Seats and storage Loading the roof rack
Always dis tribute loads evenly . Make sure anything on
the roof rack is securely tied do wn.
- Always distribute the loads on the roof rack evenly .
- Always attach items to t he roof rac k securely before you
drive
off .
The maximum permissible roof weight is 220 lb (100 kg ). The roof
we igh t is made up of the weight of the roof rack system and the
we ight of the object be ing transported.
When using a roof rack system which has a lower load ca rrying
capac ity, you must not use up the total maxim um permissible load
carrying capacity specified above . Instead, you shou ld load the roof
ra ck system only to the maximum capacity specified by the manufac
turer of the roof rack system.
& WARNING
Weak, damaged or improper straps used to secure items to the
roof rack can fail during hard braking or in a collision and cause
seriou s personal injury.
• Make sure the roof rack is installed ex actly as specified above
~ page 93 .
• Always use suitable mounting straps for se curing items to the
roof rack to help prevent items from shifting or flying forward.
• Items on the roof rack must always be se curely mounted.
• The use of a roof rack can negatively affect the way a vehicle
handles . Ca rgo that is large , heavy, bulky , long o r flat will ha ve a
greater negative influence on the vehicle' s aerodyn amics, center
of gra vity and ove rall handling. Alw ays drive slowly, a void sudden
braking and maneuvers when tran sporting cargo on th e roof of
your veh icle.
& WARNING (contin u ed )
• Never e xceed the maximum permi ssible load carrying capacity
of the roof of your vehicle, the permi ssible a xle weights and the
permissible total weight of your vehicle~
page 3 5 7, "Weights".
• Alway s drive slowly, avoid sudd en braking and maneuv ers
when transporting cargo on the roof of your vehicle.
'£> For the sake of the environment
Sometimes it may be easier to leave a roof rack installed even tho ugh
you a re not using it. Due to the inc reased air resistance your veh icle
w ill unnecessarily use more fuel. Remove the roof rack if you are not
going to use i t. •
Cupholder
Cupholder in center console
The cupholder is located under a cover.
Fi g. 99 Cente r
c on sole: ( uph old er
- To o pen the cu pholder, p ress the forward edge o f the
cover.
Two beverages can be carried in the cupholde r.
Intelligent technology
'-----------------------------------------------
Intelligent technology
Notice about data recorded by
vehicle control modules
Your vehicle is not equipped with an Event Data Recorder (EDR),
installed by some manufacturers for the express purpose of
capturing data for retrieva l after an accident or crash event. ED R's are
sometimes called "crash recorders".
Some state laws restrict the retrieval or downloading of data stored
by ED R's that were installed in a vehicle for the express purpose of
retrieving data after an accident or crash event without the owner's
consent.
Although your vehicle is not equipped with an EDR, it is equipped w ith
a number of electronic control modu les for various vehicle systems
such as, for example, engine function, emission control, as well as for
the airbags and safety belts.
T hese electronic contro l modules also record vehicle-re lated data
during normal vehicle operation for diagnostic and repair purposes .
Th e recording capacity of the e lectronic control modu les is limited to
data (no sound is recorded) and only a sma ll amount of data is actu
ally recorded over a very limited period of time and stored when a
system fault or other condition is sensed by a control unit. Some of
the data then stored may relate to vehicle speed, direction, braking
as well as restraint system use and performance in the event of a
crash or other condition. Stored data can only be read and down
loaded with special equipment.
Electronic Stabilization Program
(ESP)
General information
The ESP improves the vehicle stability.
N
-. ...
~
I ' I A I ~ )
--
Fig. 234 Center
console with ESP
switch
ESP is des igned to help you maintain vehicle control in s ituations
where the car approaches the limits of "grip", especia lly when accel
erat ing and cornering. ESP reduces the risk of skidd ing and imp roves
stability under all road conditions.
Th e system operates across the entire speed range in combination
with the ABS system. If the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) malfunc
tions, the ESP will also shut down.
