2013 AUDI A8 ESP

262 Tire s and wheels
Speed rating (letter code)
The speed rating letter code on the wheels in­
dicates the maximum pe rmissib le road speeds
¢ & in Winter tires on page 265 .
p up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (158 km/h)
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
s up to 110 mph (180 km/h)
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)1l
w up to 168 mph (270 km/h)1l
y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)1l
Your vehicle is normally factory equipped with
tires, which possess excellent driving charac­
teristics and give your Audi optimum driving
comfort. An electronic speed limiter
<=> page 29 will normally prevent your vehicle
from go ing faster than the tire speed rating
<=> & .
U.S . DOT Tire Identification Numbe r (TIN)
and tire manufacture date
This is the t ire'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 whe re it
was manufactured, and the last four numbers
represent the week and year of manufacture.
F or example, the numbers 2212 mean the tire
was produced in the 22nd week of 20 12. The
other numbers are marketing codes that may
or may not be used by the t ire manufacturer.
This 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
ll For tires wit h a max imum speed capab ility over 149
mph (240 km/h), tire man ufactur ers sometimes use
the letters "ZR."
safety and driving characterist ics when used
correct ly . Your authorized Audi dealer will
gladly provide you w ith 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
genera l, the greater the number of plies, the
more weight a tire can support. Tire manufac ­
turers also must indicate the materials in the
tire, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and
others.
Maximum Load Rating
This number indicates the maximum 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 temperat ure grades
<=> page 2 63.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure
Th is number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
A WARNING
-Using incorrect or unmatched tires and/
or wheels or improper tire and wheel
comb inat ions can lead to loss of control,
coll is ion and serious personal injury.
- Always use tires, rims and wheel bolts
that meet the specif ications of original
factory- installed tires or other combina­
tions that have been specifically ap­
proved by the vehicle manufacturer.
- T ires 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 with specia l care and at lower
speeds.

264 Tire s and wheel s
For example, a tire graded 150 wou ld wear
one and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100.
The relat ive perfo rmance of t ires depends
upon the actua l conditions of their use, how ­
ever, and may depart significantly from the norm due to var iat ions in dr iving habits, serv­
ice practices and differences in road character­
istics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, Band
C. Those grades represent the
tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled cond it ions on
specif ied government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete . A tire marked
C may have poor
traction performance
q ,& .
Temp eratu re
The temperature grades are A (the h ighest),
B, and
C, representing the t ire 's resistance to
the generat ion of heat and its ability to dissi­
pate heat when tested under controlled cond i­
tions on a specified i ndoor laboratory test
wheel.
Sustained hig h temperature can cause the
materia l of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive tempe rature can lead
to sudden ti re failu re
q ,& .
The grade C corresponds to a level of perform­
ance which a ll passenger car tires must meet
u nder the Federa l Moto r Ve hicle Safety Stand­
a rd No.
1 09. G rades Band A represent higher
l eve ls of pe rformance on the labo ratory test
wheel than the m inimum required by law.
A WARNING
T he traction grade assigned to this t ire is
based on straight-ahead b raking traction
tests, and does not incl ude acceleration,
cornering, hydrop lan ing or peak traction
character istics.
A WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is es­
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excess ive speed, un­
derinflation, or excessive load ing, either
separa tely or in comb inat ion, can ca u se
h eat bui ld up a nd possib le tire failure.
-
Winter tires
Winter tires can improve vehicle handling on
snow and ice . At temperatures below 45 °F
(7 °C) we recommend changing to winter
tires.
In some heavy snow areas , local gove rnments
may requi re true w in te r or "snow" tires, those
wi th very deeply cut t read . T hese tires sho uld
o n ly be used in pairs and be installed on a ll
fo ur whee ls. Make sure you purchase snow
ti res that are the same size and construction
type as the other tires on your vehicle.
If your vehicle is e quipped w it h all-whee l
drive*, this wi ll improve traction during winter
driving, even with the standa rd tires . Howev ­
er, we strongly recommend that you always
equip all four wheels o n your veh icle w ith cor­
rect ly fitted winter tires or all-season t ires,
when winter road condit ions are expected .
Th is also improves the veh icle's brak ing per­
fo rmance and reduces stoppi ng d ista nces .
Summer tires provide less grip on ice and
snow .
Winter tires (snow tires) must always be fitted on all four wheels .
Ask your authorized A udi dealer or qualified
workshop for permitted
winter ti re size s. Use
on ly rad ial winter tires.
Win ter tires lose their effec tiveness when the
tread is worn down to a depth of
0. 157 inch
(4 mm) .
Only drive w ith w in te r tir es under w inte r con­
di tions. S umme r tires handle bette r when
there is no snow or ice on the roads and the
temperature is above 45
°F (7 °() .

