2012 AUDI A6 winter tires

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 conditions (such as a spor­
ty driving style, winter conditions or un­ paved roads), the pressure monitor indi­
cator 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 these tires when not permit­
ted. Damage to your vehicle or accidents could also result.
(0 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.
¢page 246.
-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
Applies to vehicles: with tire pressure monito ring system
If the tire pressure is adjusted, wheels are ro­
tated or changed, the TPMS must be reset via
MMI.
"' Switch on the ignition.
"' Select in the MMI: !CAR !function button>
Car systems control button > Servicing &
checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Store
tire pressures> Yes, store now.
@ Tips
Before resetting the TPMS, the current
pressures of all four tires must correspond
to the specified values. Adjust the tire
Tires and wheels 255
pressure and reset the pressure in the tire
pressure monitoring system according to
the load you are carrying
c::!;> page 239.
- Do not store the tire pressures if you are
driving with snow chains. Otherwise , a
system malfunction may occur.
•
•

258 What do I do no w?
• Unhook the ca rgo floor before closing the
rear lid.
Securing the replaced tire
• The fault whee l will not fit inside the spare
wheel wel l. Sto re it in the luggage compart­
ment and sec ure it so that it does not slide
¢ page 59.
• Unhook the cargo floor before closing the
rear lid.
U sing the spar e tire (compact spare tir e)
The compact spare tire is on ly intended for
emergencies until you can reach a repair shop.
Replace it as quickly as possible with a stand­
ard wheel and tire.
There are some restrictions on the use of the
compact spare tire. The compact spare tire
has been designed specifically for your type of
vehicle. It must not be swapped with a com­ pact spare t ire from another type of veh icle.
Snow chain s
For technical reasons, the use of snow chains
on the compact spare tire is not permitt ed .
I f you do have to dr ive w ith snow cha ins and a
front tire fails, mo unt the spare wheel w ith
tire instead of a rear t ire. Install the snow
cha ins on the rear tire and use it to rep lace
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 o ld,
use it only in an emergency and w ith ex­
treme caution and careful driving.
- The spare tire is intended only for tem­
porary and short-term use. It should be
replaced as soon as possible w ith the
normal wheel and t ire.
- After mounting the compact spare tire,
the tire pressure must be checked as
soon as poss ible. The tire pressure of the
compact spare tire must be 4.2 bar; oth­
erwise, you risk hav ing an accident. -
Do not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/
h). Yo u risk having an accident.
- Avoid full-thrott le acceleration, heavy
braking, and fast cornering. You risk hav­
ing an accident.
- Never drive using more than one spare
wheel and tire. You r isk having an acci­
dent.
- Normal summer or winter tires must not
be mounted on the compact spare wheel
rim.
- For technical reasons, the use of tire
chains on the spare tire is not permitted.
If it is necessary to drive with tire chains,
the spare wheel must be mounted on the
front ax le in the event of a flat in a rear
tire. The new ly available front wheel
m ust then be instal led in place of the
rear whee l w ith the flat tire. Installing
the tire chain be fore mounting the whee l
and tire is recommended.
- Loose items in the passenger compart­
ment can cause serious personal injury
during hard brak ing or in an accident.
- Never store the inflatable spare t ire or
jack and too ls in the passenger com­
partment.
- Always store all jacking equipment,
tools, and the inflatable spare t ire in
the luggage compartment.
- Tighten the knurled retai ning screw for
the inflatable spare tire securely .
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 failure, pu ll the
car we ll away from moving traffic and try to
reach level ground before you stop
¢ ,& .
• All passengers should lea ve the car and
move to a safe location (for instance, behind
the guardrail)¢ ,&.