How the system works
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
and the Anti-Slip Regulation System (ASR) are integrated in the elec
tronic stabilizatio n pro gram. In addition to the data provided by
these funct ions, the ESP control unit requires additional measure
ment data provided by high performance sensors. The rotational
speed of the vehicle about its vertical axis, the lateral acceleration ...
-~_T_ i_ re _ s_ a_n _ d_ w_ h _e_ e_ ls _________________________________________________ _
Groove
means the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
Load rating (code)
means the maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given infla
tion pressure. You may not find this information on all tires because
it is not required by law.
Maximum load rating
means the load rating fo r a tir e at the maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
means the sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight, and
(d) Production options weight
Maximum (permissible) inflation pressure
means the maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be
inflated. Also called "maximum inflation pressure."
Normal occupant weight
means 150 lbs. (68 kilograms) times the number of occupants seated
in the vehicle up to the total seating capacity of your vehicle.
Occupant distribution
means distr ibution of occupants in a vehicle .
Outer diameter
means the overall diameter of an inflated new tire.
Overall width
means the linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of
an inflated tire, including elevations due to labeling, decorations, or
protective bands or ribs.
Ply
means a layer of rubber -coated paralle l cords.
Production options weight
means the combined weight of those installed regular production
options weigh ing over 5 lbs. (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard
items which they replace, not previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof
rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.
Radial ply tire
means a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the centerline of the
tread .
Recommended inflation pressure
see=> page 307, "Cold tire inflation pressure".
Reinforced tire
means a tire design to operate at higher loads and at higher inflation
pressures than the corresponding standard tire. Reinforced t ires may
be identified as "XL ", "x l", "EXTRA LOAD", or "RF" on the sidewall.
Rim
means a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon
wh ich the tire beads are seated .
Rim diameter
means nominal diameter of the bead seat . If you change your wheel
size, you w ill have to purchase new tires to match the new rim diam
eter .
Rim size designation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim width
means nom inal distance between rim flanges.
________________________________________________ T_i_re _ s_ a _ n_d_ w_ h_ e_ e_l_s __ _
Sidewall
means that portion of a tire between the tread and bead.
Speed rating (letter code)
means the speed at which a tire is designed to be driven for extended
periods of time. The ratings range from 93 mph (150 km/h) to 186
mph (298 km/h)=>
page 320. You may not find this information on
all tires because it is not required by law .
The speed rating letter code, where applicable, is molded on the tire
sidewall and indicates the max imum permissible road speeds=>
& in
"Winter tires" on
page 323.
Tire pressure monitoring system*
means a system that detects when one or more of a vehicle's tires are
underinflated and illuminates a low tire pressure warning telltale.
Tread
means that portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road.
Tread separation
means pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass .
Treadwear indicators (TWI)
means the projections within the principal grooves designed to give a
visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread. See=>
page 317,
"Tread Wear Ind icator (TWI)" for more information on measuring
tire wear.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
is a tir e information system developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that is designed to
help buyers make relative 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 (kilometers) or perform in a certain way. It simp ly
gives tire buyers additional information to combine with other
considerations, such as price, brand loyalty and dealer recommenda
tions. Under UTQG, tires are graded by the tire manufacturers in three
Safety first
areas: treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance . The UTQG
information on the tires, molded into the sidewalls.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN)
This is the tire's "serial number" It begins with the letters "DO T" and
indicates that the tire meets all federal standards. The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufac tured, and
the last four numbers represent the week and year of manufacture.
For example,
DOT ... 2209 ...
means that the tire was produced in the 22nd week of 2009 . The
other numbers are ma rket ing codes that may or may not be used by
the tire manufacturer . Th is information is used to contact consumers
if a tire defect requires a recall.
Vehicle capacity weight
means the rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lbs. (68 kilograms)
times the vehicle's total seating capacity as listed on the label located
either on the driver's side B-pillar or on the inside of the fu e l filler
flap.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib
ut ing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight
and dividing by two.
