof rack will do considerable damage to the vehicle

⇒ .

WARNING

Mounting a roof rack on the vehicle can cause an accident and serious personal injuries.

Never mount a roof rack on the vehicle.
A roof rack could come loose while driving and fall off the roof of the vehicle.

NOTICE

Installing a roof rack or carrier of any kind will cause expensive damage to your vehicle that
will not be covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

Trailer towing

Important information

For technical reasons, the vehicle body structure is not designed for the installation of a trailer hitch.

Never install a trailer hitch on your vehicle. Installing a trailer hitch will do considerable damage to the

vehicle

⇒ .

WARNING

Installing a trailer hitch on the vehicle can cause an accident and serious personal injuries.

Never install a trailer hitch on the vehicle.
A trailer hitch can fall off while driving or rip loose or while pulling a trailer causing the

trailer to separate from the vehicle.

NOTICE

Installing a trailer hitch of any kind will cause expensive damage to your vehicle that will not be
covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty.

Tires and wheels

Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Tire and wheel handling

Wheel rims

New and replacement tires

Tire inflation pressure

Tire inflation pressure in cold tires

Tire inflation pressure in cold tires

Tread depth and tread wear indicators

Tire wear and damage

Compact spare wheel

Tire labeling

Winter tires

Snow chains

Glossary of tire and loading terminology

Tires and vehicle load limits

Determining the correct load limit

UTQG classification

Volkswagen recommends that all work on tires and wheels be done by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. They are familiar with the technical requirements
and recommended procedures, have the necessary special tools and spare parts, and can properly
dispose of old tires.

More information:

Transporting
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Braking and parking
Exterior care and cleaning
Vehicle tool kit
Consumer information
Wheel trim
Changing a wheel

WARNING

New tires or tires that are old, worn or damaged cannot provide maximum control and
braking performance.

Improper care and handling of tires and wheels can reduce driving safety and cause

accidents and severe injuries.

Install only radial tires of the same make, the same dimensions (tread circumference), and

similar tread profile on all 4 wheels.

New tires tend to be slippery and must be broken in. Always drive with special care for the

first 350 miles (560 km) to help reduce the risk of losing control, a collision, and serious
personal injuries.

Check tire inflation pressure regularly when the tires are cold and always maintain the

prescribed tire pressure. Low tire pressure can cause tires to get too hot, resulting in tread
separation, sudden loss of pressure, and blowouts. Tires with excessively low pressure flex
(bend) more, which can cause the tire to overheat and fail suddenly without warning.

Check tires regularly for wear and damage.
Never drive with worn or damaged tires (for example, tires with punctures, cuts, cracks,

blisters, or bumps). Driving with worn or damaged tires can lead to loss of vehicle control,
sudden tire failure including blowouts and sudden deflation, crashes, and serious personal
injuries.

Have worn or damaged tires replaced immediately.
Never exceed the maximum speed rating or the maximum load rating of the tires on your

vehicle.

The effectiveness of the driver assistance systems and the braking support systems

depends on the tire traction.

If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side when driving, always stop

as soon as it is safe to do so and check the wheels and tires for damage.

To reduce the risk of losing control, crashes, and serious personal injuries, never loosen

the bolts on wheels with bolted rim rings.

Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of their past use. Old, used

tires and wheels may have damage that cannot be seen that can lead to sudden tire failure
and loss of vehicle control.

Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly, especially at high speeds,

causing loss of vehicle control, accidents, and severe personal injuries. Tires that are more
than 6 years old can be used only in an emergency and even then only with special care and
at low speed.

For technical reasons it is usually not possible to use wheel rims from other vehicles. Even wheel

rims from the same model may not fit properly. Check with an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility if necessary.

Tire and wheel handling

Fig. 95 Tire rotation diagram.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Tires may be the least appreciated and most abused parts of a motor vehicle. Tires are very important,
since their small patches of rubber are the only contact between your vehicle and the road.

Maintaining correct tire pressure, making sure that your vehicle and its tires do not have to carry more
weight than they can safely handle, and regularly inspecting tires for damage (such as cuts, slashes,
irregular wear, and overall condition) are the most important things that you can do to help avoid
sudden tire failure, including tread separation and blowout.

