________________________________________________ T_ i _r_e _s_ a_n_ d_ w_ h_ e_e _ l_s __ ,n
•
ture . For example, the numbers 2207 mean that the tire was
produced in the 22th week of 2007. The other numbers are
marketing codes that may or may not be used by the tire manufac
turer. This information is used to contact consumers if a tire defect
requires a recall.
Tire ply composition and materials used
The number of plies indicates the number of layers of rubber-coated
fabric in the tire. In general, the greater the number of plies, the
more weight a tire can support . Tire manufacturers also must indi
cate the materials in the tire, which include steel, nylon, polyester,
and others .
Maximum Load Rating
This number indicates the maximum load in kilograms and pounds
that can be carried by the tire.
Tire quality grading for treadwear, traction, and
temperature resistance
Tread wear, traction and temperature grades~ page 328.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever
be put in the tire under normal driving conditions.
Replacing tires or rims on vehicles equipped with tire
pressure monitoring system
The wheels on your vehicle are equipped with a sensor which
constantly monitors the air pressure inside the tire, and then trans
mits this information to the tire pressure monitoring system. If you
are going to replace the wheel rims on your vehicle, make sure the
new rims also have these sensors . The sensors must be compatible
with the tire pressure monitoring system on your vehicle.
If you install rims, which do not have the sensors, or have sensors
which are not compatible, then the tire pressure monitoring system
will not work properly. In this case, the tire pressure monitoring system would not be able to monitor the
tire pressure or warn you
if it is necessary.
• The battery inside of the tire pressure sensor has a limited
service life.
• Always drive with the valve stem caps securely mounted. We
recommend using factory installed valve stem caps. Ask your autho
rized Audi dealer to replace lost valve stem caps .
The installation of replacement tires with steel cord body plies in
the tire sidewall may cause malfunction of the tire pressure moni
toring system, and is not recommended (cord material information
in molded on the tire sidewall).
Always check your tire pressure monitoring system indicator after replacing one or more tires on your vehicle. If the tire pressure
monitoring system indicator flashes, or is on, your system is not
working properly. Your replacement tire might be incompatible with
your tire pressure monitoring system, or some component of the
tire pressure monitoring system may be damaged.
& WARNING
• Using incorrect or unmatched tires and/ or wheels or improper
tire and wheel combinations can lead to loss of control, collision
and serious personal injury.
• Always use tires, rims and wheel bolts that meet the specifica
tions of original factory-installed tires or other combinations that
have been specifically approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly,
especially at high speeds. Tires that are more than 6 years old can
only be used in an emergency and then with special care and at
lower speeds.
• Never mount used tires on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history." Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
~
Vehicle care I t •
Tires and wheels -________________ w-.
•
Remove wheel center covers and trim discs before putting snow
chains on you r veh icle =>
(D. For sa fety reasons c ove r cap s m ust
then be fitted over the wheel bo lts . These are avai lable from autho
r ized Aud i deale rs.
& WARNING
Using the wrong snow chains for your vehicle or in stalling them
incorrectly can increase the risk of loss of control leading to
serious personal injury.
• Snow ch ains are available in different sizes . Always make sure
to follow the instructions provided by the snow chain manufac
turer .
• When driving with snow chains never drive faster than the
speed permitted for your specific snow chains .
• Always observe local regulations .
0 Note
• Remove sn ow chai ns b efore d rivin g on roads not cove red w ith
snow to avoid damaging tires and wearing the snow chains down
u n n ecessa r i ly.
• Snow chains , which come into d irect contact with t he whee l rim,
ca n scratc h or da mage it. T herefore, ma ke sur e tha t th e snow chains
are suitably covered.
• I f the Adaptive Air Suspensio n* shou ld malfunction, do no t
mount or use snow chains because the vehicle will be extremely
l o w. I f yo u do drive w ith snow c hai ns o n w hi le t he ve hicle is a t thi s
level, the snow cha ins might severe ly damage the wheelhouse and
ot her parts o f the vehicle.
[ i ] Tips
W her e sn ow c hai ns are manda tory on certa in roa ds, t his no rm ally
a lso app lies to vehic les with Al l Wheel Drive. •
Wheel bolts
Wheel bo lts must alw ays be t ig hte ned to the correct
to rq ue .
