2011 AUDI S8 Owners Manual

chains because t he vehicle will be ex­
tremely low. If you do drive with snow
chains on while the vehicle is at this lev­
el, the snow chains might severe ly dam­
age the wheelhouse and other parts of
the veh icle.
@ Tips
Where snow cha ins are mandatory oncer­
tain roads, this normally also applies to ve­
hicles with All Wheel Drive.
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must always be tightened to the
correct torque .
The design of whee l bolts is matched to the
factory installed r ims. If different rims are fit­
ted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped bolt heads must
be used . This ensures that wheels are fitted
secure ly and that the brake system f unctions
correctly .
In certain circumstances, you may not use
wheel bolts from a d iffe rent vehicle -even if it
i s the same mode l
¢page 285.
A WARNING
Imprope rly tig hte ned or maintained whee l
bolts can be come loose causing loss of
contro l, a co llision and serious persona l in­
jury .
- Alw ays keep the w heel bolts and the
th reads in the wheel hubs clea n so the
wheel bolts can turn easily and be prop­
er ly tightened .
- Never grease or oil the wheel bo lts and
the threads in the w heel h ubs. They can
become loose wh ile driving if greased or
o iled, even if tightened to the specif ied
torque.
- Only use wheel bolts that belong to the
rim being installed.
- Never use different whee ls bolts on your
vehicle.
- Always maintai n the co rrect tightening
torq ue for the wheel bo lts to reduce the
Tire s an d wheel s 255
risk of a wheel loss. If the tightening tor­
que of t he wheel bolts is too low, they
can loosen and come out when the vehi­
cle is mov ing. If the tighte ning torque is
too h igh, the wheel bol ts and threads
can be damaged and the whee l can be­
come loose.
(I) Note
The specified torque for the whee l bolts is
90 ft lb ( 120 Nm) wi th a tole rance of± 7,4
ft lb(± 10 Nm). Torq ue whee l bolts diago­
nally. Afte r cha nging a whee l, the torq ue
must be checked as soon as possible wi th a
torque w rench -prefe rably by an au thor­
ized Audi dealer or qualif ied workshop .
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Audi is facto ry-eq uipped with low aspect
ratio tires. These tires have been thoro ughly
tested and been se lected specifically for your
model for their superb performance, road fee l
and handling u nder a variety of driving cond i­
tions . Ask your authorized Audi dealer for
more details.
The low aspect ratio of these t ires is ind icated
by a numeral of
55 or less in the tire's size
designation . The numeral rep resents the ratio
of the t ire's sidewall height in relation to its
t read width ex pressed in pe rce ntage. Conven ­
tiona l tires have a he igh t/w idth ratio of 60 or
more.
The performance of low-aspe ct-ratio tire s is
particularly sensitiv e to improper infla tion
pres sure. It is therefore important that low
a spect ratio tires are inflated to the specified
pre ssure and that the inflation pressure i s
regularly checked and maintained. Tire pre s·
sures should be checked at least once a
month and always befo re a long trip
¢ page 244, Checking tire pressure.
What you can d o to avoid tire and rim
damage
Low aspect ratio tires can be damaged more
easily by impact w it h potholes , curbs, gul lies ..,.
•
•

256 Tires and wheels
or ridges on the road, particularly if the tire is
underinflated.
I n o rder to minim ize the occurrence of impact
damage to the tires of your vehicle, we recom­
mend that you observe the following precau ­
tions:
- Always maintain recommended inflation
pressures. Check your tire pressure every
2,000 miles (3,000
km) and add air if neces­
sary.
- 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.
- 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 al­
ways easy to see. Damage can lead to loss of
air and underinflation, wh ich could eventu­
ally cause tire failure . If you be lieve that a
t ir e may have been damaged, replace the
t ir e as soon as possible.
- T hese tires may wear mo re quick ly than oth­
ers.
- Please also remember that, while these t ires
deliver respons ive handling, they may ride
less comfortably and make more no ise than
other choices.
Reduced performance in winter/cold
season conditions
All tires are designed for certain purposes.
The low aspect ratio, ultra high performance
tires originally installed on your vehicle are in­
tended for maximum dry and wet road per­
formance and handling. They are not suitable
for cold, snowy or icy weather condit ions. If
you drive under those circumstances, you should equip your vehicle with all -season or
winter tires, which offer better traction under
those cond it ions. We suggest you use the rec­
ommended snow or all-season tires specified
for your vehicle, or their equivalent. Refer
to
q page 253 for more detailed infor­
mation regarding winter tires.
Tire pressure monitoring system
(D General notes
Applies to veh icles: w ith tire pressure monitoring system
Each tire, including the spare ( if provided),
shou ld be checked monthly when co ld and in­
flated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the veh icle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the
s ize indicated on the vehicle placard or tire in­
flation pressure label, you should dete rmine
the proper tire inflation p ressure fo r those
t i res).
As an added safety feature, your veh icle has
been equipped with a tire pressure mon itoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure tel ltale when one or more of your
tires is significant ly under-inflated. According­
ly, when the low tire pressure telltale illumi­
nates, you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a sign ificantly un­
der-inflated t ire causes the tire to overheat
and can lead to tire failure . Under-inflation al ­
so reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle 's handling and
stopp ing ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute
for proper tire ma intenance, and it is the driv­
er's respons ibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illuminat ion of the
TPMS low tire pressu re tellta le .
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
T PMS ma lfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys­
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately one minute and then ..,_