The tires and wheels are essential parts of the vehicle's design. The tires and wheels approved by
Volkswagen are specially matched to the characteristics of the vehicle for good road holding and safe
handling when in good condition and properly inflated.

Avoiding tire damage

If you must drive over a curb or other obstacle, drive very slowly and as much as possible at a right

angle to the curb with the tire tread of both front wheels contacting the curb at the same time.

Regularly check tires for damage, such as punctures, cuts, tears and blisters.
Remove embedded material in the tread profile that has not yet penetrated the inside of the tire

⇒ Tire wear and damage.

Heed all warning messages from the Tire Pressure Monitoring System

⇒ Tire Pressure Monitoring

System (TPMS).

Replace worn or damaged tires immediately

⇒ Tire wear and damage.

Damage to tires and wheels is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual vibration or the

vehicle pulls to one side, this may indicate that one of the tires is damaged. The tires must be checked
immediately for hidden damage by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen
Service Facility. See also Tire wear and damage.

Never exceed the load and permissible maximum speed rating of the tires.
Always keep aggressive chemicals including grease, oil, gasoline and brake fluid off the tires,

including the compact spare wheel

⇒ .

Replace missing valve caps immediately.

Unidirectional tires

Unidirectional tires are designed to rotate only in one direction. Unidirectional tires have arrows on the
sidewalls that show the direction of rotation. Unidirectional tires must always be mounted according to
the specified direction of rotation in order to deliver their best grip, braking performance, low road
noise, and good wear as well as good hydroplaning resistance.

If you have to mount a tire opposite to its proper direction of rotation, you must drive more carefully,
since the tire is no longer being used as designed. This is particularly important on wet roads. You
must replace or remount the tire as soon as possible in order to restore the correct direction of
rotation.

Rotating tires

To help ensure even wear on all tires, regular tire rotation according to the diagram

⇒

fig. 95

is

recommended. In this way all tires can have about the same service life.

Volkswagen recommends that you have your tires rotated by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Tires more than 6 years old

Tires age even if they are not being used. Physical and chemical processes reduce tire strength and
performance and cause them to harden and become brittle. Old tires can fail suddenly and without
warning.

Volkswagen recommends replacing tires that are 6 years and older. This also applies to tires that look
new (including the tire on the compact spare wheel) or that seem to still be usable with tread depth

that has not yet reached the legal minimum depth

⇒ .

The age of each tire can be determined with the manufacturing date that is part of the U.S. DOT tire
identification number (TIN)

Tire storage

Mark tires before removing them to help make sure that the previous location (left, right, front, rear)
and rolling direction can be maintained when remounting them. Store tires in a cool, dry and preferably
dark place. Do not store tires mounted on wheels standing up.

Tires not mounted on wheels should be covered to help protect them from dirt and stored vertically
(sitting on the tread).

WARNING

Aggressive fluids and materials can cause visible and invisible tire damage that can cause
tire blowouts.

Always keep chemicals, oils, grease, fuels, braking fluids and other aggressive

substances away from tires.

WARNING

Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly, especially at high speeds,
causing loss of vehicle control, accidents, and severe personal injuries.

Tires that are more than 6 years old can be used only in an emergency and even then only

with special care and at low speed.

Always dispose of old tires in accordance with legal requirements.

Wheel rims

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The design of the wheel bolts is matched to the factory-installed wheels. If different wheels are
installed, wheel bolts with the right length and bolt head shape must be used. This helps to ensure that

wheels can be mounted securely and that the brakes will work correctly

⇒ Changing a wheel.

In most cases, you cannot use wheel bolts from a different vehicle. Even wheel rims from the same
model may not fit properly.

Tires and wheel rims approved by Volkswagen have been matched precisely to your vehicle model
and contribute considerably to good handling and safe vehicle performance.

