2006 Volkswagen Passat — Sedan 3.6L
The 2006 Volkswagen Passat Sedan 3.6L shipped with 2 different factory tire sizes, depending on the wheel package it left the factory with (this can also reflect a staggered front/rear setup). Check your tire sidewall or door placard to confirm which one applies to your vehicle.
This trim shipped with more than one tire size (staggered fitment, front/rear, or optional wheel package). Confirm which one matches your vehicle by checking your tire sidewall or door placard.
235/45R17
| Section width | 235 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 45% (105.8 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 17" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~25.3" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~796 |
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235/40R18
| Section width | 235 mm |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio (sidewall height) | 40% (94 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 18" |
| Overall tire diameter | ~25.4" |
| Revolutions per mile | ~794 |
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What this size means for your Volkswagen Passat
On the 2006 Volkswagen Passat Sedan 3.6L, the factory 235/45R17 measures about 25.3″ in overall diameter with a 105.8 mm (4.2″) sidewall, and completes roughly 796 revolutions per mile. Its 45-series aspect ratio gives a low-profile sidewall tuned for sharper handling, common on sport trims and larger-wheel packages. In tire terms it is a passenger (P-metric / Euro-metric) size.
The 235/45R17 and 235/40R18 roll within 0.1″ (0.4%) of each other in overall diameter, so they are interchangeable from a speedometer standpoint — the second size is an optional wheel package rather than a different rolling size.
On a vehicle of this age, the Volkswagen Passat may have been refitted with a slightly different replacement size somewhere in its life, so check the current sidewall — not just the factory spec — before buying.
Other 2006 Volkswagen Passat trims
- Sedan 2.0T 215/55R16 / 235/45R17
- Sedan 3.6L 4Motion 235/45R17 / 235/40R18
- Sedan Value Edition 215/55R16
Volkswagen Passat tire sizes by year
- 2021 Volkswagen Passat 235/40R19
- 2020 Volkswagen Passat 235/40R19
- 2019 Volkswagen Passat 235/40R19
- 2018 Volkswagen Passat 235/40R19
- 2017 Volkswagen Passat 235/40R19
- 2016 Volkswagen Passat 235/40R19
- 2015 Volkswagen Passat 215/55R17
- 2014 Volkswagen Passat 215/60R16
- 2013 Volkswagen Passat 215/60R16
- 2012 Volkswagen Passat 215/60R16
How to read a tire size
A tire size like 225/45R17 breaks down into three parts:
the first number is the section width in millimeters
(the tire's width from sidewall to sidewall), the second is the
aspect ratio — the sidewall's height as a percentage of
that width — and the number after the "R" is the rim
diameter in inches. A letter prefix (P or LT) indicates
Passenger or Light Truck construction; its absence usually means
Euro-metric sizing.
Some trucks and off-road tires instead use "flotation" sizing, like
37X12.50R17 — here the numbers are the tire's overall
diameter and width in inches directly, with the rim diameter last.
Always verify against the tire information placard on your driver's-side door jamb or your owner's manual before purchasing — tire size can vary by factory option package even within the same trim.