The design of wheel bo lts is matched to the factory instal led rims. If
d iffere nt rim s are fitted, the corr ect w heel bo lts w it h t he rig ht le ngth
and correctly shaped bolt heads must be used. This ensures that
w he els are fitted securely and that the brake sys tem func tions
correctly.
I n certa in c ircums ta nces, you may not use wheel bo lts from
a
different vehicle -even if it is the same model=> page 368.
& WARNING
Improperly tightened or maintained wheel bolts can become loose
causing loss of control , a collision and serious personal injury .
• Always keep the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel hubs
clean so the wheel bolts can turn easily and be properly tightened.
• Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel
hubs. They can become loose while driving if greased or oiled,
even if tightened to the specified torque .
• Only use wheel bolts that belong to the rim being installed .
• Never use different wheels bolts on your vehicle.
• Always maintain the correct tightening torque for the wheel
bolts to reduce the risk of a wheel loss.
If the tightening torque of
the wheel bolts is too low , they can loosen and come out when the
vehicle is moving . If the tightening torque is too high, the wheel
bolts and threads can be damaged and the wheel can become
loose .
0 Note
The specified torque for the wheel bolts is 9 0 ft lb (120 Nm) with a
to lera nce of± 7,4 ft lb(± 10 Nm). Torque whee l b o lt s d ia go nally.
Af ter changing a wheel, the torque must be checked as soon as .,_
Vehicle care I t •
_____________________________________________ W_ h_ a_t _d_ o_l _ d_o _ n_o_ w_ ? _ __._
& WARNING !continued)
• Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is supported by
the jack.
• If you must work under the vehicle, always use safety stands
specifically designed for this purpose.
• Never use the hexagonal socket in the handle of the screw
driver to loosen or tighten the wheel bolts .
• Always make sure the spare tire and even a flat tire are secured
in place and not loose , otherwise they could fly forward , causing
personal injury to passengers in the vehicle in an accident or
sudden maneuver. •
Tools
The vehicle tools are stored in the luggage compartment
behind the right-side trim panel.
-
T he onboard tool kit includes:
• Hook for removing wheel covers *
• Plastic hook to remove wheel bolt covers
• Wheel bolt wrench
• Alignment pin for changing wheels
Fig. 247 Luggage
compartment: vehicle
tool kit
• Screwdriver with reversible blade
• Towing eye
[ i ] Tips
Some of the on board items listed above are provided on certain
models only or are optional extras. •
Spare wheel
The spare wheel is stored in the wheel well underneath
the floor panel in the luggage compartment.
Fig. 248 Luggage
compartment spare
wheel
Your vehicle is equipped with a regular spare wheel. It is
held in place by plastic retaining knurled screw.
Taking out the spare wheel
- Raise the floor panel at the plast ic handle.
- Securely engage the handle in the luggage compartment
seal as illustrated to keep the floor panel up.
- Unscrew the knurled retainer bolt in the wheel center
~ fig. 248. Turn it counter-clockwise.
- Take out the spare wheel.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
-------------------------------------------~W~h~a~t~d~o~l ~d~o~n~o~w~ ?::__fflll
•
& WARNING (continued)
front wheel is lifted off the ground, placing the Automatic Trans
mission in "P" {Park) will
not prevent the vehicle from moving.
• Before you change a wheel, be sure the ground is level and firm.
If necessary, use a sturdy board under the jack.
• After installing the spare wheel, make sure that you replace the
flat tire/wheel in its storage area properly and tighten the knurled
retaining screw securely. •
Changing a wheel
When you change a wheel, follow the sequence described
below step-by-step and in exactly that order.
1. Activate the vehicle jack mode (only vehicles with Adap
tive Air Suspension)~
page 184.
2. Remove the decorative wheel cover*. For more details
see also ~
page 340, "Decorative wheel covers" or
~ page 340, "Wheels with wheel bolt caps".
3. Loosen the
wheel bolts~ page 341.
4. Locate the proper mounting point for the jack and align
the jack below that point~
page 341.
5. Lift the car with the jack ~ page 341.
6. Remove the wheel with the flat tire and then install the
spare
~ page 343.
7. Tighten all wheel bolts lightly.
8.