Vehicle normal load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib
uting to each axle its share of the curb weight, accessory weight, and
normal occupant weight (distributed in accordance with tab le below
=> page 310) and dividing by two. ._
Vehicle care Technical data
___ T_ i_ r _e _s_ a_n_ d_ w_ h_ e_e_ l_ s _______________________________________________ _
Occ up ant loading and distribution for vehi cle normal load for various d esignated seating capacit ies
Designated seating capacity, num- Vehicle normal load , number of Occupant distribution in a nor
mally loaded vehicle
ber of occupants occupants
4
5
Cold tire inflation pressure
2
3
2 in front
2 in front, 1 in back seat
Tire pressure affects the overall handling, performance and safety of a vehicle.
Fig. 252 Ti re pre ssure
l a bel : lo cate d eit he r o n
driver 's s ide B-pilla r or
in sid e t he fue l fill er
flap
TVIE' I IU COl.D 'nRI! MCUUM
PNIU DIMCNIIONII PMIIION Dtl "*lit A f:11101>
....
·-.. OIIICOUM
- KPA,. PSI
- KPA,. PSI
- KPA,. PSI
Fig. 2 53 Tire pre ssure
lab el
Ma inta in ing p roper tire pressure is one of the most important th ings
you can do to he lp avoid sudden tire fa ilure. Underinflated tires are a
ma jo r ca use of sudden t ire failure. Keep ing t ires a t the right pressu re
is a lso important for safe and responsive vehicle handling, tract ion,
bra king and loa d ca rry ing .
Tire pre ssures are particularly important
when the vehicle is be ing dr iven at higher speeds, and then espe
cially when he avily loaded even within the permi ssible load·
carr ying capacities approved for your veh icle.
Th e 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.
O n USA veh icles, the tire pressure label is lo cated on the drive r's side
8-pillar. On Canada vehicles, the t ire pressure label is located either
•
T ir e pressure ge nera lly refers to the amount of air in a t ire that it
needs it to do its job and safely carry the combined load of the entire
veh icle and i ts conten ts. Tir e pressure is measured in kilopascals
(kPa), the international measur ing unit and in pounds per square inch
(PSI) . Tire press ure is based in part on the veh icle 's design and load
limit -the greatest amount of weight that the vehicle can carry safe ly
and the t ire size . The proper tire pressure is frequently referred to as
the "recommended cold t ire inflation pressure." Air in the tires
expands when the ti re hea ts up because of i nterna l fr iction when it
flexes in use. The ti re p ressu re is highe r when the t ire has wa rmed up
than when it is "cold ." It is the inflation pressure in a "co ld" tire that
co unts . Therefo re, you should never let air out of a warm tire to
match "cold tire inflation pressure" recommendations . The t ires
would then be under inflated and could fail suddenly.
on the driver's side 8-pillar o r inside the fuel f iller flap. The ti re pres- ...
Tires and wheels Ill
----------------
sure label 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 (up to 3 occupants), you can adjust tire pressures to
those specified for normal vehicle load. Before operating the
vehicle at maximum load, you must increase the tire pressures to
those specified for maximum vehicle load~& .
Bear in mind that the tire pressure monitoring system* can only
mon itor the tire pressures you have stored . The system does not
recognize the load condition of your vehicle.
Th e effectiveness of the tire pressure monitoring system* will be
impaired if you store normal load pressures but then operate the
vehicle at its maximum load~.&, . See the
illustration
~ page 310, fig. 2 52 for the locat ion of the label
either on dr iver's side B-pillar or inside the fuel filler flap (color of the
actual label and exact location on the vehicle will vary slightly) .
Note that the following tab le is accurate at the time of going to press
and is subject to change. In the event of discrepancies , the tire pres
sure label (On USA vehicles, the tire pressure label is located on the
dr ive r's side B -pillar . On Canada veh icles, the tire pressure label is
located either on the dr iver's s ide B-pillar or inside the fue l f ill er flap)
always takes precedence.
