-~_T_ i_ re _ s_ a_n _ d_ w_ h _e_ e_ ls _________________________________________________ _
& WARNING (conti nu ed )
• Alway s use tire s, rim s and wheel bolts that meet the specifica
tions of original factory-installed tires or other combinat ions 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 speed s. 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 tir es on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history. " Old used t ires m ay 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 tire s 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 w ith 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 fa ster than the maximum speed for which the tires
on your vehicle are rated because ti re s that are driven faster than
their rated speed can fail suddenly.
• Overloading tire s cause heat build-up, sudden tire failure,
including a blowout and sudden deflation and loss of control.
• Temperature grades apply to tires that are properl y inflated
and not over or underinflated.
• For technical reasons it is not always possible to u se wheels
from other veh icles- in some cases not even wheels from the same
vehicle model.
• If you install wheel tr im discs on the vehicle wheels , make sure
that the air flow to the brakes i s not blocked . Reduced airflow to
the brakes can them to overheat, increasing stopping distances
and cau sing a collision.
& W ARNING (continued )
• Run flat ti res may only be used on vehicles that were equipped
with them at the factory. The vehicle must have a chassi s designed
fo r run flat tires. Inco rrect use of run flat tires can lead to vehicle
damage or accidents. Che ck with an author ized Audi dealer or tire
specialist to see if your vehicle can be equipped with run flat tires .
If run flat tire s are u sed, they must be installed on all four wheels.
M ixing t ire types is not permitted.
0 Note
• For tech nica l reasons, it is not generally poss ible to use the wheel
r ims from o ther veh icles . T his ca n hold t rue for w heels of the same
veh icle type.
• If the sp are tire is different fr om the tires t hat yo u have mo unted
on your vehicle (for example w inter t ires or wide profile tires), then
use the s pare tire for a shor t perio d of tim e on ly and drive wi th ext ra
care. Replace t he flat tire w ith the tire matching the others on your
vehicle as soon as possible.
• Never dr ive witho ut the valve stem cap . The valves could get
damage d.
~ For the sake of the environment
Dispose of old t ires in accor dance with the loca l req uiremen ts .•
Uniform tire quality grading
• Tr ead we ar
• Tract ion AA A B C
• T emperat ure A B C
Quality g rades can be fo und where applicable on the tire s ide wall
between t re ad sho ulder and m aximum se ct io n w idth =>
page 30 7,
fig.220 . ~
Tires and wheels -________________ Effll
& WARNING (co ntinued )
• Snow chain s are available in different sizes. Always make sure
to follow the instructions provi ded by the snow chain manufac
turer.
• Wh en driving with snow cha in s never drive fa ster than the
speed permitted for your specific snow chains .
• Always observe local regulations.
0 Note
• Remove snow chains before d riving on roads not cove red w it h
snow to avoid damaging t ires and wearing t he snow chains down
unnecessar ily.
• Snow chains, which come into direct contact wi th the wheel rim,
can scratch or damage it. The refore, make s ure that the snow chai ns
are sui tably covered. Chec k the pos it ion o f the snow cha ins afte r
driving a few yards and correct if necessary . Follow the instructions
from t he snow chain man ufacturer when doing so .
• If the Adaptive A ir Suspension* sho uld ma lfunct ion, do no t mount
or use snow cha ins because t he ve hicle will be ex tremely low . If you
do drive w ith snow chains o n while the veh icle is at t his level, the
snow c hains m ight severe ly damage the whee lhouse and other parts
o f the ve hicl e.
[I) Tips
W he re snow c ha ins a re mandato ry on certain ro ads, this no rm ally
also applies to ve hicles with A ll W hee l Dr ive. •
Safety first
Wheel bolts
Wheel bol ts mus t alwa ys be tigh tened to the co rrect
torque .
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the factory installed rims. If
differe nt rims a re fitte d, the correc t wheel bolt s wi th the r ig ht length
and co rrectly s haped bolt heads must be used. Th is ensures that
w heels are fitte d se cu rely and that the br ake system fun ctions
correctly .
In certain circumstances, yo u may not use wheel bolts from a
different veh icle -even if it is the same model~
page 348.
& WARNING
Improperly tightened or ma intained wheel bolts can become
loose causing los s of control, a collision and seriou s per sonal
injury .
• Always keep the wheel bolts and the thread s in the wheel hub s
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 i s too h igh, the wheel
bolts and threads can be damaged and the wheel can become
loose .
