Continental Pro Contact size 245/35 R 20 sidewall blew out with 265 miles on a brand-new car. Blew out leaving a parking lot at a very slow speed. The tire did not hit anything, it just lost all air pressure, and the warning light came on. Goodyear Tire employee came to the scene and determined the sidewall leak. There is no damage or marks to the tire. We purchased a new tire at the new car…
2023 Volkswagen Arteon tires problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2023 VW Arteon's factory Continental ProContact 245/35 R20 tires show a documented pattern of premature sidewall failure and delamination, even under minor road impacts and at very low mileage. Budget for immediate tire replacement and expect potential liability if a failure occurs at highway speeds.
The 2023 Arteon's standard-issue Continental ProContact 245/35 R20 tires are failing at abnormally high rates in the first few thousand miles. Owners report sudden sidewall ruptures triggered by minor impacts—potholes at 5–35 mph, gentle bumps, and uneven pavement—that complete cars with low-profile tires typically handle without incident.
Failures are appearing as catastrophic blowouts (complete air loss, TPMS warning) and as sidewall bubbles discovered during routine maintenance with no prior warning. One owner experienced three blowouts in 7 months; another replaced tires twice in one week. A few cases describe tread-to-belt separation affecting multiple tires simultaneously, with one replacement tire failing at just 40 miles.
Mileage at first failure ranges from 265 miles to 17,000 miles. Owners across multiple forums report the same tire model and vehicle combination experiencing recurrent failures. Dealerships have consistently declined warranty coverage. Replacement costs run $320 per tire up to $1,600 for a full set. The risk is real: uncontrolled tire loss at highway speed poses serious crash hazard, and damaged wheels compound repair costs.
Failure modes owners describe
Sidewall blowout - impact-related
Sidewall rupture or separation occurring after striking a pothole, bump, or uneven pavement at low to moderate speeds. Owners report minimal impact force (5–35 mph) triggering sudden air loss.
When: Throughout ownership; incidents reported from 265 miles to 7,500 miles, with some recurrence in early ownership periods
Symptoms owners cite: Large gash or tear on sidewall near rim; Sudden, complete air pressure loss (0 psi); TPMS warning light illumination; No prior warning or unusual driving feel before failure; Single or multiple failures on same vehicle within short timeframes
Codes mentioned: TPMS warning activation (tire pressure 0 psi)
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required; wheel damage possible if vehicle driven after blowout. Owners report costs of $320 per tire or $1,600 for full set replacement; dealerships declined warranty assistance in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership inspection declined warranty coverage in reported cases; one Discount Tire assessment noted tire 'not in good shape'; no manufacturer recall or TSB documented in narratives.
Sidewall bulge or bubble
Visible bulging or bubble deformation on the sidewall, typically discovered during routine maintenance or tire rotation. No impact event recalled by owners, suggesting manufacturing or material defect.
When: Discovered at low mileage (around 3,000 miles reported); no prior driving symptoms noted
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bubble or bulge on sidewall; No reported impact or pothole strike preceding defect; No unusual vibration, noise, or pressure loss before discovery
Repairs/costs cited: Full tire replacement recommended; owners replaced entire set (4–5 tires) for cost of $1,600.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership declined warranty coverage; Discount Tire inspection confirmed tire was 'not in good shape.'
Tread-to-belt separation
Separation or delamination of tread rubber from internal belt structure. Reported on vehicles with very low mileage. One complaint describes belt failure after pothole impact; another describes separation without known cause at 17,000 miles affecting multiple tires.
When: Early ownership; one instance at 40 miles on replacement tire; another at 17,000 miles affecting 3 of 4 tires
Symptoms owners cite: Broken or separated belt visible on tire surface; Multiple tires affected on same vehicle (up to 3 of 4); Possible trigger: pothole impact (35 mph) or spontaneous failure
Repairs/costs cited: Full tire replacement required; one case involved replacement tire failing at 40 miles.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
Tread separating from belt. Only 17k miles on new car. 3 of 4 tires were affected. Tire size 245/35r20
I hit a small pot hole on [XXX] to [XXX] at 35 MPH an hour an it blew the side belt on the tire. This is the 2nd tire failure this week on the same tire. 245/35 R20 95H just replaced two days ago. Tire had 40 miles on it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
broken belt on tire after hitting a very small pot hole on the [XXX] at 70 MPH. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This tire model, Continental ProContact TX 245/35 R 20 95H, is the tire that came with my brand new 2023 Arteon and appears to be the overall stock tire VW went with. I had read in media forums that the tires blow out very easily when running over a pothole and it turns out, they were correct. I have now had 3 tires blow out due to potholes in just 7 months of owning my car. All punctures…
Tire is 245/35 R 20. Tire sidewall blew out on a small bump/pothole at less than 15mph, losing all pressure and forcing to be towed. These are OEM tires with less than 2500 miles on them. Model is on backorder, so all new tires for vehicle had to be replaced. These tires are a known issue for the VW Arteon and customers are forced to pay for replacements at significant cost to "upgrade" to safer…
The sidewall of tire failed after brushing up against an uneven section of pavement at low speed (5-10mph) as I was making a right hand turn onto a busy road. The low tire pressure light almost immediately illuminated. I had purcahsed the vehicle only 10 days prior with 4,169 miles on it. The previous owner also had a tire failure around 3,000 according to the vehicle's CarFax report.…
Drove through a very small pothole at about 5mph and the sidewall gave out creating a small pin hole and leaked out all the air. This is a known issue across all the forums and Facebook groups for this tire. People are going through tires like crazy because of sidewall failures.
Tire info: Continental Procontact Size: 245 / 35 R 20 I was driving on city streets at normal speed during a rainy day. I turned right from one road to another road, and as I started to accelerate out of the right turn, my driver side front tire blew out and the TPMS started screaming because it read the tire pressure as 0. I immediately pulled over and checked the tire and saw a huge gash on…
Was switching out the "summer" tires for winter tires and noticed a bubble on the sidewall of the passenger front tire. At the time the car had around 3,000 miles on it. I switched to my spare tire, did not put the bubbled tire back on the car. I had traveled who knows how many miles with that tire like that. If I would have had a blow out, which would have happened at some point it would…
Had tires trouble with your 2023 Volkswagen Arteon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2023 Volkswagen Arteon?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/Volkswagen/Arteon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.