__________________________________________________ T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_ e_l_s __ _
•
Sidewa ll
means that portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Speed ra ting
extended periods of time. The ratings range from 93 mph (150 km/h)
t o 186 mph (298 km/h) =>
page 251. You may not find this informa
tion on all tires because it is not required by law.
The speed rating letter code, where applicab le, is molded on the tire
sidewa ll and indicates the maximum perm issible road speeds=>
&
in "Winter tires" on page 254.
T ire pre ssu re m on it o rin g syste m
means a system that detects when one or more of a vehicle's tires
are under inflated and illuminates a low tire pressure warning tell
tale.
Tre ad
means that portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road .
Tread sepa ra ti on
means pu lling away of the tread from the tire carcass.
Tr ea dw ear indi cato rs ( TW I)
means the projections with in the principal grooves designed to give
a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread . See
~ page 248, "Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)" for more information on
measuring tire wear.
U ni form Tire Q ua lity G radin g
is a tire information system developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N HTSA) that is designed to
help buyers make re lative comparisons among tires. The UTQG is
not a safety rating and not a guarantee that a tire will last for a
prescribed number of miles or perform in a certain way. It simply
gives tire buyers additiona l information to combine with other
considerations, such as price, brand loya lty and dealer recommen- dations
. Under UTQG, tires are graded by the tire manufacturers in
three areas : treadwear, trac tion and temperature resistance. The
U TQG information on the tires, molded into the sidewalls.
U .S . DOT Tire Identifi cation Number (TIN )
This is the tire's "serial number" It begins with the letters "DOT" and
indicates that the ti re meets a ll federa l standards. The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufactured,
and the last four numbers represent the week a nd year of manufac
ture . For example,
DOT ... 2207 ...
means that the tire was produced in the 22t h week of 2007. The
other numbers are marketing codes that may or may not be used by
t he tire manufacturer. This information is used to contact
consumers if a tire defect requires a recall.
Vehi cle cap acity we ight
means the rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lbs. (68 kilograms)
times the vehicle's tota l seating capacity as l is ted on the label
located on the driver's side B -pi llar.
V eh icle maximum load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib
uting to each ax le its share of the max imum loaded vehicle weight
and dividing by two.
Ve hic le normal lo ad on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib
uting to each ax le its share of the curb weight, accessory we ight,
and normal occupant weight (distributed in accordance with tab le
below =>
page 242) and dividing by two . ._
Vehicle care I t •
___ T_ i_ r_e _s_ a_ n_ d_ w_ h_ e_ e _ ls _________________________________________________ _
Occupant loading for vehicle normal load (no luggage)
Designated seating capacity , number of occupants
2
Cold tire inflation pressure
Vehicle normal load (no luggage ), number of occupants
2 •
Tire pressure affects the overall handling, performance and safety of a vehicle.
Fig. 160 Tire pressure
label: located on
driver's side B-pillar
Tire pressure generally refers to the amount of air in a tire that it
needs it to do its job and safely carry the combined load of the entire
vehicle and its contents. Tire pressure is measured in kilopascals
(kPal, the international measuring unit and in pounds per square
inch (PSll. Tire pressure is based in part on the vehicle's design and
load limit -the greatest amount of weight that the vehicle can carry
safely and the tire size . The proper tire pressure is frequently
referred to as the "recommended cold tire inflation pressure." Air in
the tires expands when the tire heats up because of internal friction
when it flexes in use. The tire pressure is higher when the tire has
warmed up than when it is "cold." It is the inflation pressure in a
"co ld" tire that counts. Therefore, you should never let air out of a
warm tire to match "cold tire inflation pressure" recommendations.
The tires would then be underinflated and could fail suddenly.
Main taining proper tire pressure is one of the most important
things you can do to help avoid sudden tire failure. Underinflated
ij
--~--------------- j
.(SEATING CAPAOn':jorAL l :FRONT l '.CENTER I '.REAR I )
The combmedwolghl "'°"'""""ond a,gor.hould ,_ l'>CC
FRO l'rr -KPa, - PSI
REAR -KPa, - PSI
~ A_ R _ E i..===..=;;;..;.;; KP..;;a, :.=;;;;;..;.. PS;;..;.I_
MANUAL FOR
ADDITIONAL
I N FORMATION SEE OWNER'S I
Fig. 161 Tire pressure
label
tires are a major cause of sudden tire failure. Keeping tires at the
right pressure is also important for safe and responsive vehicle
handling, traction, braking and load carrying .
