2015 AUDI R8 SPYDER four wheel drive

Clear vision
Headlight flasher ~D ©
.. Pull the lever toward the stee ring wheel to use
the headlight flasher.
Notes on these features
- The turn signals only work with the ignit ion
switched on. The ind icator lights
M or Ip] in
the instr ument cluster
q page 11 also b lin k.
- After you have turned a corner, the tur n signal
switches off automat ica lly.
- The
high beam works only when the headlights
a re on. The ind icator light
II i n the instrument
cluster illuminates when the high beams are
o n.
- The
headlight flasher wo rks only as long as you
ho ld the lever - even if the re are no lights
turned on. The indicator light
II in the instru­
ment cluster illum inates when yo u use the
headlight flasher .
A WARNING
Do not use the high beam or headlight flasher
if you know that these could b lind oncom ing
traffic.
Emergency flasher
The emergency flasher makes other motorists
aware that you or your vehicle are in an emer­
gency situation.
SPORT •
Fig . 57 Cente r co nso le : em erge ncy flasher sw itc h
• Press the switch~ q fig. 5 7 to switch the
emergency flasher on or off.
When the emergency flasher is on, a ll four turn
sig nals blink at the same time. The tu rn s ignal in­
d icator lights
B II in the instrumen t cl uste r, as
well as t he lig ht in the emergency f lasher switch
48
~ b link likewise. The emergency flas hers also
work when the ignition is turned off .
The emergency flasher will automatically switch
on if you a re in an acciden t w here the a irbag has
deployed .
{I) Tips
You should sw itch on the emerge ncy flashe r
when:
- you a re the las t veh icle standing in a t raff ic
jam so th at any other vehicle s com ing can
see you, or when
- yo ur vehicle has b roken dow n or y ou are in
an eme rgency s itu ation, or whe n
- yo ur vehicle is be ing towed by a tow tru ck or
i f yo u a re towin g ano th er vehicle behind
yo u.
Interior Lights
Interior lights
The interior lights include the reading lights for
the driver and the front passenger .
Fig. 58 Sect ion from headliner: Interior lights
Activating door contact circuit
• Press the button @. The LED in the b utton illu­
m inates.
Deact ivating door cont act circuit
• Press th e button @. The LED in the button goes
out .
Front r eading light s «~
.. Press one of the switches® to turn the right or
left reading light on/off. ..,.

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Anti-loc k br aking sy stem (ABS )
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up when
brak ing . T he vehicle can st ill be stee red even dur ­
ing hard braking. App ly steady pressure to the
brake peda l. Do not pump the peda l. A pulsing in
the brake pedal indicates that the system is help­
ing you to brake the vehicle.
Brake assist sy ste m
The brake assist system can decrease braking dis ­
tance. It increases braking power when the dr iver
presses the brake pedal quick ly in emergency sit­
uations. You must press and ho ld the brake pedal
until the situation is over.
Anti -slip regulation (ASR )
ASR reduces engine power when the drive whee ls
begin to spin and adapts the force to the road
conditions. This makes it easier to start, acceler ­
ate and dr ive up h ills.
Electronic diff erential lock (EDL )
The EDL brakes wheels that are spinning and
transfers the drive power to the other drive wheel or wheels if the vehicle is equipped w ith all-whee l
drive*. This function is available up to about 60
mph (100 km/h) .
I n extreme cases , EDL automatically switches off
to help keep the brake on the braked wheel from
overheating . EDL wi ll switch on again automati­
cally when conditions have returned to normal.
A WARNING
- ESC, ABS, ASR and EDL cannot overcome the
laws of phys ics. Th is is especially important
on slippery or wet roads. If the syst ems be­
gin act ing to stab ilize your vehicle, you
sho uld immediately cha nge your speed to
match the roa d and traffic con ditions. Do
not let the increased safety provided by
these systems tempt you to take risks . Do­
ing so wi ll increase the risk of a loss of vehi­
cle contro l, collis ion and serio us personal in­
juries .
- Always adapt your speed to road, traffic and
weather cond it ions. The risk of losing con­
tro l of the veh icle increases when driving
Int ellig ent t echnolo gy
too fast, especially through curves and on
slippery or wet roads, and when dr iving too
close to vehicles up ahead. ESC, ABS, the
brake assist system, EDL and ASR cannot
prevent coll is ions .
- Always accelerate with special care on even,
smooth surfaces such as those that are wet
or covered with ice and snow. The drive
wheels can spin even with these assistance sys tems that cannot always help to reduce
the risk of loss of veh icle control.
(D Tips
- ABS and ASR only wo rk correctly when all
four wheels are eq uipped with ident ical
tire s. Different tire s izes can lead to a reduc­
t ion i n engine power.
- Yo u may hear noises when the systems de­
sc ribed a re wo rking.
- If the ind icator light GJ or II (USA mod­
els) ;tiJ (Canada models) appea rs, there
may be a malfunction~
page 15,
~ page 15.
Switching on/off
ESC turns on automatically when you start the
engine.
SPORT •
Fig . 12 6 Cente r co nsole wit h lJ bu tto n
ESC sport mode
In certain situations, it might make sense to a l­
low some slip. For example:
- Rocking the vehicle to free it when it is st uck
- Driving in deep snow or on loose gro und
- Dr iving with snow chains
135