• Engage the parking brake to prevent your
veh icle from rolling unintentionally¢,& . ..,

A
Accessories .... ...... ..... .. .. .. ... 280
AC (automatic climate control) ... .. .. .. 66
AC (climate contro l) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Adapt ive cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
C lean ing sensors/c ameras .. .. .. .. .. . 206
M essages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Request for driver intervention . . . . . . . . 82
Stop-and-go traffic .... ... .. .. .... .. 81
Adapt ive Lig ht (defective) ... .. .. .. .. .. 2 2
Adding Eng ine coolant .............. ... ... 228
Eng ine oi l ..... ....... .... ... ... .. 225
W indshield was her fl uid ... .. .. .. .. . 234
Addit ives
Eng ine oi l
225
Ad justi ng
Air distribution (automatic climate con-
trol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
a ir distribution (cl imate control) . .. .. .. 64
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Instrument illum inat io n .... ... ... ... 44
Steer ing colum n electrically .. .. .. .. .. 69
Steer ing colum n manually . .... .. .. .. 69
Temperatu re (automat ic climate co ntrol) 67
Tempera tu re (clima te con trol) .. .. .. .. 64
Ai rbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142, 163
Advanced Airbag System . ...... ... .. 146
Advanced A irbag System components . 150
Ca re . .. .. .. ................. .. .. . 158
C hi ld ren . .. .. ........... .. .. .. ... 170
C hild restra ints . .. ..... ... .. .. .. ... 170
Components (front airbags) . ... .. .. . 150
Danger of fitting a child seat on the front
passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Disposal . .. ............. .... .. .. . 158
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146, 148
H ow do the front airbags work? . ..... 152
H ow many airbags does my vehicle
h ave? . .. .. .. ............. .. .. ... 150
H ow t he Advan ced Airbag Sys tem com-
ponents wor k toge ther .... .. .. .. .. . 15 2
I mpor tan t safety instructions on the
knee airbag system .... ... .. .. .. .. . 16 1
Important things to know . . . . . . . . . . . 142
K nee airbags .. ........... .. .. .. ... 159
Mo nitoring . ............. .... .. .. . 154
Inde x 283
PASS ENGER A IR BAG OF F light ... .. .. 155
Repairs ... .. .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 158
•
Safety instr uctions . .. .. ..... ... .. .. 157 •
Side a irbags . .. .. ................. 162
S ide curtain airbags ... ............. 165
Warning/ind icator lights ........... .. 18
Warning/Indicator lights ...... ... .. 154
When must the system be inspected? . 154
A ll-wheel drive .. .. .... ........... .. 193
Winter tires ... .. ................. 250
A lloy whee ls .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 209
Alte rnato r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Ambience lighting . ................. . 44
An ti-free ze
refer to E ng ine coolant . ..... ... .. .. 227
Anti- lock b rak ing system ..... ... ... .. 189
Wa rning/ind icator lights ........... .. 19
Anti-slip reg ulation ............. .. .. 189
An ti-the ft systems
El ectronic i mmob i Lizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Asht ray ...... .. .... .......... ...... 54
Audi braking guard
refer to brak ing guard .............. . 78
Audi drive selec t
refer to drive select .. ... .... ... .. .. . 95
Audi Se rv ice Repair Manuals and Litera-
tu re ....... .. .. .. ... ............ .. 278
A UTO
automat ic climate control . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Automa tic head lights ............. .. 41
cli mate control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Auto Lock .. .... .. .................. 32
A utomat ic be lt re tractor ......... .. .. 136
Automat ic car wash .. .............. . 205
Automatic climate control Air vents .... .. ...... ............. . 67
Automat ic recirc ulation ......... .. .. . 68
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Setup .. .. .. .. .... .. .. ...... ...... 68
synchronizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Tire pressure monitoring system .... .. . 253
Loss of air pressure .......... ... .. . 254
Malfunct ion ..... ....... .... ... .. . 254
Resetting tire pressures .... .. .. .. .. . 255
Tires .. .... .. .. ............. .. .. ... 235
Service life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Speed rating letter code ............ 247
T ire manufacturing date ............ 247
Tire specifications ........ .. .. .. .. . 247
Tread depth ............. .... .. ... 245
Uniform tire quality grading .. .. ... .. 249
W inter t ires ..... .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 250
T ires and vehicle load limits ... ... .. .. . 243
Tires and wheels Checking tire pressure ..... .. .. .. .. . 241
Cold tire inflation pressure ....... .. . 239
Dimensions ................. ... ... 246
General notes .................. ... 23S
Glossary of tire and loading terminolo-
gy .. .. ... . .... ............. .. .. . 236
Low aspect ratio tires ...... .. .. .. .. . 252
New tires and wheels ......... .... .. 246
Replacing ............ ...... .... .. 247
Snow chains ............. .... .. ... 251
Tires and vehicle load lim its .. .. .. .. . 243
Wheel bolts ............. .. .. .. .. . 252
Winter tires ................ ... ... 250
Tire serv ice life ............. ... ... .. 245
T ools . .... .. .. ............. .. .. ... 257
Torn or frayed safety belts ..... .. .. .. . 136