Tire pressures are
particularly important when the vehicle is being driven at higher
speeds, and then especially when heavily loaded even within the
permissible load-carrying capacities approved for your vehicle.
The recommended tire pressures for your Audi depend on the kind
of tires on your vehicle and the number of passengers and/or
amount of luggage you will be transporting.
The tire pressure label located on driver's side B-pillar on your Audi
lists the recommended cold tire inflation pressures for the vehicle
at its maximum capacity weight and tires that were on your vehicle
at the time it was manufactured .
If you wish to improve comfort when operating the vehicle at
normal load (no luggage) up to 2 occupants, you can adjust tire
pressures to those specified for normal vehicle load. Before oper-
i.,.
-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
vehicle with different rims/tires or you bought the vehicle as a previ
ously owned vehicle.
Remember, your safety and that of your passengers also depends
on making sure that load limits are not exceeded. Vehicle load
includes everybody and everything in and on the vehicle. These load
limits are technically referred to as the vehicle's Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating ("GVWR"). The Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR") is
the maximum load that can be applied at each of the vehicle's two
axles. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating are listed on the safety compliance sticker label located on
the driver's side 8-pillar. The tire pressure label on your Audi lists
the maximum combined weight of all of the occupants and luggage or other cargo that the vehicle can carry. For the location of the tire
pressure label =>
page 242, fig. 160.
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause loss of vehicle control, a crash or
other accident, serious personal injury, and even death.
• Carrying more weight than your vehicle was designed to carry
will prevent the vehicle from handling properly and increase the risk of a loss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance.
• Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly
causing loss of control and a crash.
& WARNING
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can lead to a
serious or fatal accident.
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation cause increased
tire wear and can affect the handling of the vehicle.
& WARNING (continued)
• Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehicle control . •
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the tires originally installed
on your vehicle is listed on the tire pressure label located
on driver's side 8-pillar.
The recommended tire pressures are on the tire pressure label and
in the table=>
page 242, "Cold tire inflation pressure". This means
that the pressure must be checked and adjusted when the tire has
not been driven for more than a couple of miles (kilometers) at low
speeds during the previous three hours. Air in the tires expands
when the tire heats up as a result of internal friction as it flexes in
use. The tire pressure is higher when the tire has warmed up than
when it is "cold."
It is the inflation pressure in a "cold" tire that counts. Therefore, you
should never let air out of a warm tire to match "Cold tire inflation
pressure" recommendations=>
page 242. The tires would then be
underinflated and could fail suddenly.
The tire pressure label on your Audi lists the recommended cold tire
inflation pressures for the new, original equipment tires that were
on your vehicle at the time it was manufactured . For the location of
the label
=> page 242, fig . 160.
Most tires lose air naturally over time. They can also lose some air if
you drive over a pothole or hit a curb while parking . It is usually not
possible to see whether the radial tires used today are underinflated
just by looking at them .
Therefore, be sure to check tire pressures at least once a month and
always before going on a long trip. Make sure to take the number of
people and the amount of luggage into account when adjusting tire .,_
-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
& WARN ING (continued )
• Driving with underinflated tires bend more , letting them get
too hot re sulting in t read separation , sudden t ire failure and loss
of control.
• Excessive speed and /overloading can cau se heat bu ild-up ,
sudden tire failure and lo ss of control.
• If the tire pressure is too low or too high , the tires will wear
prematurely and the vehicle will not handle well .
• If the tire is not flat and you do not have to change a wheel
immediately, drive at reduced speed to the nearest service station
to che ck the tire pres sure and add air as required .
0 Note
Driving without valve stem caps can cause damage to the tire
va lves. To prevent this, always ma ke sure that fact ory insta lled valve
stem caps on all whee ls are securely mounted on the valve .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Underinflated tires will also increase the fue l consumption. •
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of load or weight that any vehicle and
any tire can carry. A vehicle that is overloaded will not handle well
and is more difficu lt to stop. Overload ing can not only lead to loss
of vehicle contro l, but can a lso damage important parts of the
veh ic le an d ca n lead to sudden t ire fa ilu re , inc lud ing a bl owout a nd
sudden deflation that can cause the vehicle to crash.