tread width expressed in percentage. Conven­
tional tires have a height/width ratio of 60 or
more .
The performan ce of low-aspe ct-ratio tires is
particularly sensitive to improper inflation
pressure . It is therefore important that low
aspect ratio tires are inflated to the specified
pressure and that the inflation pressure is
regularly checked and maintained . Tire pres­
sures should be checked at least once a
month and always before a long trip
¢ page 2 55, Checking tire pressure .
What you can do to avoid tire and rim
damage
L ow aspect ratio tir es can be damaged more
eas ily by impact with potho les, curbs, gu llies
or r idges on the road, part icu larly if the tire is
under inflated.
In order to minimize the occurrence of impact
damage to the tir es of your veh icle, we recom­
mend that you observe the following precau­
tions :
- Always maintai n 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 r idges. The impact from driving
through or over such obstacles can damage
your tires. Impact with a curb may a lso
ca use damage to your tires .
- After any impact, immediately inspect your
tires or have them inspected by the nearest
autho rized Audi dealer. Replace a damaged
t ir e as soon as possible.
- Inspect yo ur 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 poss ible .
- These tires may wear more quick ly than oth ­
ers .
- Please a lso remember that, while these tires
deliver respons ive handling, they may ride
Tires and wheels 267
less comfortably and make more noise 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 conditions .
If
you drive under those circumstances, you
shou ld equip your vehicle w ith all-season or
winter tires, which offer better t raction unde r
those conditions. We suggest you use the rec­
ommended snow or all- season tires specified
for your vehicle, or their equivalent.
Refer to~
page 264 for more detailed infor ­
mation regarding winter tires.
Tire pressure
monitoring system
ill General notes
Applies to veh icles: w ith t ire pressure monitoring syste m
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and in­
flated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle man ufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure labe l. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the
s iz e in dicated on the vehicle placard or tire in­
flat ion pressure label, you should determine
the proper tir e inflation pressure for those
tires) .
As an added safety feature, your veh icle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illum inates a low tire
pressure telltale when one o r more of your
tires is s ignificantly under-inflated. According­
l y, when the low tire pressure telltale illumi­
nates, you shou ld stop and check you r tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure . Driving on a significantly un ­
der-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat
and can lead to tire fa ilure. Under-inflation al-
so reduces fuel effic iency and tire tread life, ..,.
•
•

268 Tires and wheels
and may affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv­
er's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale .
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS malfunction 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 ex ists.
When the malfunct ion indicator is illuminat­
ed, the system may not be able to detect or
signal low tire pressure as intended . TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of rea­
sons, including the installation of replace­
ment or a lternate tires or whee ls on the vehi­
cle that prevent the TPMS from functioning
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires 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
App lies 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. 209 Display: underinflation warning
Fig. 210 Disp lay: System malfunction
Using the ABS sensors, the tire pressure moni ­
toring system compares the tire tread cir cum­
ference and vibration character istics of the in ­
dividua l tires. If the pressure decreases in one
o r more t ires, this is ind icated in the instru­
ment cluster with a warning symbol
[«E and a
message ~
fig. 209.
The tire pressure monitoring system must be
reset via MMI each t ime the press ures are ad­
justed (e.g. when switching between partial
and full load pressure) or after changing or re­
placing a tire on your vehicle
c::> page 269. The
TPMS indicator only monitors the tire pres­
sure that you have previously stored. You can
find the recommended tire pressures for your
vehicle on the label on driver's side 8-pillar
c::> page 2 53.
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 tire pressure was changed, wheels rotat-
ed or replaced but the TPMS was not reset
c::> page269.
Warning symbols
[tE Loss of pressure in at least one tire c::> ,1,. .
Check the tire or tires and replace or repair if
necessary. The indicator light
[tE in the instru­
ment cluster also illuminates
c::> page 11.
Check/correct the pressures of all four tires
and reset TPMS via MMI.
119;~, < T ire Pressure Monitoring System) Tire
pressure! System malfunction .
IJJ,-

