2013 AUDI A8 Owners Manual

-Never mount used tires on your vehicle if
you are not sure of their "previous histo­
ry." Old used tires may have been dam­
aged 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 cir­
cumference) and the same tread pattern.
Driving with different tires reduces vehi­
cle 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 with winter tires - only use
the spare tire for a short period of time and drive with extra care. Refit the nor­
mal road wheel as soon as safely possi­
ble.
- Never drive faster than the maximum
speed for which the tires on your vehicle
are rated because tires that are driven
faster than their rated speed can fail
suddenly.
- Overloading tires cause heat build-up,
sudden tire failure, including a blowout
and sudden deflation and loss of control.
- Temperature grades apply to tires that
are properly inflated and not over or un­
derinflated .
- For technical reasons it is not always
possible to use wheels from other
vehicles - in some cases not even wheels
from the same vehicle model.
- If you install wheel trim discs on the ve­
hicle wheels, make sure that the air flow
to the brakes is not blocked. Reduced air­
flow to the brakes can them to overheat,
increasing stopping distances and caus­
ing a collision.
- Run flat tires may only be used on
vehicles that were equipped with them
at the factory. The vehicle must have a
chassis designed for run flat tires. Incor­
rect use of run flat tires can lead to vehi­
cle damage or accidents. Check with an
authorized Audi dealer or tire specialist
to see if your vehicle can be equipped
Tires and wheels 263
with run flat tires. If run flat tires are
used, they must be installed on all four
wheels. Mixing tire types is not permit­
ted.
@ Note
- For technical reasons, it is not generally
possible to use the wheel rims from oth­
er vehicles. This can hold true for wheels
of the same vehicle type.
- If the spare tire is different from the
tires that you have mounted on your ve­
hicle (for example winter tires or wide
profile tires), then use the spare tire for a
short period of time only and drive with
extra care. Replace the flat tire with the
tire matching the others on your vehicle
as soon as possible.
- Never drive without the valve stem cap .
The valves could get damaged.
(® For the sake of the environment
Dispose of old tires in accordance with the
local requirements.
Uniform tire quality grading
-Tread wear
- Traction AA A B C
- Temperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire side wall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width
~ page 260,
fig. 208 .
For example: Tread wear 200, Traction AA,
Temperature A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Feder­
al Safety Requirements in addition to these
grades .
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
unde r contro lled conditions on a specified
government test course. •
•

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 °() .

If yo u have a flat tire, see notes on spa re
wheel
¢ page 260 .
P lease always remember th at w inte r ti res may
have a lower speed rating than the t ires origi­
na lly installed on your vehicle at the time it
was manufactured. Please see ¢
page 262,
Speed rating (letter code) for a list ing of the
speed rat ing letter codes and the m aximum
speed at which the tires can be driven .
The speed rating letter code( ¢
page 252) is
on the s ide wall of the tire ¢
page 260.
A WARNING
Winter tires have maximum speed limits
that may be lower than your vehicle's max­
imum speed . Always know the maximum
speed before driving off. Never drive faster
than the speed permitted for your specific
w inter t ires. This will cause damage to the
t ires leading to an acc ident and serious
personal in jury to you and yo ur passen­
gers .
& WARNING
Driving faster than the maximum speed
for which the winter tires on your vehicle
were designed can cause tire fai lure in­
cluding a blowout and sudden deflat ion,
loss of control, crashes and serious per­
sonal injuries . Have worn or damaged tires
rep laced immed iate ly .
- Winter tires have max imum speed rat ing
that may be lower than your veh icle's
maximum speed .
- Never drive faster than the speed for wh ich the winter or other tires installed
on your vehicle are rated.
A WARNING
Always adjust your d rivi ng to the road and
t raffic conditions. Neve r let t he good ac­
celeration of the winte r tires and all-whee l
drive tempt you into taking extra r is ks. A l­
ways remember:
Tire s an d wheel s 265
-W hen braking, an a ll-wheel drive vehicle
handles in the same way as a front drive
veh icle.
- Drive carefully and reduce your speed on
icy and slippery roads, even w inter t ires
cannot help under black ice conditions.
@ For the sake of the environment
Use summer tires when weather condi­
tions permit. They are quieter, do not wear
as quickly and reduce fuel consumpt ion.
Snow chains
Snow cha ins may be fitted only to the front
whee ls, and o nly to certain tire sizes . Ask your
authorized Aud i dea le r on which tire sizes
snow c hains can be used.
If you a re go ing to u se snow chains, then you
must install them on the front whee ls at
least.
The snow chains mus t have low-profile links
and must not be th icker than 0 .4 inch
(10,5 mm) , includ ing t he lock.
Remove wheel center covers and trim discs
before putt ing snow cha ins on your vehicle
¢ (D . For safety reasons cover caps must then
be fitted over the wheel bol ts . These a re ava il­
able from autho rized Aud i deale rs .
A WARNING
Usi ng the wrong snow chai ns for your vehi­
cle o r insta lling them incorrect ly can in­
crease the r isk of loss of cont ro l leading to
serious pe rsonal injury.
- Snow chains are available in different
sizes . Always make sure to follow the in ­
structions provided by the snow chain manufacturer .
- When drivi ng with snow chains never
drive faster than the speed permitted for
your specif ic snow chains.
- Always observe local regulations .
•
•