Yo ur saf ety a nd that of you r passenge rs also de pends on making
sure that load limits are not exceeded . Vehicle load includes every
body and eve ryt hing in and on the vehic le . Th ese load limi ts are technica
lly referred to as the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle We ight Rating
("GVWR").
Th e "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehicle, all factory
insta lled accessories, a ful l tank of fuel, oil, coolant and other f luids
p lus max imum load. The ma ximu m load inc ludes the numbe r of
passengers that the vehicle is intended to carry ("seating capacity")
w it h an assu med we ight o f 150 lbs (68 kg) for eac h pass enger at a
designated seating position and the total weight of any luggage in
t he vehicle.
T he
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR"l is the maximum load that
can be a pplied a t eac h of the vehic le's two a xles .
T he Gross Veh icle Weigh t Rat ing a nd the Gross A xle We igh t R ating
are listed on the safety comp liance stic ker label located on the
dr iver's s ide B -p illar . You r Aud i has 2 sea ting pos it io n s. Eac h seating
posit ion has a safety belt=>
page 137, "Safety belts".
T he fact that the re is a n up per lim it to yo ur vehicle's G ross Veh ic le
We ig ht Rating means that the to tal we ight o f what ev e r is be ing
ca rried in the ve hicle is lim ited. The mo re pas se ngers in the vehic le
or passe ngers w ho ar e heav ier t han th e sta ndard weights assumed
mean that less weight can be carried as luggage.
T he ti re p ress ure labe l on yo ur Aud i al so list s the maxi mum
combined weight of a ll of the occupants and luggage or other cargo
th at the vehicle can car ry. F or the lo ca tio n of t he label =>
page 242,
fig . 160.
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause loss of vehicle control , a crash or
other accident, serious personal injury , and even death .
• Carrying more weight than your vehicle was des igned to carry
will prevent the vehicle from handling properly and increase the risk of the loss of vehi cle control .
• The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance. .,_
& WARNING (continued)
• Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly,
including a blowout and sudden deflation , causing loss of control
and a crash .•
Determining correct load limit
Use the example below to calculate the
total weight of the passengers and
luggage or other things that you plan to
transport so that you can make sure that
your vehicle will not be overloaded.
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1. Locate the statement "THE COMBINED
WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX
LBS"on your vehicle 's placard (tire infla
tion pressure label)=;>
page 242, fig. 160.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
Tires and wheels 1111111
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
"XXX" kilo
grams or
"XXX" pounds shown on the
sticker =;>
page 242, fig. 160.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the
"XXX"
amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lbs. passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
( 1400 -750 (5 x 150) = 650 I bs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage
load ca pa city calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the avail
able cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle. .,_
Vehicle care I • •
Tires a nd wh eels -
----------------
•
Tire manu fact uring da te
The manufacturing date is a lso indicated on the tire sidewall
(possibly only on the
inner side of the wheell:
"DOT ... 2207 ... " means, for example, that the tire was produced in
the 22th week of 2007.
S peed ratin g (let te r cod e)
The speed rating letter code on the wheels indicates the maximum
permissible road speeds=>
& in "Winter tires" on page 254.
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (158 km/h)
R upto 106mph(170km/h)
S upto110mph(180km/h)
T upto118mph(190km/h)
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H upto 130mph(210km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)2>
Z over 149 mph (240 km/h)2>
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)2>
Y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)21
Your vehicle is normally factory equipped with tires, which possess
excel lent driving characteris tics and give your Audi optimum
driving comfort. An e lectronic speed limiter=> page 26wil l normally
prevent your vehicle from going faster than the tire speed rating
=> & .
U.S . D OT T ire Ident ifi cation Nu mber (TIN ) and tire
m anu fac ture date
This is the tire's "seria l number" . It begins with the letters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards . The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufactured,
and the last four numbers represent the week and year of manufac-
21 For tires with a maximum speed capability over 149 mph (240 km/h), tire
manufacturers sometimes use the letters "ZR."
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.
Tir e ply c omp osition and m aterial s used
The number of plies indicates the number of layers of rubber-coated
fabric in the tire . In general, the greater the number of p lies, 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 L oad Rating
This number indicates the maximum load in kilograms and pounds
that can be carried by the tire.
