Wheels
"XL" "xl" "EXTRA LOAD" or "RF" I I I
on the sidewal l.
Rim
means a metal support for a tire
or a tire and tube assembly upon
which the tire beads are seated .
Rim diameter
means nominal diameter of the
bead seat. If you change yo ur
wheel size , you w ill have to pur
chase new tires to match the new rim diameter .
Rim size designation
means rim diameter and width.
Rim width
means nomina l distance between
rim flanges .
Sidewall
means that port ion o f a t ire be
tween the tread and bead .
Speed rating (letter code)
means the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extend
ed periods of t ime. The rat ings
range from 93 mph (150 km/h)
to 186 mph (298 km/h)
¢ table
on page 210 .
You may not find
this information on all tires be
cause it is not required by la w.
2 14
The speed rating letter code ,
where applicable , is mo lded on
the tire sidewall and indicates the maximum permiss ible road
speeds
¢ .&. in Winter tires on
page 224.
Tire pressure monitoring
system*
means a system that detects
when one or mo re of a ve hic le's
tires are under inflated and illumi
na tes a low tire p ressu re warning
tellta le .
Tread
means that portion of a tire that
comes into contact w ith the road.
Tread separation
means pu lling away of the tread
from the t ire carcass.
Treadwear indicators (TWI)
means the projections wi thin the
principal grooves designed to give
a visua l indication of the deg rees
of wear of the tread . See
¢ page 218 , Treadwear indicator
for mo re information on measur
ing t ire wear.
_& WARNING -
-Only use tire/rim combinations and suitable wheel bolts
that have been approved by
Audi. Otherwise, damage to
the vehicle and an accident
could result.
- For technical reasons, it is not
possible to use tires from oth
er vehicles -in some cases,
you cannot even use tires from
the same vehicle model.
- Make sure that the tires you
select have enough clearance
to the vehicle. Replacement
tires should not be chosen simply based on the nominal
size, because tires with a dif
ferent construction can differ
greatly even if they are the
same size. If there is not
enough clearance, the tires or
the vehicle can be damaged
and this can reduce driving
safety and increase the risk of
an accident.
-Only use tires that are more
than 6 years old when abso
lutely necessary and drive
carefully when doing so.
-If you install wheel covers on
the vehicle, make sure they al low enough air circulation to
Wheels
cool the brake system. If they
do not, this could increase the
risk of an accident.
Tire wear/damage
Fig. 180 Tire profile: Treadwear indica
tor
Tire wear
Check the tires regularly for wear.
- Inflation pressure that is too low
or high can increase tire wear
considerably.
-Driving quickly through curves,
rapid acceleration and heavy
braking increase tire wear.
- Have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized repair facility
check the wheel alignment if
there is unusual wear.
-Have the wheels rebalanced if an imbalance is causing noticeable
vibration in the steering wheel. If you do not, the tires and other
vehicle components could wear more quickly.
217
...
Wheels
Treadwear indicator
Original equipment tires contain
treadwear indicators in the tread
pattern, which are bars that are 1/ 16 inch (1 .6 mm) high and are
spaced evenly around the tire per pendicular to the running direc
tion
c::> fig. 180 . The letters "TWI"
or triangles on the tire sidewall
indicate the location of the tread
wear indicators .
The tires have reached the mini mum tread depth
l) when they
have worn down to the treadwear
indicators. Replace the tires with
new ones
c::> .& .
Wheel rotation
Rotating the wheels regularly is
recommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly. To rotate wheels, in
stall the wheels from the rear
axle on the front axle and vice ver
sa. This will allow the tires to have approximately the same
length of service life.
For unidirectional tires, make sure
the tires are installed according to
the running direction indicated on
the tire sidewall
c::> page 235 .
1> Obey any applicable regulations in your
country.
2 18
H idden damage
Damage to tires and rims can of
ten occur in locations that are hid
den. Unusual vibrations in the ve
hicle or pulling to one side may
indicate that there is tire damage.
Reduce your speed immediately .