0 Note
The specified tor que fo r th e wheel bolt s i s 90 ft lb (120 Nm) wi th a
tolerance of ± 7,4 ft lb( ± 10 Nm). Torque wheel bo lts diagonally. .,_
Vehicle care Technical data
What do I do now? -______________________________ ____::..:..:..:..::..::....::..::.....::.....:::...::,_ __ __,J
& 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.
-
The onboard tool kit includes:
• Hook for removing wheel covers*
• Wheel bolt wrench
• Alignment pin for changing wheels
• Screwdrive r with reve rsible blade
Fig. 225 Luggage
compartment: vehicle
tool kit
Vehicle OP-eration
• Towing eye
[ i] Tips
Some of the onboard 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. 226 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 plastic 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. 226. Turn it counter-clockwise.
- Take out the spare wheel.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service iTechnical data
What do I do now? Ill
----------------
& WARNING (con tinued)
Trans missio n in "P " (Pa rk) w ill not pre ve nt the vehicle from
mo ving .
• Befo re you ch an ge a wheel , be s ure the ground i s le ve l an d
firm . If ne cess ary, us e a sturdy b oard und er the jack.
• Aft er in st a llin g the sp are wheel , make sure that you repl ace
the flat tire /wheel in it s storage area prop erly and tight en the
knurled ret ain ing s crew se cu rel y.•
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 Adaptive
Air Suspension) =>
page 170.
2. Remove the decorative wheel cover *. For more details see
also =>
page 322, "Decorative wheel covers" .
3 . Loosen the
wheel bolts => page 322.
4. Locate the proper mo unti ng point for the jack and align
the jack below that point=>
page 323.
5. Lift the car with the jack=> page 323.
6. Remove the wheel with the flat tire and then install the
spare =>
page 324.
7. Tighten all wheel bolts lightly.
8 .
Lower the vehicle with the jack.
9. Use the wheel bolt wrench and
firmly t ighten all wheel
bolts =>
page 322.
10. Replace the decorative wheel cover *.
Safety first
1 1. Deactivate the vehicle jack mode (only vehicles with
Adaptive Air Suspens ion) =>
page 170 .
& WARNING
Alwa ys re ad and f ollow all WARNINGS and information ~ & in
" Ra ising the vehicl e" on pag e
32 3 and ~ pag e 325. •
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 the ir proper location.
- Check the tir e pr essur e on the spare wheel immediately
after mounting it .
- As soon as possib le, have the
tighten ing torques on a ll
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 not ic e that the wheel bolts are corroded and difficu lt to turn
wh ile chang ing a tire, they should be replaced before you check the
tightening torque .
• Drive at reduced speed until you have the tighten ing torques
checked. •
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data
-What do I do now? PWL--....:....:..:::..::....=.::..:..:...::....:....:.___ ___________ _
Applies to veh icles : w ith deco rat ive wheel covers
Decorative wheel covers
The decorative wheel covers must be removed first to
access the wheel bolts .
Removing
Fig. 227 Changing a
wheel: Removing the
wheel cover
-Insert the hook provided with the vehicle tool kit in the
hole in the hub .
- Pull off the
decorative wheel cover => fig . 2 2 7. •
Loosening and tightening the wheel bolts
The wheel bolts must be loosened before raising the
vehicle.
Loosening
Fig. 228 Changing a
wheel: loosening the
wheel bolts
-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 of the wrench handle and turn
the wheel bolts
counter-clockwise about one single turn
in the direction of arrow=> fig . 228.
Tightening
- 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 of the wrench handle and turn
each wheel bolt
clockwise until it is seated.
& WARNING
• Do not use force or hurry when changing a wheel -you can
cause the vehicle to slip off the jack and cause serious personal
injuries.
What do I do now? -_______________ __.PfWII
& WARNING (continued)
• Do not loosen the wheel bolts more than one turn before you
raise the vehicle with the jack. -You risk an injury.
(I) Tips
• Never use the hexagonal socket in the handle of the screwdriver to
loosen o r 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 th e wheel bolt wrench with
one
foot only .
As you do so, hold on to the car to keep your balance and
take ca re not to slip .•
Raising the vehicle
The vehicle must be li~ed with the jack first before the
wheel can be removed.
Fig. 229 Changing a
wheel: mounting
points for the jack
Vehicle OP-eration
Fig. 230 Close-up:
proper positioning of
jack
- Activate the vehicle jack mode* (only vehicles with Adap
tive Air Suspension)=>
page 170.
-Engage the parking brake to prevent your vehicle from
rolling unintentionally.
- Move the
selector lever to position P.