Tir e qu alit y g ra din g for tr eadwear, trac tion, a nd
te mper atu re resi stan ce
Tread wear, traction and temperature grades=> page 253.
Max imum P ermi ssibl e Inf latio n Pre ssure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever
be put in the tire under normal driv ing conditions .
Repla cing tires or rims on vehicl es equipp ed with tir e
pres sure monit orin g s yst em
The wheels on your vehicle are equipped with a sensor which
constant ly monitors the air pressure ins ide the t ire, and then trans
mits this information to the tire pressure monitoring system. If you
are going to replace the wheel rims on your vehic le, make sure the
new rims also have these sensors . The sensors must be compatible
with the tire pressu re monitoring system on your vehicle.
I f the sensors are to be installed on different rims, the sea l, washer,
and valve cap for each sensor must be replaced.
If you instal l rims, which do not have the sensors, or have sensors
which are not compatible, then the tire pressure monitoring system ..,_
Vehicle care I t •
lllffl.___E_ m _ e _r-==g :...e_ n_ c...:y _ s_ i_t _u _a _t_ i_o _n_ s _______________________________________________ _
& WARNING
• To reduce the risk of serious injury and vehicle damage .
- Always lift the vehicle only at the special workshop hoist and
floor jack lift points illustrated
~ page 283, fig. 188 and
~ page 283, fig. 189.
- Failure to lift the vehicle at these points could cause the
vehicle to tilt or fall from a lift if there is a change in vehicle
weight distribution and balance. This might happen, for
example, when heavy components such as the engine block or
transmission are removed.
• When removing heavy components like these, anchor vehicle
to hoist or add corresponding weights to maintain the center of
gravity. Otherwise, the vehicle might tilt or slip off the hoist,
causing serious personal injury.
0 Note
• Be aware of the following points before lifting the vehicle:
- The vehicle should never be lifted or jacked up from under
neath the engine oil pan, the transmission housing, the front or
rear axle or the body side members . This could lead to serious
damage.
- To avoid damage to the underbody or chassis frame, a rubber
pad must be inserted between the floor jack and the lift points.
- Before driving over a workshop hoist, check that the vehicle
weight does not exceed the permissible lifting capacity of the hoist .
- Before driving over a workshop hoist, ensure that there is sufficient clearance between the hoist and low parts of the
vehicle. •
_________________________________________________ G_ e_ n_ e_r _a _l_ i_n _f_o _ r_ m_ a_ t _i _o _ n __ lftlll
vehicle identification number of your vehicle (perforation) as well as
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWRl.
The high voltage warning label
is located on the lock carrier.
The spark ignition system meets all requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations. •
Displaying Vehicle Identification
Number in the Driver Information
display
Fig . 192 Driver Infor
mation display: Vehicle
ID number (VIN)
You can also display the Vehicle Identification Number of
your vehicle in the Driver Information display=:>
page 27. •
Weights
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for front and rear are listed on a sticker on the left
door jamb.
Controls and equip ment Safety first Vehicle operation
The
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating includes the weight of the basic
vehicle plus full fuel tank, oil and coolant, plus maximum load,
which includes passenger weight (150 lbs/68 kg per designated
seating position) and luggage weight.
Gross Axle Weight Rating
The Gross Axle Weight Rating is the maximum load that can be
applied at each axle of the vehicle~&.
Vehicle capacity weight
The vehicle capacity weight (max. load) is listed either on the
driver's side 8 -pillar or inside the fuel filler flap.
& WARNING
• The actual Gross Axle Weight Rating at the front and rear axles
should not exceed the permissible weights, and their combination
must not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
• Exceeding permissible weight ratings can result in vehicle
damage, accidents and personal injury.
0 Note
• The vehicle capacity weight figures apply when the load is
distributed evenly in the vehicle (passengers and luggage). When
transporting a heavy load in the luggage compartment, carry the
load as near to the rear axle as possible so that the vehicle's
handling is not impaired.
• Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle loads or the
maximum gross vehicle weight. Always remember that the vehicle's
handling will be affected by the extra load. Therefore, adjust your
speed accordingly.
• Always observe local regulations. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Tec hn ica l da ta