Check the tires for damage. If no
damage is visible from the out
side, drive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Aud i deal
er or authorized repair facility to have the vehicle inspected.
! WARNING
Tread that has worn too low or
different tread depths on the
tires can reduce driving safety.
This can especially have a nega
tive effect on handling, on the risk aquaplaning when driving
through water, when driving
through curves and when brak
ing, which increases the risk of
an accident.
M N 0 u. ~ ..... \D V
N V .....
Tire pressure
Fig. 181 Driver' s side B-pillar : tire pres
sure label
"' -,,-------------------- ,.
9c:=:=. ~_:: I =:: I :.. I)@ :l! n. ...... _..,_ ... ___ ......, ____ .... _ ..
ui ............... ~-.... ~ .... .... ...
TR IIZI. 00lO TW.PMSIUl'll '""' ONiNSIC)N$ ,...._0UntlUSAN1011
-KPA. . PSI
Fig. 182 T ire pressure label
The correct tire pressure for tires
mounted in the factory and for
the spare tire* is indicated on a la
bel. The labe l is located on the 8-
pillar
¢fig. 181, ¢fig. 182.
Use the tire pressure specified for
a normal vehicle load when the
vehicle is partially loaded ¢
page 220. If driving the vehicle
when fully loaded, you must in crease the tire pressure to the
maximum specified pressure¢
A-
Checking/correcting tire
pressure
Wheels
.. Check the tire pressure at least
once per month and also check it before every long drive .
.. Always check the tire pressure
when the tires are
cold. Do not
reduce the pressure if it increas
es when the tires are warm.
.. Check the label¢
fig. 182 for
the correct tire pressure based on vehicle load.
..Correct the tire pressure if nec
essary .
.. Vehicles with Tire Pressure Moni
tor ing System*: store the modi
fied tire pressure in the Infotain
ment system¢
page 228.
.. Check the pressure in the emer
gency tire* /spare t ire*. Always
ma intain the maximum temper
ature that is specified for the
tire.
A WARNING
-
Always adapt the tire pressure
to your driving style and vehicle load.
-Overloading can lead to loss of vehicle control and increase
the risk of an accident. Read
and follow the important
safety precautions in
219
M N
ci u.. co ,...., \!) 1.1'1
N 1.1'1 ,....,
Wheels
Model Tire designation Tire pressure
Engine normal load condition full load condition
(up to 2 occupants)a)
front rear front rear
PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA
AS Cabriolet: 225/50 Rl 7 94H
33 230 30 210 36 250 39 270 2.0 liter All Season
4-cylinder 245/40 Rl8 93H
All Season
35 240 32 220 38 260 41 280
245/45 Rl7 95H 32 220 29 200
35 240
38 260
All Season
255/35 Rl9 96Y
32 220 32 220 35 240
38 260 High Performance
SS Cabriolet: 245/40 Rl8 97V
39 270 35 240 42 290 44 300 3.0 liter High Performance
6-cylinder
255/35 Rl9 96V
High Performance
39 270
35 240 42 290 44 300
XL= reinforced or extra load tire. It may also appear as xl, EXTRA LOAD, or RF on the tire sidewall.
a) 2 people
in the front
A WARNING
Please note the important safe
ty precautions regarding tire pressure ¢
page 219 and load
limits
¢ page 221.
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of
load or weight that any vehicle
and any tire can carry. A vehicle
that is overloaded will not handle
well and is more difficult to stop. Overloading can not only lead to
loss of vehicle control, but can al
so damage important parts of the
vehicle and can lead to sudden
tire failure, including a blowout and
sudden deflation that can
cause the vehicle to crash.
Your safety and that of your pas sengers also depends on making
sure that load limits are not ex
ceeded. Vehicle load includes ev
erybody and everything in and on
the vehicle. These load limits are
technically referred to as the vehi cle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehicle, all factory in
stalled accessories, a full tank of
fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids plus maximum load. The maxi
mum load includes the number of
1111-
221
Wheels
passengers that the vehicle is in
tended to carry ("seating capaci
ty") with an assumed weight of 150 lbs. (68 kg) for each passen
ger at a designated seating posi
tion and the total weight of any
luggage in the vehicle. If you tow
a trailer, the weight of the trailer
hitch and the tongue weight of
the loaded trailer must be includ
ed as part of the vehicle load.