The table below lists the recommended cold t ire inflation pressures
for the Audi model covered by your Owner's Literature at the vehicle's
capacity weight and the tire sizes insta lled on the respective models
as original equipment, or as a factory option .
Engine Tire designation Tire pressure front Tire pressure rear
(displace- normal load full load normal load
full load
ment in conditiona> condition conditiona> condition
liter)
PSI kPA PSI kPA
a -cylinder 255/45 Rla 99H All Season
33 230 36 250 30 210 35 240
4.2
255/40 Rl9 l0OV XL All Season 36 250 39 270 33 38 260
255/40 Rl9 l00Y XL High Performance 33 230 36 250 30 210 35 240
265/35 R20 99V XL High Performance 35 240 38 260 32 220 36 250
275/35 R20 102V XL High Performance 38 260 41 280 35 240 44 300
a-cylinder 255/45 Rla 99H All Season 33 230 36 30 210 35 240
4.2 L
255/40 Rl9 l00V XL All Season 36 250 39 270 33 230 38 260
255/40 R19 l00Y XL High Performance 33 230 36 250 30 35 240
275/35 R20 102V XL High Performance 38 260 41 280 35 240 44 300
Safety first Vehicle care Technical data
Tires and wheels -________________ Effll
& WARNING
• Incorr ect tire pressures and /or underinflation can lead to a
s erious or fatal accident .
• Incor rect tire pressures and /or unde rinflation cause increased
tire wear and can aff ect the handling of the vehicle .
• Incorrect tire pressures and /or underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure , including a blowout and sudden deflation,
caus ing loss of vehicle cont rol. •
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the tires orig in a lly installed
on your vehicle is listed on the tire pressure label located
either on driver 's sid e 8-pillar or inside the fuel filler flap.
The recommended tire pressures a re on the tire p ressure labe l and in
t he table => page 310, "Cold tire infla tion pressure ".This means that
the pressure must be chec ked and adjusted when the tire has not
bee n dr iven for more tha n a coup le of m iles (k ilomete rs) at low
speeds dur ing t he previous three ho urs . Air in t he tires expands when
t he tire hea ts up as a r esu lt of in te rna l fr ic tion as it flexes in use. The
tire pressure is higher when the tire has warmed up than when it is
" ld "
co .
It is the inflation pressu re in a "cold" ti re that counts. Therefore, yo u
sho uld never let air out of a warm tire to matc h "Cold tire inflation
pressure" recommendations=>
page 310. The t ires would then be
underinflated and co uld fail sudden ly.
Th e tire press ure label on your Audi lists the re comme nded cold t ire
inflation pressures at max imum capacity for t he new, origina l equip
ment tire s that were on yo ur vehi cle at t he time it was m anufactu red .
For the location of the label=>
page 310 , fig. 252.
M ost tires lose air nat urally
over time. They can also lose some air if
you d rive
over a potho le or hi t a curb while pa rking. It is usually not
Safety first
poss ible to see whether the radial t ires used today are underinflated
ju st by loo king at th em.
Th erefore, be sure to check t ire pressures a t least once a month and
always before going on a long trip. Make sure to take the n umber of
people a nd t he amount of luggage into account whe n ad justi ng tire
pressure for a tr ip -
even one that you would not consider to be
" long. " See =>
page 314, "Ti res and vehicle load limits" fo r more
important information.
Always use an acc urate t ire pressure ga uge when chec king and
adjust ing inf lation press ures. Check all of the tires and be sure not to
forget the spare tire . If the press ure in any tire is too hig h when the
t ir e is "cold," let air out of the t ire s lowly w it h the edge of the t ire
gauge and keep chec king the pressure u nti l yo u reach the pressure
t ha t is co rre ct for the load (passenge rs an d luggage) a nd kind of
dr iv ing you plan to do.