Lower the vehicle with the jack.
9. Use the wheel bolt wrench and
firmly tighten all wheel
bolts~
page 341 .
10. Replace the decorative wheel cover*.
11. Deactivate the vehicle jack mode (only vehicles with
Adaptive Air Suspension)~
page 184.
& WARNING
Always read and follow all WARNINGS and information => & in
uRaising the vehicle" on
page 341 and=> page 344. •
After changing a wheel
A wheel change is not complete without the doing the
following.
- Store and secure the wheel you replaced in the spare
wheel well.
- Replace the tools and the jack in their proper location.
- Check the tire pressure on the spare wheel immediately
after mounting it.
- As soon as possible, have the
tightening torques on all
wheel bolts checked with a torque wrench. The correct
tightening torque is 90 ft lb (120 Nm).
- Have the flat tire
replaced as soon as possible.
[ i] Tips
• If you notice that the wheel bolts are corroded and difficult to
turn while changing a tire, they should be replaced before you check
the tightening torque.
• Drive at reduced speed until you have the tightening torques
checked .•
Do-it -yourself service
11111...__W_ h_ a _ t_d_ o_ l _d _o_ n_ o_ vv_ ? ______________________________________________ _
App lies to veh ic les : w ith deco rative whee l covers
Decorative wheel covers
The decorative wheel covers must be removed first to
access the wheel bolts.
Removing
Fig . 249 Changing a
wheel: Removing the
wheel cover
- Insert the hook provided with the vehicle tool kit in the
hole in t he hub.
- Pull off the
decorative wheel cover=> fig. 249. •
Applies to veh ic les: w ith whee l bolts w ith ca ps
Whee ls vvith wheel bolt caps
The caps must be removed first from the wheel bolts
before the bolts can be unscrewed .
Removing
Fig. 250 Changing a
wheel: removing the
wheel bolt caps
-Push the plastic clip prov ided w ith the vehicle tool kit
ov er the wheel bolt cap unt il it engages .
- Pull on t he
plastic clip to remove the cap=> fig. 250 .
Refitting
-Place the caps over the wheel bolts and push them back
on .
The caps are to pro tect and keep the wheel bolts clean. •
_______________________________________________ W_ h_ a _ t_d_ o_ l _d _o_ n_ o_ w_ ? _ __._
Loosening and tightening the wheel bolts
The wheel bolts must be loosened before raising the
vehicle .
Loosening
Fig . 25 1 Chan ging a
w he el: lo os en ing th e
whe el bolt s
- Install the wheel bolt wrench over the wheel bolt and
push it down as far as it will go.
- Take tight hold of the
end o f the wrench handle and turn
the wheel bolts counter-clockwise about
one single turn
in the direction of arrow =} fig. 251 .
Tightening
-Insta ll the wheel bolt wren ch ov er the w heel bolt a nd
push it down as far as it wi ll go.
- Take tight hold o f the
end of the wrench ha ndle and tur n
each wheel bolt clockwise until i t is sea ted.
& WARNING
• Do not u se for ce or hu rry w hen changing a wheel -you c an
ca use the vehi cle to slip off the j ack a nd cause se rio us perso nal
injurie s.
& W ARNING (continued )
• Do n ot loo sen the wh eel bolt s more than one turn before y ou
rais e the vehicle with the jack . - You ri sk an injur y.
[ i ] Tip s
• Never use the hexagona l socke t in the handle of the screwdriver
to loosen or tighten the wheel bolts .
• If a wheel bolt is
very tight, you may find it easier to loosen by
carefully pushing down on the end of the whee l bolt wrench with
one foot only . As you do so , hold on to the car to keep your balance
and take care not to slip .•
Raising the veh ic le
The vehicle must be lifted with the jack first before the
wheel can be removed .
Vehicle care
Fig. 252 Cha nging a
w he el: m oun ting
poi nts for the jack ..