The
Gross Axle Weight Rating
("GAWR") is the maximum load
that can be applied at each of the
vehicle's two axles.
The fact that there is an upper limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehi
cle Weight Rating means that the
total weight of whatever is being
carried in the vehicle (including
the weight of a trailer hitch and
the tongue weight of the loaded
trailer) is limited. The more pas
sengers in the vehicle or passen
gers who are heavier than the
standard weights assumed mean
that less weight can be carried as
luggage.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compli
ance sticker label located on the
222
driver's side B-pillar ~ page 219,
fig. 181.
~ WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause
loss of vehicle control, a crash
or other accident, serious per
sonal injury, and even death.
-Carrying more weight than your vehicle was designed to carry will prevent the vehicle
from handling properly and in
crease the risk of the loss of
vehicle control.
-The brakes on a vehicle that
has been overloaded may not
be able to stop the vehicle
within a safe distance.
-Tires on a vehicle that has
been overloaded can fail sud
denly, including a blowout and
sudden deflation, causing loss
of control and a crash.
-A lways make sure that the to
tal load being transported -
including the weight of a trail
er hitch and the tongue
weight of a loaded trailer -
does not make the vehicle
heavier than the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
Wheels
A WARNING
Wheel bolts that are tightened or repaired incorrectly can become loose and result in loss
of vehicle control , which increases the risk of
an accident. For the correct tightening specifi
cation, refer to
c:> page 231, After changing a
wheel.
- Always keep the wheel bolts and the threads
in the wheel hub clean and free of grease.
- Only use wheel bolts that fit the rim .
- Always have damaged rims repaired by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized repair
facility. Never repair or disassemble rims
yourself, because this increases the risk of an accident.
Winter tires
Winter tires significantly improve the vehicle's handling when driving in winter conditions . Be
cause of their construction (width, compound,
tread pattern), summer tires provide less traction
on ice and snow.
.., Use winter tires on all four wheels .
.., Only use winter tires that are approved for your
vehicle.
.., Please note that the maximum permitted
speed may be lower with winter tires
c:> .&,.
Your authorized Audi dealer or authorized re
pai r facility can inform you about the maximum
permitted speed for your tires .
.., Check the tire pressure after installing wheels
c:> page 219.
The effectiveness of winter tires is reduced great
ly when the tread is worn down to a depth of
0 .1S7 inch (4 mm). The characteristics of winter
tires also decrease greatly as the tire ages, re
gardless of the remaining tread.
A WARNING
-Never drive faster than the maximum per
mitted speed for your t ires. This could cause
the tires to heat up too much . This increases
the risk of an accident because it can cause
the tire to burst.
224
- Always adapt your driving to the road and
traffic conditions. Drive carefully and reduce
your speed on icy or slippery roads. Even
winter tires can lose traction on black ice.
@ For the sake of the environment
Reinstall summer tires at the appropriate
time, because they provide better handling
when roads are free of snow and ice. Summer
tires cause less road noise, tire wear and fuel
consumpt ion.
(D Tips
You can also use all season tires instead of
winter tires. Please note that in some coun
tries where winter tires are required, only win
ter tires w ith the
& symbol may be permit
ted.
· Snow chains
Snow chains improve traction in the snow .
.., Only install snow chains on the front wheels.
This applies also to vehicles with all wheel drive* .
.., Check and correct the seating of the snow
chains if necessary after driving a few feet. Fol
low the instructions from the manufacturer .
.., Note the maximum permitted speed when driv
ing with snow chains . Do not exceed 30 mph
(SO km/h) .
Snow chains not only improve the
driving in win
ter road conditions, but also the
braking.
Use of snow chains is only permitted with certain
rim/tire combinations due to technical reasons.