If the pressure in any ti re is too low, note t he difference betwee n th e
pressure in the co ld tire and the pressure you need and add the a ir
tha t you need to reach the correct p ressu re fo r th e ve hicle load
(passengers a nd luggage) fo r th e tires on yo ur vehicle as listed on the
on your vehicle and in this man ua l and the kind of driving you p lan to
do .
Never e xceed the max imum inflation pressure l isted on the tire
s idewall for any reason.
Remember that the vehicle manufacture r, not the t ire manufacturer,
de termines the correct tire press ure for the t ires on your vehicle.
It is i mport ant to che ck the t ire pressure when t he ti res a re cold.
• Read the required t ire pressure from the t ire pressure label. On
US A veh icles, the tire pressu re labe l is loca ted on the d river's si de B
pillar . On Canada vehicles, the tire pressure label is located either on
t he drive r's side B-pillar or inside the fuel fille r flap.
• Turn the
valve stem cap counter -clockw ise to remove it from the
tire
valve.
• Place the air press ure gauge on the valve. ..,.
Vehicle care Technical data
Tires and wheels -________________ fWII
is mor e difficult to s top . Ov erloadin g can not only lead to loss of
ve hicle cont rol , but can a lso dam ag e im por tant parts of th e veh icl e
and can lead to s udden t ire failur e, incl uding a blowout and sudd en
deflation that can cause the vehicle to c ras h.
You r saf ety an d that o f your p assenger s also d ep end s on maki ng sur e
tha t load limits a re not exceeded. Vehi cle load in cludes everyb ody
a nd every thing in and on the ve hicl e. The se l oad l imi ts are tech nicall y
referred to as the ve hicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ("GVW R").
Th e "GVWR " includes the we ight of the basic vehicle, all factory
ins talled accessories, a f ull tank of fue l, o il, coola nt and o ther flu ids
plus maxim um loa d. The maxim um loa d i ncludes the number of
pass eng ers that t he v ehicle is inten ded to ca rry ("s eating capa city")
w it h an ass ume d we ight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each passenger at a
desig nated se ating pos it io n and t he tota l weig ht o f any luggage in
the vehicle . If you tow a tra iler , the weight of t he trailer hitch and t he
t o ngue we ig ht of th e load ed t rail er m ust be i ncluded as p art o f the
vehicle load.
Th e
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAW R") is the ma ximu m load that
can be a pplied at each of t he veh icle's two axles.
T he Gross Vehicle Weight Rati ng and the Gross Axle Weight Rat ing
a re list ed on the sa fe ty c ompl iance sticke r label loca te d ei the r on the
driver's side B-pilla r or on the inside of the fuel fille r flap . Your Audi
h as 5 se ating posit ion s, 2 i n the fro nt and 3 in t he re ar for to tal
seating capacity of 5. Ve hicles wit h power ind iv id ual rear s eats* have
4 se ating posi tions, 2 in the front and 2 i n the rea r for tot al sea ting
capacity of 4. Each seat ing pos ition has a safety belt =>
page 197,
"Safety be lts" .
Th e fa ct that th ere is an upper li mit to your ve hicle's Gross Vehicle
We ight Rating means that the total weight o f whatever is being
c ar ried in the vehicle ( including the we igh t o f a t rail er hit ch and the
tongue weight of the loa ded tra ile r) is limited. The mo re passengers
in the vehi cle or p assen gers wh o are he avie r than t he stand ard
we ights assum ed mean t hat less weight ca n be carried as luggage.
Safety first
The tire pressure label on yo ur Aud i also lis ts the maxim um combined
we ight of all of the o ccupant s and lug gage o r oth er c argo that t he
vehicle ca n car ry . For the location o f the label=>
pag e 310, fig. 252 .
& 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 the 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,
including a blowout and sudden deflation, causing loss of control
and a crash.
• Always make sure that the total load being transported -
including the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer -does not make the vehicle heavier than the
vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. •
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. .,_
Vehicle care Technical data