Winter tires are one of the most essential steps when driving in freezing temperatures. They vastly increase your chances of staying safe.
You should consider several things when fitting winter tires to your ID.3. I’ve compiled the information in this blog post from the owner’s manual. It’s imperative to read this yourself before doing anything to your car.
To ensure your winter tires are safe, legal, and won’t damage your car, Volkswagen recommends going to a dealership. You might pay slightly more, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
(The VW ID.3 is only available in Europe, the UK, and China.)
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Points to consider when using winter tires on your VW ID.3
When selecting a winter tire, the first thing you should do is ask a specialist VW mechanic or fitter. You could either head to a local dealership or get in touch with an approved partner (usually a cheaper option).
They should recommend reliable tires that fit your specific car. This is also the most effective way to go because they’ll be familiar with your local climate and the best tire types.
In the end, you’ll need to pay a shop to fit them anyway. Ordering the tires separately and then going to a shop will cost more.
When the technician presents you with your options, check the following:
- Look at local laws and regulations surrounding winter tires.
- You shouldn’t have any problem with standard winter tires. However, studded and spiked options or chains might be banned.
- Check the speed index.
- Exceeding the speed index could result in a tire blowout and a potentially fatal crash.
- See a Volkswagen dealership if you want to fit V-rated winter tires.
- Set a speed limit warning if the speed index is low enough that you might exceed it.
- Check the maximum tire payload (total weight, including occupants, roof racks, trailers, etc.).
You must also be prepared for the following:
- Winter tires should only be used for winter driving conditions. They’re unsuitable once it warms up.
- Above 45°F (7°C) is VW’s recommended temperature at which you should switch back to regular tires.
- You don’t need to switch the tires over if you don’t drive. Your car should stay stationary if it’s a temporary warm period before the cold comes back.
- After fitting winter tires, you need to re-sync the TPMS.
- All four wheels on your ID.3 must be fitted with winter tires if you’re going to use them.
- You shouldn’t put winter tires on just the fronts, for example.
- Four tires could be considerably expensive.
Using an appropriate VW winter tire
Volkswagen will (of course) always recommend using an OEM tire. This makes perfect sense, and you should follow this advice.
The most common effective brands I’ve seen on the VW ID.3 include the following:
- Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 and Latitude Alpin
- Continental WinterContact
- Bridgestone Blizzak
- Pirelli Cinturato Winter 2
- Hankook Winter i*cept
- Goodyear Ultragrip Performance
Most of these are premium options. However, it’s critical to get a winter tire you can trust.
The specific tire size will depend on which wheels are fitted to your ID.3. You’ll find the size on the tire wall of those already attached.
Are winter tires important on the VW ID.3?
In short, yes. Winter tires are crucial for the ID.3 (and any other car). Of course, I’m assuming you live in a climate where temperatures approach freezing during this season. If not, you won’t need winter tires.
Winter tires are the most beneficial addition to help your ID.3 deal with the cold. In fact, many studies even show that front-wheel-drive cars with winter tires perform better on the road than 4x4s with standard tires. That shows how vital they are.
A note on safety
Winter tires will dramatically improve your ID.3’s performance and handling. However, don’t let that encourage you to take any unnecessary risks!
The road is still dangerous. If you lose traction, you could spin out of control and collide with another road user or stationary object. You should still drive cautiously and smoothly, as you usually would in snowy or icy conditions.
Before fitting winter tires to your VW ID.3, consult your owner’s manual. As stated within, seeing a VW dealer or other specialist is also recommended.
You’ll find a PDF version of the ID.3 owner’s manual below.