-Position the jack below the door sill under the mounting
point
that is closest to the wheel to be changed
=> fig . 229.
- Extend the
jack under the lifting point on the door sill until
its arm is positioned directly under the lifting point=>& .
- Align the jack so that its arm©=> fig. 230 engages in the
designated lifting point in the door sill and the movable
base ® lies flat on the ground. The base® must be
vertical under the lifting point@.
- Wind the jack up further until the flat tire comes off the
ground =>& .
The jack must be installed only at the places indicated=> fig . 229.
There is exactly
one location for each wheel. The jack must not be
positioned at any other location
~ & .
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service iTechnical data
lffll.,___W_ h_ a_t _ d_ o_ I_d_ o_ n_o _w_ ? ___________________________________________ _
An unstable surface under the jack can cause the vehicle to slip off the
jack. Always provide a firm base for the jack on the ground .
If neces
sary place a sturdy board or similar support under the jack. On hard,
slippery surfaces (such as tiles) use a rubber mat or similar to prevent
the jack from slipping=> &.
& WARNING
• You or your passengers could be injured while changing a
wheel if you do not follow these safety precautions:
-Positioning the jack under the vehicle at any other place than
those indicated above may damage the vehicle or may result in
personal injuries.
- A soft or unstable surface under the jack may cause the
vehicle to slip off the jack. Always provide a firm base for the
jack on the ground. If necessary, use a sturdy board under the
jack.
- On hard, slippery surface (such as tiles) use a rubber mat or
similar to prevent the jack from slipping.
• To help prevent injury to yourself and your passengers: -Do not raise the vehicle until you are sure the jack is securely
engaged.
- Passengers must not remain in the vehicle when it is jacked
up.
- Make sure that passengers wait in a safe place away from the
vehicle and well away from the road and traffic.
- Make sure jack position is correct, adjust as necessary and
then continue to raise the jack. •
Taking the wheel off/installing the spare
Follow these instructions step-by -step for changing the
wheel
Fig. 231 Changing a
wheel: using the
screwdriver handle
(with the blade
removed) to turn the
bolts
Fig. 232 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. 231.
What do I do now? -________________ Vf'.'11
- Screw the threaded end of the alignment pin from the
tool kit hand-tight into the empty bo lt hole~
page 324,
fig. 232.
- Then re m ove the o ther wheel bolts as described above.
- Take off t he w heel leaving the alignment pin i n the bolt
hole.
Putting on the spare wheel
- Lift the spare wheel and carefully slide it over the alig n
ment pi n to guide it in p lace .
- Use the hexagona l socket in the screwdriver handle to
screw in and tighte n all w heel bolts
slightly.
- Remove the alig nment pi n and inse rt an d tighten the
remaining wheel bolt slig htly like the rest.
- Turn the jac k han dle counter-c lockwise to lower the
ve hicle u ntil the jack is fully released.
- Use the wheel bolt wrench to t ighten all whee l bolts firmly
~ page 322. Ti ghten them crosswise, from one bolt to
the (approximately) opposite one, to keep the w heel
centered.
[I] Tips
Never use the hexagonal socket i n the handle of the screwdriver to
loosen or tighten the wheel bolts.
• Pull the reve rsible blade from the screwdriver before yo u use the
hexagonal socket in the handle to t urn the whee l bolts.
• When mounting tires with
unidirectional tread design make sure
t he tread pa ttern is po inted the right way~
page 325.
Safety first
• The wheel bolts should be clea n and easy to turn. Check for dirt
and cor rosion on the mat ing surfa ces o f bo th the whee l and the hub.
Remove all d irt from these surfaces before remounting the wheel. •
Tires with unidirectional tread design
Tires with unidirectional tread design must be mounted
with their trea d 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 w ith a tread pattern intended for use in a
specific direction, p lease note the fo llow ing:
• T he direct ion of rotation is marked by an ar row on the s ide of the
tire.
• If the spare tire has to be installed in the incor rect d irect ion, use
the spare tire only tempo rari ly since the tire wi ll not be ab le to
achieve its optimum pe rforma nce charact erist ics with rega rd 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
condit ions.
• Replace the flat t ire with a new one and have it installed on your
vehicle as soon as possible to restore the handling advantages of a
unidirect iona l tire .•
Notes on wheel changing
Please read the information~ page 307, "New tires and replacing
t ires and wheels" if yo u are go ing to use a spa re t ire wh ich is d iffe rent
from the tires on yo ur vehicle .
After you c hange a ti re:
• Check the tire pressure on the spa re immediately after installa-
tion. ..,
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service Technical data