Tightening torque

Wheel bolts must always be installed with the correct tightening torque

⇒ Changing a wheel. The

required tightening torque for your vehicle's wheel bolts is 103 ft-lbs (140 Nm). After changing a
wheel, the bolt torque must be checked as soon as possible with an accurate torque wrench. See an
authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Wheel rims with bolted rim rings

Wheel rims with bolted rim rings have several parts. The parts are bolted together with special screws
in a special process. This helps to ensure that they will work properly, prevent leaks, run true and
safely. Damaged wheel rims must be replaced, and you must never take them apart or try to repair
them yourself. Have an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility

repair them for you

⇒ .

Wheel rims with bolted decorative covers

Light-alloy wheels may have interchangeable decorative covers attached to the rim with self-locking
screws. If you want to replace damaged wheel covers, contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer or
authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

WARNING

Using improper or damaged wheel rims can affect driving safety, cause accidents and severe
personal injury.

Use only wheel rims approved for the vehicle.
Regularly check wheel rims for damage and replace them if necessary.

WARNING

Improper loosening and tightening of the bolts on wheel rims with bolted rim rings can cause
accidents and severe personal injury.

Never loosen bolted connections on wheel rims with bolted rim rings.
Have all work on wheel rims with bolted rim rings performed by an authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

New and replacement tires

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

New tires

Drive a vehicle with new tires especially carefully for the first 350 miles (560 km) because the tires

must first be broken in. Tires that are not broken in have reduced traction and braking performance
⇒ .

Install only radial tires of the same make, the same dimensions (tread circumference), and similar

tread profile on all 4 wheels.

The tread depth of new tires can differ between tire models and manufacturers because of different

design features and tread design.

Replacing tires

Tires should be replaced in pairs and not individually (both front tires or both rear tires at the same

time)

⇒ .

Replace tires only with tires that have the same specifications, including width and diameter, load

and top speed rating as the tires approved by Volkswagen for your vehicle and model.

Never use tires that are larger or wider than the dimensions of the tires approved by Volkswagen

for your vehicle and model. Larger tires could scrape and rub on the vehicle body or other parts of the
vehicle.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) considerations: The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) must be recalibrated whenever you remove and remount or change any wheel or tire on the
vehicle, even if the reinstalled or replacement wheels and tires are identical to those that were

removed and even if the tire pressure does not change

⇒ Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

WARNING

New tires tend to be slippery and must be broken in.

Always drive with special care for the first 350 miles (560 km) to help reduce the risk of

losing control, a collision, and serious personal injuries.

WARNING

Tires must have the required clearance. Tires that do not have enough clearance can rub
against parts of the vehicle body, suspension, and brake system, causing brake system
failure, tread delamination, and sudden blowouts.

Always make sure that new tires are not larger than the tires approved for your vehicle

and that the new tires do not rub against parts of the vehicle.

NOTICE

When switching to different tires, make certain the valves are not damaged.
Never drive without valve stem caps. The valves could be damaged.

Always dispose of old tires in accordance with legal requirements.

If the replacement wheel is different from the tires that you have mounted on your vehicle — for

example, winter tires, wider, low-profile tires, or a compact spare — only use the replacement wheel
for a short time and drive cautiously.

Replace it with a tire matching the others on your vehicle as soon as possible.

Although tire size specifications can be the same, the actual dimensions may differ from those

nominal values for different tire makes, or the tire contours may be significantly different.

Tire inflation pressure

Fig. 96 On the driver door jamb: Location of the tire inflation pressure label.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The correct tire inflation pressure for the factory-installed tires is listed on a label. The factory-installed

tires may be summer, winter, or all-season tires. The label

⇒

fig. 96

is on the driver door jamb.

Under- or over-inflation significantly shortens the service life of your tires and affects the handling of

the vehicle

⇒ . The correct tire pressure is very important, particularly when the vehicle is driven at

higher speeds. Incorrect tire pressure causes increased wear and even sudden tire failure and
blowouts.

Therefore, tire pressure should be checked at least once a month and always before long trips.

The specified tire inflation pressure applies to a cold tire. When tires are warm, the pressure will be
higher than when the tires are cold.

Do not reduce the tire pressure on warm tires to match the required cold tire inflation pressure. The
tire inflation pressure would then be too low and could cause sudden tire failure and blowout.