If llil~, appears after switching the ignition
on or whi le driving
¢ fig. 210 and the indica­
tor light
ltJ in the instrument cluster blinks
for approximate ly one minute and then stays
on, there is a system malfunction .
Attempt to store the correct tire pressure
¢
page 269. If the indicator light does not
turn off or if it turns on short ly thereafter, im­
mediately drive your vehicle to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized repair facility to have the malfunction corrected .
A WARNING
-If the t ire pressure indicator appears in
the instrument cluster d isplay, one or
more of you r tires is s ignificantly under­
inflated. Reduce your speed immediately
and avoid any hard steering or braking
maneuvers. Stop as soon as possible and
check the t ires and the ir pressures. In­
flate the tire pressure to the proper pres­
sure as indicated on the vehicle's tire pressure label ¢
page 253. 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.
- T he driver is responsible for ma inta ining
the corre ct tire pressures. You m ust
check the t ire pressures regularly .
- Under certain cond itions (such as a spor­
ty driving style, w inter condit ions or un­
paved roads) , the pressure monitor indi­
cator may be de layed .
- Ask your author ized Audi dealer if run ­
flat tires may be used on your vehicle.
Your vehicle regist rat ion becomes invalid
if you use these tires when not permit­
ted. Damage to your veh icle or acc idents
cou ld also resu lt.
(D Tips
- The tire pressure monitoring system
stops working when there is an ESC/ABS
malfunction.
Tire s an d wheel s 269
- Us ing snow chains may res ult in a system
ma lfunction.
- T he tire pressure mon itor ing system on
your Audi was deve loped using tires with
the "AO" or "RO" identification on the
t ire s idewall
c:> page 260. We recom­
mend us ing these tires.
Reset tire pressure monitoring system
App lies to vehicles: wit h tire press ure mo nitor ing 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: ICAR lfunction button>
Ca r sy stems control button > Servicing &
checks > Tire pressure monitor ing > Store
t ire pr essur es> Yes, store now .
(D Tips
Do not store the tire pressure if there are
snow cha ins on the tire .
•
•

Fuse panel® (brown)
No. Equipment Amps
= ' =
7 TV tuner 5
8 Infotainment unit/drives 7,5
9
Instrument cluster, analog
5 clock
10 MMI Display 5
11 Radio receiver 7,5
12
Rearview camera (park ing
5 a id) , Top v iew
Bulbs
Replacing light bulbs
For your safety, we recommend that you hav e
your authorized Audi dealer replace burned out bulbs for you.
It is becoming increasingly more and more
difficu lt to replace vehicle light bulbs since in
many cases, other parts of the car must first
be removed before you are able to get to the
bulb . This applies especially to the light bulbs
in the front of your car which you can only
reach through the engine compartment.
Sheet metal and bulb ho lders can have sharp
edges that can cause serious cuts, and parts must be correctly taken apart and then prop­
erly put back together to help prevent break­
age of parts and long term damage from wa­
ter that can enter housings that have not been
properly resealed .
For your safety, we recommend that you have
your author ized Audi dealer replace any bulbs
for you, since your dealer has the proper tools,
the correct bulbs and the expertise.
Gas discharge lamps (Xenon lights):
Due to the high electrical voltage, have the
bulbs replaced by a qualified technician.
Headlights with Xenon light can be identified
by the high voltage sticker .
LED headlights* requ ire no ma intenance .
Please contact your authori zed Audi dealer if a
bulb needs to be replaced.
Fuses and bulbs
A WARNING
Contact with high-voltage components of
the electrical system and improper re­
placement of gas discharge (Xenon) head­
light bulbs can cause ser ious personal in­
jury and death.
- Xenon bulbs are pressur ized and can ex­
plode when being changed.
- Changing Xenon lamps requ ires the spe­
cial tra ining, instructions and equip­
ment.
- Only an authorized Audi dealer or other
qua lified workshop should change the
bu lbs in gas discharge lamps .
A WARNING
There are parts with sharp edges on the
openings and on the bulb holders that can
cause serious cuts.
- If you are uncertain about what to do,
have the work performed by an author­
ized Audi dealer or other qualified work­
shop . Serious personal inj ury may result
from improperly performed work.
(D Tips
-If you must replace the light bulbs your­
sel f, a lways remember that the engine
compartment of any vehicle is a hazard­
ous area to work in. A lways read and
heed all WARNINGS
<=> page 226, Engine
compartment<=> ,&..
- It is best to ask your authorized Audi
dealer whenever you need to change a
bulb.
-
283
•
•