T ouch-up paint ............. ... ... .. 208
Towing Tow truck procedures ......... ..... . 270
TPMS Tire pressure monitoring system .. .. . 254
Trailer towing ................ ... ... 201
Operating instructions ..... .. .. .. .. . 201
Technical requirements . . . . . . . . 201, 202
Trailer towing tips ........ .. .. .. .. . 202
Transmission multitronic ........... ...... .... .. 101
tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
T ransmission ma lfunction (indicator
light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106, 111
Transport Canada .................. . 131
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI) ...... . ... . 245
Inde x 293
Trip odometer ..... .................. 26
What does it mean when DEF appears in
the tr ip odometer display? ........ .. . 26
T runk
refer to Luggage compartment ... .. .. . 59
Trunk escape handle ..... ....... .... . 256
Trunk lid
refer to Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
T urn signals . .. .. .. .... ........... .. . 43
Warning/indicator lights ............. 22
u
Undercoating ... .. ................. 209
Unfastening safety belts ............. 138
Unidirectional tires ... ............... 235
Uniform tire quality grading .......... 249
Unlocking Power locking switch ........... .... . 35
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Using the key .. ... ...... ........... 35
V
Valet parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Vanity mirrors ..... .................. 45
Vehicle-care products .. .. .... ........ 204
Vehicle electrical system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Vehicle identification label .......... .. 274
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .. .. 274
Vehicle jack .......... ......... 257,261
Vehicle literature ...... ......... .. .. .. 5
Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
w
Warning/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Airbag system . .. .. ............... . 18
Anti-lock braking system (ABS) ... .. .. . 19
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Electromechanical parking brake ... .. . 16
Electronic power control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Electronic stabilization program (ESP) . . 19
Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) ... .. 20
•
•

29 4 Index
Safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Turn signa ls . .. . ...... ... .. .. .... .. 22
War ning/Ind icator lights
A irbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1S4, 155
PASSENGER A IR BAG OFF .. .. .. .... . 1S5
Warranty coverages ............. .... 278
Washer reservoir ....... ... .. .. .... . 234
Washing .. .... ........... .. .. .... . 204
Automat ic ca r wash ................ 205
by hand ......... ....... ... .. .... . 205
with a power washer ...... .. .... .. . 206
Waxing ........................... 207
Wear indicator ..................... 245
Weights . .. .. ............. .. .. .. .. . 274
What happens if you wear your safety belt
too loose? ......................... 137
What happens to unbelted occupants? .. 134
What impairs driving safety? . .. .. .. .. . 124
What should I do after changing a
wheel? .. .. .. ... .... ...... ... ... .. . 242
What should I do after replacing wheels? 242
Wheel bol ts
Torq ue . .. .... ........... ........ . 252
Wheels ... .. ................ ... ... 235
Cast alloy .. .................. ... . 209
Check ing tire pressure .............. 241
Cold t ire in flat ion p ressu re . .. .. .... . 239
General notes ............ .. .. .. .. . 235
Glossary of tire and loading termino lo-
gy . ..... .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 236
New tires and wheels .... .. .. .. .. ... 246
Tires and vehicle load lim its .. .. .. ... 243
When must a safety belt be rep laced? . . 136
When must the airbag system be inspect -
ed? ... .. .. .. .. . .... ...... ... ... .. . 154
When should I ad just the tire pressures? 242
When shou ld I check the tire pressures? . 242
Where are lower anchorages located? ... 183
Where can I find the tire pressures for my
car? . ... .... ... . ...... ... .. .. .... . 24 1
Why safety bel ts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133, 134
W indows
Cleaning ..................... ... . 208
defrost ing (automatic climate control) . 67
defrost ing (cl imate control) .. .. .. .... 65 Windsh
ie ld
Cleaning . ..... .. .. ... ..... ... .. .. . 46
defrosting (automatic cli mate control) . 67
defrosting (climate control) . . . . . . . . . . 6S
Windsh ie ld washer system ............ 46
Washer fl u id level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Washer reservoir .... .. ..... .... . .. 234
Windsh ie ld wipers
Folding up .... .. ............. ..... 4 7
Indicator light ... ............. .. .. . 21
Rep lacing windsh ield wiper b lades . ... . 47
Switching on/off ... .... .... ... .. .. . 46
Winter operation Battery . .. .. .. .. .. ... ........ .. .. 230
Cooling system ... ............. .... 22 7
Defrost ing windows (automatic climate
control) ... .... .. .. ... ..... ... .. .. . 67
Defrosting windows (climate control) .. 65
Seat heating (automat ic climate control) 67
Seat heating (climate control) . . . . . . . . 65
Steering wheel heat ing .............. 68
Tires ............................ 193
Windows ........................ 208
Winter tires . .... ................... 250
All-wheel drive . .. ............. .... 250
X
Xenon-Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 267