Checking tire inflation pressure

Always check the tire pressure only on “cold” tires when the vehicle has not been driven more than a
couple of miles (kilometers) at low speed within the last 3 hours.

Check tire inflation pressure regularly and on cold tires. Check all the tires, including the compact

spare, if any. In colder climates tire pressure should be checked more often, but only when the tires
are cold. Always use an accurate tire pressure gauge.

After adjusting the tire inflation pressures, make sure to screw the valve caps back on; replace

missing valve caps immediately. Please read and heed the information on resetting the Tire Pressure

Monitoring System

⇒ Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Remember that the vehicle manufacturer, not the tire manufacturer, determines the correct tire

pressure for the tires on your vehicle. Never exceed the maximum inflation pressure listed on the tire
sidewall for any reason.

Inflate the compact spare wheel to the pressure specified for the compact spare on the tire pressure
label or on a separate label for the compact spare, if there is one.

WARNING

Incorrect tire pressure can cause a sudden tire failure or blowout, loss of control, collision,
serious personal injury, and even death.

Always inflate tires to the recommended and correct cold tire pressure before driving off.
Low tire pressure can cause tires to get too hot, resulting in tread separation, sudden loss

of pressure, and blowouts. Tires with excessively low pressure flex (bend) more, which can
cause the tire to overheat and fail suddenly without warning.

Excessive speed and/or overloading can cause heat buildup, sudden tire failure including

a blowout and sudden deflation and loss of control.

If the tire pressure is too low or too high, the tires will wear prematurely and the vehicle

will not handle well.

Regularly check tire inflation pressure, at least once a month, and also especially before a

long trip.

Check the pressure in all 4 tires when the tires are still cold. Never reduce air pressure in

warm tires to match cold tire inflation pressure.

NOTICE

Make sure not to jam the tire pressure gauge into the valve stem. Otherwise you can

damage the tire valves.

Driving without valve caps, with the wrong valve caps, or with valve caps that are not

properly screwed on can damage the tire valves. To help prevent damage, always use valve
stem caps like those originally installed at the factory. The caps must be screwed on tightly. Do
not use metal valve caps or “comfort” valve stem caps.

Underinflation increases fuel consumption.

When the TPMS warns that the pressure in at least one tire is too low, check the tire pressure in

all 4 tires with an accurate tire pressure gauge. Low tire pressure usually cannot be spotted by looking

at the tire. This is especially true for low-profile tires. When checking the tire pressures, refer to

⇒ Tire

Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Tire inflation pressure in cold tires

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Engine

Tire size

Tire pressure

psi

kPa

bar

1.8 L/170 hp (125 kW)

215/60 R16 95T

30

200

2.0

215/55 R17 94H

30

200

2.0

235/45 R18 94H

30

200

2.0

Engine

Tire size

Tire pressure

psi

kPa

bar

235/40 R19 92H

32

220

2.2

2.0L/210 hp (155 kW)

215/55 R17 94H

32

210

2.1

235/45 R18 94H

32

210

2.1

235/40 R19 92H

34

230

2.3

2.0L/150 hp (110 kW) TDI

215/60 R16 95T

31

210

2.1

215/55 R17 94H

31

210

2.1

235/45 R18 94H

31

210

2.1

235/40 R19 92H

33

230

2.3

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System is configured at the factory with the correct tire inflation
pressure applicable for the vehicle model, engine and factory-installed tires. The tire inflation
pressure is listed on the tire inflation pressure label on the driver door jamb. The tire inflation
pressures for the road tires are listed on this label. The inflation pressure for the compact spare is as
specified on the tire pressure label or on a separate label for the compact spare, if there is one. In
the event of a discrepancy between the above figures and the tire pressures listed on the tire
inflation pressure label, the pressures listed on the label are the ones you should use. The listed
pressure applies to all road tires. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System must be recalibrated using
the SET button whenever you change or adjust the cold tire inflation pressures or remove and
remount or change any wheel or tire on the vehicle, even if the reinstalled or replacement wheels
and tires are identical to those that were removed and even if the tire pressure does not change.

Tread depth and tread wear indicators

Fig. 97 Tread pattern: Wear indicator.

Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS