2009 AUDI S6 tire pressure

__________________________________________________ T_ ir_e _ s_ a_ n _ d_ w_ h_ e_ e_ls _ ____. 11111
New tires and replacing tires and wheels
New tires and wheels have to be broken in.
Fig. 251 Tire specification codes on the sidewall of a tire
No.
G)
@
©
©
©
©
Description
Passenger car tire (where applicable)
Nominal width of tire in millimeters
Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
Radial
Rim diameter code
Load index and speed rating
0
©
U.S. DOT tire identificat ion number
Audi Original tire
Sever snow condit ions
Tire ply composition and materials used
@ Maximum load rating
@ Treadwear, traction and temperature grades
@ Maximum permissible inflation pressure
The tires and rims are essential parts of the vehicle's design . The
tires and rims approved by Audi are specially matched to the char ­
acteristics of the vehicle and can make a major contribution to good
road holding and safe handling when in good condition and prop ­
erly inflated
=> & .
We recommend that all work on tires and wheels be performed by
an authorized Audi dealer. They are familiar with recommended
procedures and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as
well as the proper facilities for disposing of the old tires.
Authorized Audi dealers have the necessary information about tech­
nical requirements for installing or changing tires and rims.
Replacing tires and wheels
Tires should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (for
example both front tires or both rear tires together).
Be sure to read and heed the information to the tire pressure moni ­
toring system
=> page 336.
Always buy replacement radial tires that have the same specifica­
tions as the tires approved for your vehicle by Audi. Replacement
tires must always have the same load rating specification as the
original equipment or approved optional tires listed in the table
=> page 327. ~
Vehic le care I I irechnical data

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Audi-approved specification tires are specially matched to your
vehicle and its load limits, and can contribute to the important road­
holding, driving characteristics, and safety of the vehicle . The table
( =>
page 321) lists specifications of the tires approved for the Audi
models covered by your Owner's Literature.
The tire pressure label located on driver's side 8 -pillar (=>
page 321,
fig. 248) lists the specifications of the original equipment tires
installed on your vehicle at the time it was manufactured.
Federa l law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized infor ­
mation on the sidewall of al l tires=>
page 329, fig. 251. This informa­
tion identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics, the
quality grade of the tire and also provides a t ire identification
number for safety standard certification and in case of a recall.
Tire specifications
Knowledge of tire specifications makes it easier to choose the
correct tires. Radial tires have the tire specifications marked on the
sidewa ll, for example:
P245 / 45 R 17 99 H XL
This contains the following information :
P Indicates the tire is for passenger cars (where applicable)
245 Nominal tire width in mm of the tire from sidewall edge to side-
wall edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire
45 Height/width ratio in percent (aspect ratio)
R Tire construction: Radial
17 Rim diameter code (in inches)
99 Load rating code
H Speed rating letter code
XL (or "xi", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF") indicates that the tire is a"Rein ­
forced" or an "Extra Load" tire
M+S (or "M/S"l Indicates that the tire has some mud and snow capa­
bility
The tires could a lso have the information of direction of rotation
=>
page 317. Tire
manufacturing date
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tire sidewall
(possibly only on the
inner side of the wheell:
"DO T ... 2208 ... " means, for example, that the tire was produced in
the 22nd week of 2008.
Speed rating (letter code)
The speed rating letter code on the wheels indicates the maximum
permissible road speeds=>
& in "Winter tires" on page 333.
P up to 93 mph ( 150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (158 km/h)
R upto 106mph(170km/hl
S upto110mph(180km/hl
T upto118mph(190km/hl
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)31
Z over 149 mph (240 km/h)31
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)3
l
Y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)31
Your vehicle is normally factory equipped with tires, which possess
excellent driving characteristics and give your Audi optimum
driving comfort. An electronic speed limiter:::>
page 27will normal ly
prevent your vehic le from going faster than the tire speed rating
=> & .
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN) and tire
manufacture date
This is the tire's "serial number". It begins with the letters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets all federa l 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-
~
31 For tires with a maximum speed capability over 149 mph (240 km/h), t ire
manufac turers sometimes use the letters "ZR."

Tires and wheels -________________ w-.
•
ture. For exam ple , t he numbers 2 208 mean that the tire was
pr od uce d in the 22nd w eek o f 20 08 . T he ot her num bers a re
marketing cod es that may or may not b e used by the tire manufac ­
tu rer. This inf or ma tion is use d to conta ct consum ers if a tir e defec t
requires a recall.
Audi Original tire
Ti res with the identification "AO" or "R O" hav e been specia lly
m atc h ed wi th you r A ud i. We re comm end u sing on ly these tire s
becaus e they meet the highest standards re garding safety and
dri ving c haracter istic s when used correctly . You r aut horized Audi
d ealer w ill glad ly prov ide you with mor e information .
Tire ply composition and materials used
The number of p li e s indicates the numb er of layers of rubber -coat ed
fabric i n the tir e . In genera l, the grea te r the number of pl ies, th e
mo re we ig ht a t ire can suppo rt. T ire ma nufactu rers also must ind i­
cate the materia ls in the tire, which include steel, ny lon, polyester,
and oth ers .
Maximum Load Rating
This numb er ind icat es the maximum load in kil ograms and pou nds
th at ca n be ca rried by t he tire.
Tire qual ity grading for treadvvear , traction , and
temperature resistance
T read wear , traction and temperature grades::::;, page 332.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever
be put in the t ir e u nder nor mal d riving co nd it ion s.
& 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 .
& WARNING (continued )
• Always use tires, rims and wheel bolts that meet the specifica­
tions of original factory -installed tires or other combinations that
have been spec ifically approved by the veh icle 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.
• All four wheels must be fitted with radial tires of the same type ,
size (rolling circumference ) and the same tread pattern. Driving
with different tires reduces vehicle handling and can lead to a loss of control.
• If the spare tire is not the same as the tires that are mounted
on the vehicle - for example with winter tires - only use the spare
tire for a short period of time and drive with extra care . Refit the
normal road wheel as soon as safely possible.
• Never drive faster than the maximum speed for which the tires
on your vehicle are rated because tires that are driven faster than
their rated speed can fail suddenly.
• Overloading tires cause heat build -up, sudden tire failure ,
includ ing a blowout and sudden deflation and loss of control.
• Temperature grades apply to tires that are properly inflated and
not over or underinflated .
• For technical reasons it is not always possible to use wheels
from other vehicles -in some cases not even wheels from the
same vehicle model.
• If you install wheel trim discs on the vehicle wheels , make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not blocked. Reduced airflow to
the brakes can them to overheat , increasing stopping distances
and causing a collision.
~
Vehicle care I t •

Tires and wheels -_______________________ ..::...:..:..-=::.......:.:..;::..:....____;___
•
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must always be tightened to the correct
torque.
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the factory installed rims. If
different rims are fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length
and correctly shaped bolt heads must be used. This ensures that
wheels are fitted securely and that the brake system functions
correctly.
In certain circumstances, you may not use wheel bolts from a
different vehicle - even if it is the same model~
page 374.
& 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 90 ft lb (120 Nm) with a
tolerance of ± 7,4 ft lb(± 10 Nm). Torque wheel bolts diagonally.
After changing a wheel, the torque must be checked as soon as possible with a torque wrench
-preferably by an authorized Audi
dealer or qualified workshop. •
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Audi is factory-equipped with low aspect ratio tires. These tires
have been thoroughly tested and been selected specifically for your
model for their superb performance, road feel and handling under
a variety of driving conditions. Ask your authorized Audi dealer for
more details.
The low aspect ratio of these tires is indicated by a numeral of 55 or
less in the tire's size designation. The numeral represents the ratio
of the tire's sidewall height in relation to its tread width expressed
in percentage. Conventional tires have a height/width ratio of 60 or
more.
The performance of low-aspect-ratio tires is particularly sensitive to improper inflation pressure. It is therefore important that low
aspect ratio tires are inflated to the specified pressure and that the
inflation pressure is regularly checked and maintained. Tire pres­
sures should be checked at least once a month and always before a
long trip~
page 323, "Checking tire pressure" .
What you can do to avoid tire and rim damage Low aspect ratio tires can be damaged more easily by impact with
potholes, curbs, gullies or ridges on the road, particularly if the tire
is underinflated.
In order to minimize the occurrence of impact damage to the tires
of your vehicle, we recommend that you observe the following
precautions:
• Always maintain recommended inflation pressures . Check your
tire pressure every 2,000 miles (3,000 km) and add air if necessary.
• Drive carefully on roads with potholes, deep gullies or ridges.
The impact from driving through or over such obstacles can
damage your tires. Impact with a curb may also cause damage to
your tires. ..,
Vehicle care
I t •

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
• After any impact, immediately inspect your tires or have them
inspected by the nearest authorized Audi dealer. Replace a
damaged tire as soon as possible.
• Inspect your tires every 2,000 miles (3,000 km) for damage and
wear . Damage is not always easy to see . Damage can lead to loss of
air and underinflation, which could eventually cause tire failure . If
you believe that a tire may have been damaged, replace the tire as
soon as possible.
• These tires may wear more quickly than others.
• Please also remember that, while these tires deliver responsive
handling, th ey may ride less comfortably and make more noise than
other choices.
Reduced performance in winter/cold season
conditions
All tires are design ed for certain purposes. The low aspect rat io ,
ultra high performance tires originally installed on your vehicle are intended for maximum dry and wet road performance and handling.
They are not suitable for cold, snowy or icy weather conditions. If
you drive under those circumstances, you should equip your vehicle
with all -season or winter tires, which offer better traction under
those conditions . We suggest you use the recommended snow or
all -season tires specified for your vehicle, or their equivalent .
Refer to~
page 333for more detailed information regarding winter
tires. •
Tire pressure monitoring system
General notes U
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recom ­
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pres- sure label, you should determine the proper tire i
nflation pressure
for those tires.)
As an added safety feature , your vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is significantly
under -inflated . Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu ­
minates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible,
and inflate them to th e proper pressur e. Driving on a signi ficantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure . Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte­
nance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pr essure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indi ­
cator to indicate when the system is not operating properly . The
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure
telltale . When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated . This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start -ups as long as the malfunction exists .
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not
b e able to de tect or signal low tire pr essure as in tended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction tell tale af ter replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly. •

Tires and wheels -
----------------------
Tire pressure indicator appears
The tire pressure indicator in the instrument cluster
informs you if the tire pressure is too low or if there is a
sys tem malfunc tion.
en
~ 0 ..:, ;g
0 g 0 ..:, ;g
F ig . 25 2 Displa y:
underinflation warning
Fig . 253 Displ ay :
Sy stem malfunction
Using th e ABS sensors , th e t ire pr essur e monitoring system
c o m pares the tire tread ci rcu mference and vi bration character istics
of the individua l tires . If the pressure decreases in one or mor e tires,
th is is ind icated in the inst rumen t cl uster w ith a warning symbol,
and a message=> fig. 252. The driver message in the display goes
ou t af ter 5 sec onds. T he driver message can be dis pl ayed again by
pressing the [ CH ECK ] button. If only on e tire is affected, the display
will indicate its position . T
he tire pressure monitoring must be reset via MMI each time the
press ures are adjus ted (e .g . when swi tchi ng between par tial and
fu ll load pressu re) or after changing or replacing a tire on your
veh icle =>
page 338. You ca n find the recom mended tir e pres sures
for your vehicle on the label on the driver's door pillar=>
page 32 1.
Tire tread circumference and vibration characteristics can change
and cause a tire pressure war ning if:
• the tire pressu re in one or more t ires is too low,
• t he tire has st ructura l damage,
• the tire pressure was changed, wheels rotated or replaced but
t he TP MS was no t r eset =>
pag e 338 .
Warning symbols
• ~ Loss of pressur e in at le ast one tire=>&. Check the tire or tires
and replace or repair if necessary . T he indicator light in the
i nstrument cluster also illu mi nat es =>
page 16 . Che ck/cor rect th e
p ressures of al l four t ires and reset TPM S via MMI.
T (Ti re Pre ssure Mo nitorin g System)
Tire pressure! System
malfunction .
If appears after switch ing the ign it ion on or
w hi le drivi ng => fig . 253 an d the i ndica tor lig ht in th e in stru ment
c luster blinks for approximately one minute and the n stays on, there
i s a sy stem malfunction . See your authorized Au di d ealer as soon a s
possible .
& WARNING
• If the tire pressure indicator appears in the instrument cluster
display, one or more of your tires is significantly under -inflated.
Reduce your speed immediately and avoid any hard steer ing or
braking maneuvers. Stop as soon as possible and check the tires
and their pressures. Inflate the tire pressure to the proper pressure
as indicated on the vehicle's tire pressure label =>
page 321.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over­
heat and can lead to tire failure . Under- inflation also is l ikely to
impair the vehicle's handling and stopping ability .
~
Vehicle care I I irechnical data

___ T_ i_ r_e _s_ a_ n_ d_ w_ h_ e_ e _ ls _________________________________________________ _
& WARNING (con tinued )
• The driver is respon sible for maintaining th e correct tire pres­
s ures . You must check the tire pre ssure s regularly .
• Under certain conditions (such as a sporty driving style , winter
cond itions or unpaved roads ), the pressure monitor indicator may
be delayed.
• Ask your authorized Audi dealer if run -flat tires may be used on
your vehicle. Your vehicle registration becomes invalid if you use
the se tires when not permitted. Damage to your vehicl e or acci ­
dents could also result .
• To ensure a p roper TPMS -function use Audi relea sed tires
which are marked with "AO " or "RO " on the tire sidewall
=> page 331 .
[ i ] Tips
• The tire pressure monitoring system stops work in g when there
is an ES P/ABS malfunct ion.
• Using snow chains may resu lt in a system ma lfunction. •
Reset tire pressure monitoring system
If the tire pressur e is adju sted , whee ls are rotated or
c hang ed, the T PMS must be reset vi a MM/ .
Fig. 254 Car : Tire pre s­
sure m onitoring
sys tem
T ur n on th e i gni tio n.
- Selec t: the [ CA R) f un ctio n k ey>
Tire pressure monitoring
> Store now .
[ i ] Tips
Befor e reset t he TPMS, the c urrent pressur es o f all four t ires must
correspond to the speci fied values. Adjust the tire pressure and
r ese t th e press ure i n t he tire p ress ure moni tori ng system accord ing
to the load you are carry ing=>
page 321. •

1111!1.___W_ h_ a_ t_ d_o_ l_ d_ o _ n_ o_w _ ? ____________________________________________ _
- Disengage and lower the floor panel before you close the
luggage compartment lid again.
Storing the replaced wheel
- Place the replaced wheel inside the spare wheel well in
the luggage compartment .
Tighten the knurled retaining screw clockwise to secure the wheel in place.
- Disengage and lower the floor panel before you close the
luggage compartment lid again.
& WARNING
Loose items in the passenger compartment can cause serious
personal injury during hard braking or in an accident .
• Never store the spare wheel or jack and tools in the passenger
compartment.
• Always store all jacking equipment, tools, and the spare wheel
in the luggage compartment.
• Tighten the knurled retaining screw for the spare wheel
securely.
[ i] Tips
Check the inflation pressure of the spare tire periodically to keep the
tire ready for use. •
Changing a wheel
Before changing a wheel
Observe the following precautions for your own and your
passenger's safety when changing a wheel.
- After you experience a tire failure, pull the car well away
from moving traffic and try to reach level ground before
you stop :::;. & .
- All passengers should leave the car and move to a safe
location (for instance, behind the guardrail) :::;,& .
- Engage the parking brake to prevent your vehicle from
rol ling unintentionally :::;.& .
- Move selector lever to position P :::;. & .
-If you are towing a trailer: unhitch the trailer from your
vehicle.
- Take the jack and the spare tire out of the luggage
compartment:::;.
page 342.
& WARNING
You or your passengers could be injured while changing a wheel if
you do not follow these safety precautions:
• If you have a flat tire, move a safe distance off the road. Turn off
the engine, turn the emergency flashers on and use other warning
devices to alert other motorists.
• Make sure that passengers wait
in a safe place away from the
vehicle and well away from the road and traffic.
• To help prevent the vehicle from moving suddenly and possibly
slipping off the jack, always fully set the parking brake and block
the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel being changed. When one ...