-When removing heavy components like
these, anchor vehicle to hoist o r add cor ­
respond ing weig hts to mai nta in the cen ­
ter of g ravity. Otherwise, the vehicle
m ight tilt o r slip off the hois t, causi ng
ser ious persona l injury .
Q) Note
-Be awa re of the fo llow ing points befo re
li fting t he vehicle:
- The vehicle should never be lifted or
jacked up from underneath the engine
oil pan, the transmission housing , the
front or rear axle or the body side members. This could lead to serious
damage.
- To avoid damage to the underbody or
chassis frame, a rubber pad must be
i nserted between the floor jack and
the lift points .
- Before driv ing over a workshop hoist,
check that the veh icle weight does not
exceed the permissibl e lifting capacity
of the hoist.
- Before driving over a workshop hoist,
ensure that there is sufficient clear­ ance between the hoist and low parts
of the vehicle.
Emergency situations 289
•
•

296 Consumer Information
Consumer Information
Warranty coverages
You r Audi is covered by the following war­
ranties:
- New Vehicle Limited Warranty
- Limited Warranty Against Corrosion Perfo-
ration
- Emissions Control System Warranty
- Emissions Performance Warranty
- California Emissions Control Warranty (USA
vehicles only)
- California Emissions Performance Warranty
(USA vehicles only)
Detailed information regarding your warran­
ties can be found in your
Warranty & Mainte­
nance booklet .
Operating your vehicle
outside the U.S.A. or
Canada
Government regu lations in the United States
and Canada require that automobiles meet
specific emission regulations and safety
standards. Therefore, veh icles built for the
U.S.A . and Canada differ from vehicles sold in
other countries .
If you p lan to take your vehicle outside the
continental limits of the United States or Can­
ada, there is the possibility that:
- unleaded fuels for vehicles with cata lytic
converter may not be available;
- fuel may have a considerably lowe r octane
rating. Improper fuel may cause engine
damage ;
- service may be inadequate due to lack of
proper service facilities, tools or testing
equipment ;
- replacement pa rts may not be readily availa­
ble.
- Navigation systems for vehicles built for the
U.S.A. and Canada will not necessar ily work
in Europe, and may not work in other coun­
tries outside North America .
(D Note
Audi cannot be responsible for mechanical
damage that could result from inadequate
fuel, service or parts availability.
Audi Service Repair Manuals and Literature
Audi Official Factory Service Manuals and Lit­
erature are published as soon as possible after
model introduction. Service manuals and lit­
erature are available to order from the Audi
T echnical Literature Ordering Center at:
www.audi.techliterature.com
Maintenance
General
Your vehicle has been designed to help keep
maintenance requirements to a minimum.
However, a certain amount of regular mainte­
nance is still necessary to assure your vehicle's
s afety, economy and rel iability. For detailed
vehicle maintenance consult your Warranty &
Maintenance booklet.
Under difficult operating conditions, for ex­
ample at extremely low outside temperatures,
i n very dusty regions , when towing a trailer
very frequently, etc., some service work
should be performed between the intervals
specified. This applies particularly to:
- oil changes, and
- cleaning or replacing the air filter .
(® For the sake of the environment
By regularly maintaining your vehicle, you
help make sure that emission standards
are maintained, thus minimizing adverse
effects on the environment.
Important considerations for you and
your vehicle
The increasing use of electronics, sophisticat­
ed fuel injection and emission contro l sys-
tems, and the genera lly increasing technical
liJJ,