248 Tires and wheels
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
1l
Z over 149 mph (240 km/h)ll
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)ll
Y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)l)
Your veh icle is normally factory equipped with
tires, which possess excellent driving charac
teristics and give your Audi opt imum driving
comfort. An electronic speed limiter
c:> page 27 will normally prevent your vehicle
from going faster than the tire speed rating
c:> & .
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 federal standards. The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it
was manufactured, and the last four numbers
r epresent the week and year of manufacture.
F or example, the numbers 2210 mean the tire
was produced in the 22nd week of 2010. The
other numbers are marketing codes that may
or may not be used by the tire manufacturer .
T his information is used to contact consumers
if a tire defect requires a recall.
Audi original tire
Tires with the identification "AO" or "RO" have
been specially matched with your Audi . We
recommend using only these tires because
they meet the highest standards regarding
safety and driving characteristics when used
correctly . Your authorized Audi dealer will
gladly provide you with more information .
Tire ply composition and materials used
The number of plies indicates the number of
layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire. In
general, the greater the number of plies, the more weight a tire can support. Tire manufac -
ll F t· "t h .
o r ires w 1 a m ax im um spee d ca pabil ity ove r 149
mph (2 40 km/ h), ti re manufact urers sometimes use
the lett ers " ZR."
turers also must indicate the materials in the
tire, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and
others .
Maximum Load Rating
Th is number ind icates the max imum load in
kilograms and pounds that can be carried by
the tire .
Tire quality grading for treadwear,
traction , and temperature resistance
Tread wear, traction and tempera ture grades
c:> page 249.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure
This number is the greatest amount of a ir
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
un der normal driv ing conditions .
_& 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.
'
- Always use tires, rims and whee l bolts
that meet the specifications of original factory-installed tires or other combina
tions that have been specifically ap
proved by the vehicle 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 w ith special care and at lower
speeds.
- Never mount used tires on your veh icle if
you are not sure of the ir "previous histo
ry." Old used tires may have been dam
aged even though the damage cannot be
seen that can lead to sudden tire fa ilure
and loss of vehicle control.
- All four whee ls must be fitted with radial
tires of the same type, size (rolling cir cumference) and the same tread pattern . ..,_
264 What do I do now?
and the hub. Remove all dirt from these
surfaces before remo unting the wheel.
Tires with unidirectional tread design
Tires with unidirectional tread design must be
mounted with their tread pattern pointed in
the right direction.
Using a spare tire with a tread pattern
intende d fo r use in a specific direction
When using a spare tire with a tread pattern
intended for use in a specific direction, p lease
note the fo llowing:
- T he direction o f rotation is marked by an a r
row on the side of the tire.
- If the spare t ire has to be installed in the in
correct di rection, use the spare tire only
temporarily since the tire will not be able to achieve its optimum performance character
ist ics with regard to aquaplaning, noise and
wear.
- We recommend that you pay particular at
tent ion to this fact during wet weather and
that you adjust your speed to matc h road
condit ions .
- Replace the flat tire w ith a new one and
have it installed o n your ve hicle as soon as
poss ible to restore the handling advantages
of a un id irect iona l tire .
Notes on wheel changing
Please read the information i:> page 246, New
t ires and repla cing tires and wheels
if you are
going to use a spare tire which is differen t
from the tires on your ve hicle.
Afte r you cha nge a tire :
-Check the t ire pressure on the spare imme
diately after installation .
- Have the wheel bolt tightening torque
checked with a torqu e wrench as soon as
possib le by your authorized Audi dealer or
a qualified servi ce station .
- With st eel and alloy wheel rims , the wheel
bolts are correctly tightened at a torque of
90 ft lb (120 Nm) . -
If you notice that the wheel bolts are cor
roded and difficult to turn while chang ing
a tire , they should be repl aced before you
check the t ightening torque.
- Repl ace the flat ti re w ith a new one and
have it installed on your vehicle as soon a s
possible. Remount the wheel cover .
Until then , dri ve with extra care and at re
duced speeds.
A WARNING
- I f you are going to equip your vehicle
with tires or rims which differ from those
which were factory installed, then be
sure to read the information
i:> page 246,
New tires and replacing tires and
wheels.
- Always make sure the damaged wheel o r
even a flat tire and the jack and tool ki t
are properly secu red in the luggage co m
p ar tment and are no t loo se in the pas
senger compartment .
- I n an accident or sudde n maneuver they
could fly forward, injuring anyone in the
veh icle.
- Always s to re dam aged wheel, j ack a nd
t oo ls sec urely in the l uggage compa rt
men t. Othe rwise, in an accident or s ud
den maneuver they could fly forwa rd,
causing injury to passengers in the vehi
cle.