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Power steering
When the engine is running, power steering
makes i t easier for the driver to steer.
Power steering helps the driver steer the vehicle
with litt le physical effort.
If the engine is not running, the power steering
system is also not working. In this case, you will
find it extremely difficult to turn the steering
wheel.
If you turn the steering fully to the left or right
when the vehicle is stationary, you place a very
heavy load on the power steering system. Turning
the steering wheel fully to the left or right wi ll
cause noise in the system . It also reduces engine
idle speed.
(D Note
Do not hold the steering turned fully to the
left or right for more than 10 seconds when
the engine is running. There is a risk of dam­
age to the power steering system.
@ Tips
- In the event of a power steering system fail­
ure, or if the engine is not running (while
being towed), you will still be able to steer
the vehicle. However, you will require more
effort to do so.
- If the power steering system has a leak or is
defective, you should immediately contact a
qualified workshop .
- The power steering system requires a spe­
cial hydraul ic fluid . The power steering fluid
reservoir is located in the engine compart­
ment. The correct hydraulic fluid level is im­
portant for proper operation of the power
steering system. The power steering fluid
l evel is checked according to the Audi main­
tenance service schedule.
Dry sump lubrication
High lateral and longitudinal forces affect the en­
gine and the vehicle during sporty driving. Dry
sump lubrication ensures that your engine is sup-
Intelligent technology
plied with oil and properly lubricated even under
these conditions.
In a "norma l" vehicle the oil pump sends the oil
from the oil pan to the lubrication points in the
engine . The oil then returns to the oil pan. In ex­
treme situations, the oil pump may draw in air,
wh ich results in insufficient oi l pressure .
With dry sump lubrica tion, the oil is not in the oil
pan (it is "dry"), but in a separate oi l tank. While
one pump supplies the engine with oil, a second
pump suct ions the oil out of the engine and re­
turns it to the o il tank. Because the oil tank is tall
and narrow, oil pressure is constant even under
extreme conditions .
In add ition, the oi l pan in vehicles with dry sump
lubrication is noticeably shallower . This allows
the engine to be installed lower in the vehicle,
bringing down the center of gravity . This im ­
proves your vehicle's handling.
Driving with your quattro
With oil-wheel drive, all four wheels are driven .
General information
With all-wheel drive, power is distributed to all
four wheels . This happens automatically depend­
ing on your driving style and the road conditions
at the time . See also
c:::.> page 134.
The all-whee l drive concept is designed for high
engine power . Your vehicle is exceptionally pow­
erful and has excellent driving characterist ics
both under normal driving conditions and on
snow and ice. Always read and fo llow safety pre­
cautions
c:::.> .&_ .
Winter tires
When driving in the winter, your vehicle with all­
wheel drive has an advantage, even with regular
t ir es . In winter road condit ions it may be advisa­
ble to mount winter tires (or all-season t ires) for
improved driveability and brak ing: these tires
must be mounted on
all four wheels. See also
c:::.> page 193 , Winter tires.
139