remain continuously illuminated. This se­
quence will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminat­
ed, the system may not be able to detect or
signal low tire pressure as intended . TPMS
malfunct ions may occur for a variety of rea­
sons, including the installation of replace­ ment or alternate tires or wheels on the vehi­
cle that prevent the TPMS from functioning
properly . Always check the TPMS malfunct ion
tellta le after replacing one or more t ires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the re­
placement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Tire pressure indicator appears
Applies to vehicles: with tire pressure monitoring system
The tire pressure indicator in the instrument
cluster informs you if the tire pressure is too
low or if there is a system malfunction.
Fig. 189 Display : underinflatio n warning
Fig. 190 Display: System malfu nctio n
Using the ABS sensors, the tire pressure moni­
toring system compares the tire tread circum­
ference and vibration characteristics of the in­
dividual tires . If the pressure decreases in one
or more tires, this is indicated in the instru-
Tires and wheels 257
ment cluster with a warning symbol [I) and a
message
r::!) fig. 189.
The tire pressure monitoring system must be
reset via MMI each t ime the pressures are ad ­
justed (e.g. when switching between partial
and full load pressure) or after changing or re­
placing a tire on your vehicle
r::!) page 258. You
can find the recommended tire pressures for
your vehicle on the label on driver's side 8-pil­
lar
r::!) page 242 .
Tire tread circumference and vibration charac­
teristics can change and cause a tire pressure
warning if:
- the tire pressure in one or more tires is too
low,
- the tire has structural damage,
- the tir e pressure was changed, wheels rotat-
ed or replaced but the TPMS was not reset
r::!) page 258 .
Warning symbols
[I) Loss of pressure in at least one tire co& .
Check the tire or tires and replace or repa ir if
necessary. The indicator light
[I) in the instru­
ment cluster also illuminates
r::!) page 11.
Check/correct the pressures of all four tires
and resetTPMS via MMI.
lli§ffl (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Tire
pressure! System malfunction.
If llilffl appears after switching the ignition
on or while driving co
fig. 190 and the indica­
tor light
[I) in the instrument cluster blinks
for approximately one minute and then stays
on, there is a system malfunction . See your
authorized Audi dea ler as soon as possible .
A WARNING
-If the tire pressure indicator appears in
the instrument cluster display , one or
more of your tires is significant ly under­
inflated . Reduce your speed immediately
and avoid any hard steering or braking
maneuvers. Stop as soon as possible and
check the tires and their pressures . In­
flate the tire pressure to the proper pres-
sure as indicated on the vehicle's tire .,.

258 Tires and wheels
pressure label~ page 242 . Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also is likely to
impair the vehicle's handling and stop­
ping ability.
- The driver is responsible for maintaining
the correct tire pressures. You must
check the tire pressures regularly.
- Under certain cond itions (such as a spor­
ty driving style, winter condit ions or un­
paved roads), the pressure monitor indi­
cator may be delayed.
- Ask your author ized Audi dealer if run­
flat tires may be used on your veh icle.
Your vehicle registration becomes invalid
if you use these tires when not permit­
ted. Damage to your vehicle or accidents
cou ld also result.
(D Tips
- The tire pressure monitoring system
stops working when there is an ESP/ABS
malfunction.
- Using snow chains may result in a system
malfunction.
- To ensure a proper TPMS function use
AUDI Original Tires which are marked
with "AO" or "RO" on the tire sidewall.
~p age 249.
- The tire pressure monitoring system on
your Audi was syntonized using tires with
the "AO" or "RO" identification. We rec­
ommend using these tires.
Reset tire pressure monitoring system
App lies to vehicles: with tire pressure monitoring system
If the tire pressure is adjusted, wheels are ro­
tated or changed, the TPMS must be reset via
MMI .
.. Switch on the ignition .
.. Se lect in the MMI: !CAR !function button>
Car systems contro l button > Servicing &
checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Store
tire pressures > Yes, store now.
(D Tips
Before resetting the TPMS, the current
pressures of all four tires must correspond
to the specif ied values. Adjust the tire
pressure and reset the pressure in the tire
pressure monitoring system according to
the load you are carrying~ page 242.
- Do not store the tire pressures if you are
dr iving with snow chains. Otherwise, a
system malfunction may occur.