Check with an authorized Audi dealer or author
ized repair facility to see if you may use snow
chains .
Use
fine-mesh snow chains. They must not add
more than 0.53 inch (13.S mm) in height, includ
ing the chain lock.
You must remove the chains when driving on
roads that are
free of snow. When roads are free
of snow, snow chains can impair handling and .,.
M N
ci u.. co ,...., \!) ..,.,
N ..,., ,....,
damage the t ires, and the c hains will quickly be
destroye d.
A WARNING
Using inco rrect snow cha ins or installing snow
chains incorrectly can resu lt i n loss of vehicle
cont ro l, whic h increases the r isk of an acci
de nt.
(D Note
Snow chains can dama ge the r ims/whee l cov
ers * if th e cha ins come into d irect contact
w it h them. Remove the whee l cov ers* f irst .
Use coat ed snow c hains.
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Au di is factory -equip ped wi th low as pect ra
tio ti res. T hese ti res have bee n thoroughly teste d
a nd been se le cted specific ally fo r your model fo r
t he ir su perb pe rformance, road feel and handling
u nd er a variety o f driving conditions . Ask yo ur au
thor ized A udi dealer for mo re deta ils.
The low aspe ct r atio of these ti res i s indic ated by
a numer al of
55 or les s in th e tire's si ze des igna
tion. The nu mera l represen ts the ra ti o of the
tire's sidewall he ight in relation to its trea d width
e x pressed in percentage. Convent io na l tires have
a he ight/w idth ratio of 60 or mo re.
The performance of low-aspect-ratio tires is par
ticularly sensitive to improper inflation pres
sure . 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 pressures should
be checked at least once a month and always
before a long trip
¢ pag e 219.
What you can do to avoid tire and rim
damage
L ow aspec t rat io t ires ca n be damaged more easi
l y by impact wi th pot ho les, curbs, gulli es or
r idges on the road, par ticularly if the tire is un
de rin fla ted.
In o rder to m inim ize the occu rrence o f impact
damage to the t ires of your v ehicl e, we recom-
Wheels
me nd that yo u observe the follow ing p recau
t ions:
- Alw ays m aintain r eco m me nded infl ation pre s
sures. C heck your tire pressure every 2,000
m iles (3,00 0 km) an d ad d air if necessary .
- Dr ive c arefully on road s wi th pot holes, deep
gu llies o r ridges. The impac t from dr iv ing
through or over s uch obstacles can damage
your tires . Impact with a curb may a lso ca use
damage to your tires .
- After a ny impact, imme diate ly inspect yo ur
tires o r have them inspected by the nearest au
thorized A udi dealer. Rep lace a damaged t ire as
soon as possible.
- Inspect your tires every 2,000 m iles (3,000 km)
for damage and wear . Damage is not always
easy to see. Damage can lead to loss of air and
unde rinflation, w hich could even tually cause
t ire failure .
If you beli eve that a t ire may have
been damaged, re place the t ire as soon as pos
s ible.
- These ti res may wear more quickly tha n oth ers .
- Please also remember that, wh ile these tires
delive r responsiv e han dling, they may r ide less
comfortably and make mo re no ise than other
c h o ic e s.
Reduced performance in winter/cold season
conditions
All t ir e s ar e designed for certa in purpos es. T he
l ow asp ect ra tio, ultr a hig h perfor man ce tire s
o rigi nall y insta lled on y our veh icle are in tende d
f or m aximum dry an d we t road pe rformance and
handli ng. They are not suitab le for co ld , snowy or
icy weather conditions . If you dr ive under those
c ircumstances , you sho uld eq uip your vehicle
with all-season or winter tires, which offer better
t raction unde r those co ndit io ns. We suggest you
u se the recommended snow or all-seaso n tires
spec ified for your veh icle, o r the ir equiva le nt.
Refer to¢
page 224 for more detailed informa
t ion regarding w inte r tir es.
Uniform tire quality grading
- Tread wea r
- Traction AA AB C
- Temperature AB C
225