26 6 T ire s and whee ls
- Remove snow chains before driving on
roads not covered with snow to avoid
damaging t ires and wearing the snow
chains down unnecessarily.
- Snow chains, which come into d irect con­
tact with the wheel rim, can scratch or
damage it. Therefore, make sure that the
snow chains are suitably covered . Check
the position of the snow chains after
driving a few yards and correct if neces­
sary. Follow the instructions from the
snow chain manufacturer when doing so.
- If the Adaptive Air Suspension should
malfunction, do not mo unt or use snow
cha ins beca use the veh icle 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 severely dam­
age the wheelhouse and other parts of
the veh icle.
Where snow chains are mandatory oncer­
tain roads, this normally also applies to
veh icles 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 rims. If different rims are fit­
ted, the correct wheel bolts with the r ight
length and correctly shaped bolt heads must
be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted
securely and that the brake system functions
cor rectly .
In certain circumstances, you may not use
wheel bolts from a different vehicle - even if it is the same model
~ page 298.
A WARNING
Imprope rly tightened o r maintained wheel
bolts can be come loose caus ing loss of control, a col
lision and serio us personal in­
jury.
- Always keep the wheel bo lts and the
threads in the whee l hubs clean so the
wheel bo lts can turn easily and be prop­
erly tightened.
- Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and
the threads in the wheel hubs. They can become loose while driv ing if greased or
oiled, even if t ightened to the specified
torque.
- Only use wheel bolts that belong to the rim being installed .
- Never use different wheels bolts on your
veh icle.
- Always ma intain the correct tightening
torque for the whee l bolts to reduce the
risk of a wheel loss. If the tightening tor­
que of the wheel bolts is too low, they
can loosen and come out when the vehi­
cle is mov ing. If the tig htening torq ue is
too high, the wheel bolts and threads
can be damaged and the whee l can be ­
come loose .
(D Note
The specified torque for the whee l bolts is
90
ft l b (120 Nm) with a tolerance of± 7,4
ft lb(± 10 Nm) . Torque whee l bolts diago ­
nally . After changing a whee l, the torque
must be checked as soon as possible with a
torque wrench -preferably by an author­
i zed Audi dealer or qualif ied workshop.
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Audi is factory-equ ipped w ith low aspect
ratio tires . These tires have been thoroughly
tested and been se lected specifically fo r your
model for their superb perfo rman ce, road fee l
and hand ling under a variety o f driving condi­
tions. Ask your authorized A udi dealer for
more details .
T he low aspect ratio of these tires is ind icated
by a numera l of
55 o r less in the tire's s ize
designation. The numeral rep resents the ratio
of the tire's sidewa ll height in relation to its
ll-

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 .
•
•

2 70 What do I do now ?
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.
Fi g. 2 11 Trunk escape handle: View from inside the
closed trunk
To open r ear lid
.. Pull the hand le down towards the bumper
r=;,fig. 211.
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 .
@ Tips
The emergency re lease leve r shou ld never
be used as a handle for closing the rear lid.
Emergency warning
triangle
Applies to vehicles: wit h emergency wa rning tria ng le
The warning triangle is located on the inside
of the trunk lid.
Fig . 2 12 Trunk lid: Warn ing triangle
.. To remove the warning triangle, press the
retainer in the direction of the arrow
r=;, fig . 212 and fold the holder down .
T he rea r lid is only des igned to hold the warn­
ing triang le offered by the original accessories
program . If you wou ld like to retrofit yo ur ve­
hicle with a warning triangle, please contact
your authorized Audi dea ler.