What do I do now? Trunk escape handle
In case of an emergency, the rear lid can be
opened from the inside using the trunk es­
cape handle .
Fig. 191 Trunk escape hand le : View from inside the
closed trunk
To o pen r ear lid
.,. Pull the handle down towards the bumper
~fig. 191.
The trunk escape handle inside the rear lid is
made of fluorescent material to glow in the
dark.
A WARNING
The trunk escape handle is to be used only
in an emergency .
(D Tips
The emergency release lever should never
be used as a handle for closing the rear lid.
What do I d o now ? 259
Emergency warning
triangle
App lies to veh icles: w ith emergency wa rning tria ng le
The warning triangle is located on the inside
of the trunk lid.
Fig. 192 Trunk lid: Wa rning triangl e
.,. To remove the warning triangle, press the
retainer in the direction of the arrow
~ fig. 192 and fold the holder down .
The rear lid is only des igned to hold the warn­
ing triang le offered by the original accessories
program. If you would like to retrofit your ve­
hicle with a warning triangle, please contact
your authorized Audi dealer.

260 What do I do now ?
Vehicle tool kit
Vehicle tool kit and jack
The vehicle tool kit is located in the luggage
compartment under the cargo floor cover .
Fig. 193 Luggage compartmen t: ca rgo floo r cover
folded upwar d
Fig. 194 Trunk lid: Vehicle tool k it
• Lift the cargo floor by the plastic handle.
• Hook the handle into the luggage compart­
men t weather strip
c> fig . 193.
• Remove the spare wheel to reach the vehicle
tool kit .
• Remove the foam p iece .
The onboard tool kit includes:
- Hooks to remove the wheel covers* or whee l
hub covers
- Plastic hook to remove whee l bolt covers*
- Wheel bolt wrench
- Alignment p in for changing wheels
- Screwdriver with reversible blade
- Towing loop
- Jack
Before storing the jack, make sure it is wound
back down as fa r as it will go.
A WARNING
-Improper use of the vehicle jack can cause
serious personal injuries .
- Never use the screw driver hex head to
tighten wheel bolts, since the bolts can­
not attain the necessary tighten ing tor­
que if you use the hex head, potentially
causing an acc ident .
- The factory-supplied jack is intended on­
ly for your vehicle model. Under no c ir­
cumstances should it be used to lift
heavy veh icles or othe r loads; you risk in­
ju ring yo urself.
- Never start the engine when the vehicle
is raised, wh ich could cause an ac ciden t.
- Support the vehicle securely with appro ­
priate stands if work is to be performed
underneath the vehicle; otherwise, there
is a potentia l risk for injury.
- Never use the ja ck supplied with your Au­
di on another vehicle, particularly on a
heavier one. The jack is only suitable for
use on the vehicle it came with.
(D Tips
- Some of the onboard items listed above
are provided on certain models only or
are optional ext ras .
- Before yo u can raise your vehicle using
the jack, you must activate the jacking mode
c::> page 265 .