Do-it-yourself service irechnical data
_____________________________________________ W_ h_ a_t _d_ o_l _ d_o _ n_o_ w_ ?_--J IIIII
Taking the wheel off /installing the spare
Follow these instructions step-by-step for changing the
wheel
N
"' ;; u.
al
Fig . 254 Changing a
wheel: using the screwdriver handle
!with the blade
removed) to turn the
bolts
Fig . 255 Changing a
wheel: alignment pin
inside the top hole
After you have loosened all wheel bolts and raised the
vehicle off the ground, remove and replace the wheel as
follows:
Removing the wheel
- Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver handle to
completely remove the topmost wheel bolt and set it
aside on a clean surface => fig. 254. - Screw the threaded end of the
alignment pin from the
tool kit hand-tight into the empty bolt hole=> fig. 255.
- Then remove the other wheel bolts as described above.
- Take off the wheel leaving the alignment pin in the bolt
hole.
Putting on the spare wheel
- Lift the spare wheel and carefully slide it over the align
ment pin to guide it in place.
- Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver handle to
screw in and tighten all wheel bolts slightly.
- Remove the alignment pin and insert and tighten the
remaining wheel bolt slightly like the rest.
- Turn the jack handle counter-clockwise to lower the
vehicle until the jack is fully released .
- Use the wheel bolt wrench to tighten all wheel bolts
firmly => page 341. Tighten them crosswise, from one
bolt to the (approximately) opposite one, to keep the
wheel centered .
[ i] Tips
Never use the hexagonal socket in the handle of the screwdriver to
loosen or tighten the wheel bolts.
• Pull the reversible blade from the screwdriver before you use the
hexagonal socket in the handle to turn the wheel bolts.
• When mounting tires with
unidirectional tread design make sure
the tread pattern is pointed the right way~
page 344.
• The wheel bolts should be clean and easy to turn. Check for dirt
and corrosion on the mating surfaces of both the wheel and the ..
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service irechnical data
-L___:W:..:..:. h.:.: a::.. t:...:: d:.:o:::....:. l..: d::. O ::::....: n:..:.:: O:..:W :.:..:. ? ____________________________________________ _
hub. Remove all dirt from these surfaces before remounting the
wheel. •
Tires with unidirectional tread design
Tires with unidirectional tread design must be mounted
with their tread pattern pointed in the right direction.
Using a spare tire with a tread pattern intended for use
in a specific direction
When using a spare tire with a tread pattern intended for use in a
specific direction, please note the following:
• The direction of rotation is marked by an arrow on the side of the
tire .
• If the spare tire has to be installed in the incorrect direction, use
the spare tire only temporarily since the tire will not be able to
achieve its optimum performance characteristics with regard to
aquaplaning, noise and wear.
• We recommend that you pay particular attention to this fact
during wet weather and that you adjust your speed to match road
conditions.
• Replace the flat tire with a new one and have it installed on your
vehicle as soon as possible to restore the handling advantages of a
unidirectional tire. •
Notes on wheel changing
Please read the information~ page 325, "New tires and replacing
tires and wheels " if you are going to use a spare tire which is
different from the tires on your vehicle.
After you change a tire:
• Check the tire pressure on the spare immediately after installa
tion . •
Have the wheel bolt tightening torque checked with a torque
wrench as soon as possible by your authorized Audi dealer or a qualified service station .
• With steel and alloy wheel rims, the wheel bolts are correctly
tightened at a torque of 90 ft lb (120 Nml.
• If you notice that the wheel bolts are corroded and difficult to
turn while changing a tire, they should be replaced before you check
the tightening torque.
• Replace the flat tire with a new one and have it installed on your
vehicle as soon as possible. Remount the wheel cover.
Until then, drive with extra care and at reduced speeds .
& WARNING
• If you are going to equip your vehicle with tires or rims which
differ from those which were factory installed, then be sure to read
the information
~ page 325, "New tires and replacing tires and
wheels".
• Always make sure the damaged wheel or even a flat tire and
the jack and tool kit are properly secured in the luggage compart ment and are not loose in the passenger compartment.
• In an accident or sudden maneuver they could fly forward,
injuring anyone in the vehicle .
• Always store damaged wheel, jack and tools securely in the
luggage compartment . Otherwise, in an accident or sudden
maneuver they could fly forward, causing injury to passengers in
the vehicle .
0 Note
Do not use commercially available tire sealants. Otherwise, the elec
trical components of the tire pressure monitoring system* will no
longe r work properly and the sensor for the tire pressure moni
toring system will have to be replaced by a qualified workshop. •