Space-saving spare tire (compact spare
tire)*
A pplies to vehicles: with space-sav ing spa re tire
The spare tire/wheel is located in the luggage
compartment under the cargo floor cover. It
is intended for short-term use only.
F ig . 195 Spare t ire
Tak ing ou t the sp ar e whee l
.. Lift the cargo floor by the plast ic handle
¢ fig. 195.
.. Hook the hand le into the luggage compart­
ment weather strip.
.. Turn the large screw
¢fig. 195 counter­
clockwise .
.,. Take out the spare tire.
.,. Unhook the ca rgo floor before clos ing the
rear lid.
Securing the repl aced tire
.. Place the wheel with tire in the spare wheel
well and secure the wheel with the large
screw .
.,. Unhook the ca rgo f loor before clos ing the
rear lid.
Using the spare tire (compact spare tir e)
The compact spare tire is only intended for
emergenc ies until you can reach a repair shop .
Replace it as quickly as poss ible with a stand­
ard wheel and t ire.
There are some restrictions on the use of the
compact spare t ire . The compact spare t ire
has been des igned specifically fo r your type of
ve hicl e. It must not be swapped with a com­
pact spare t ire from another type of veh icle.
What do I d o now ? 261
Snow chains
For technical reasons, the use of snow cha ins
o n the compact spare tire is
not permitted .
If you do have to drive with snow chains and a
front tire fails, moun t the spare wheel wi th
ti re i nste ad of a rear tire. Install the snow
chains on the rear tire and use it to replace
the defective front tire .
A WARNING
-Never use the spare tire if it is damaged
or if it is worn down to the tread wear in­
dicators.
- If the spare tire is more than 6 years old,
use it only in an emergency and with ex­
treme caution and careful driv ing.
- The spare tire is intended only for tem­
porary and short-term use. It s hould be
replaced as soon as poss ible with the
normal whee l and tire .
- After mounting the compact spare tire,
the t ire pressure must be checked as
soon as possible . T he tire pressu re of the
compact spare t ire must be
4.2 ba r; oth­
erwise, you risk having an a ccident.
- Do not dr ive faste r than
SO mph (80 km/
h). You ris k having a n accide nt.
- Avoid full-throttle acceleration, heavy
brak ing, and fast corne ring . You risk hav­
i n g an accident .
- Never d rive using more than one spare
wheel and t ire. You r is k having an acci­
dent.
- Normal summer or winter t ires must not
be mou nted on the compact spare w heel
nm.
- For t echnical reasons, the use of tir e
chains on the spa re tire is not permit ted .
I f it is ne cessary to drive with t ire chains,
the spare wheel must be mounte d on the
fro nt ax le in the event of a flat in a rear
tire. The newly available front whee l
must then be insta lled in place of the
rear whee l w ith the flat tire . Installing
the t ire cha in before mounting the whee l
and tire is recomme nded .

262 What do I do now ?
-Loose items in the passenger compar t­
ment can cause serious personal inj ury
during hard braking or in an acc ident.
- Never store the inflatable spa re tire or
jack and tools in the passenger com­
partment .
- Always s to re a ll jack ing equipmen t,
too ls, and the inflatab le spa re tire in
the l uggage compa rtment .
- Tighten the kn ur led retaining screw for
the inflatable spare tire sec urely.
Spare wheel
Applies to vehicles: with spare wheel
The spare wheel is stored in the wheel well
underneath the floor panel in the luggage
compartment.
Fi g. 1 96 Lu ggage co mp artm ent: spare whee l
Taking out the spa re wh eel
.. Lift the cargo floor by the plastic handle
¢ fig. 196 .
.. Hook the hand le into the luggage compart­
men t wea ther s trip.
.. Tu rn the l arge screw
¢ fig. 196 coun ter­
clockwise .
.. Take out the spare tire .
.,. Unhook the ca rgo floor before clos ing the
rear lid .
Securing the replaced tire
.. Place the wheel with tire in the sp are wheel
well and secure the wheel with the large
sc rew .
.,. Unhoo k the ca rgo f loor before clos ing the
r ear lid.
A WARNING
-Loose items in the passenger compart-
ment can cause serious persona l injury
d uring hard b rak ing o r in an accident .
- Never store the spa re wheel or jack and
too ls in the passenger compartment .
- Always store all jack ing equipment,
tools, and the spare wheel in the luggage
compa rtment .
- Tighten the knurled retaining screw for
the spare wheel securely .
@ Tips
Check the inflation pressure of the spare
tire periodically to keep the t ire ready for
use.
Changing a wheel
Before changing a wheel
Observe the following precautions for your
own and your passenger's safety when chang­
ing a wheel.
.,. After you experience a t ire failur e, pull the
car we ll away from mov ing traffic and try to
re ach
level ground before you stop ¢ .&,.
.. All passengers should lea ve th e car and
move to a safe location (for instance, b ehind
the guardrail) ¢
_A .
.. Engage the pa rking brake to prevent your
ve hicle from rolling uninten tionally ¢
_A .
.. Move selecto r le ver to pos ition P ¢ _A .
.,. If you are towing a tra iler, unhitch the trailer
from your ve hicle .
.,. Ta ke the
jack a nd the spare tire out of the
luggage compartmen t¢
page 260,
¢ page 261.
A WARNING
You o r your passengers could be i nju red
while changing a wheel if you do not fo l­
l ow these sa fety precaut ions:
- If you have a flat tire, move a safe dis­
tance off the road. Turn off the engine,
turn the eme rgency flashers on and use
-