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brand loyalty and dealer recom­
mendations. Under UTQG, tires
are graded by the tire manufac ­
turers in three areas: treadwear,
traction and temperature resist­
ance . The UTQG information on
the tires, molded into the side­
walls .
U.S. DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN)
This is the tire's "serial number"
It beg ins with the letters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets
all federal standa rds. The next
two numbers or letters indicate
the plant where it was manufac ­
tured, and the last four numbers represent the week and year of
manufacture . For example,
DOT ... 221 3 ...
means that the tire was produced
in the 22nd week of 2013. The
other numbers are marketing co­ des that may or may not be used
by the tire manufacturer. This in­
formation is used to contact con-
Tires and wheels
sumers if a tire defect requi res a
recal l.
Vehicle capacity weight
means the rated cargo and lug­
gage load plus 150 lbs. (68 kilo­
grams) times the vehic le's tota l
seating capac ity as listed on the
label located on the driver's side
B-pillar.
Vehicle ma ximum load on the
tire
means that load on an individual
tire that is determined by distrib ­
uting to each axle its share of the
maximum loaded vehicle weight
and div iding by two.
Vehicle normal load on the tire
means that load on an individual
tire that is determined by distrib­ uting to each axle its share of the
curb weight, accessory weight,
and normal occupant weight (dis­
tributed in accordance with table
below ~
page 176) and dividing
by two. ,..
175

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Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and maximum sect ion w idth
r::!:> page 186, fig. 150.
For example: Tread wear 200, Traction AA , Tem­
perature
A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
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
under controlled conditions on a spec ified gov­
e rnment test course.
For example, a t ire graded
150 would wear one
and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the govern­
ment course as a tire graded
100 .
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving hab its, serv ice practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and
C. Those grades represent the tire's
ab il ity to stop on wet pavement as measured un­
der controlled condit ions on specified govern­
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance
r::!;> .&. .
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
h eat when tested under controlled cond it ions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the mate­
rial of the tire to degene rate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure
r::!:> .&. .
The grade C corresponds to a level of perform­
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un­
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety S tanda rd
No.
109. Grades Band A represent higher levels
Tires and wheels
of performance on the laboratory test whee l than
the minimum required by law .
A WARNING
-
-
The traction grade assigned to th is tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include accelerat ion, cor­
nering, hydroplaning or peak traction charac­
terist ics.
A WARNING
= -
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla­
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible 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 require true wint er or "snow" tires, those
with very deeply cut tread. These tires should on­
ly be used in pairs and be installed on a ll four
wheels. Make sure you purchase snow tires that
are the same size and construction type as the other tires on your vehicle.
If your vehicle is equipped with all-whee l drive *,
this will improve traction during winter driving,
even with the standard tires. However, we strong­
ly recommend that you always equip all four
wheels on your vehicle with correctly fitted win­
ter tires or all-season tires, when w inter road
condit ions are expected. This also improves the
vehicle's braking pe rformance and reduces stop­
ping distances.
Summer tires provide less grip on ice and snow .
Winter tires (snow tires) must always be fitted on
all four wheels.
Compatible t ire pressure monitoring sensors
must be installed on all four winter tires for the
tire pressure monitoring system to function prop- erly
¢ page 190. ..,.
193

subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal­
function exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signa l
l ow tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of rep lacement or a lternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the
T PMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure
that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly .
Introduction
The tire pressure monitoring system monitors air
pressure in all four road wheels while the vehicle
is moving.
As soon as the tire pressure monitoring system
senses a s ignificant loss of a ir pressure in one or
several tires, text messages and ye llow symbo ls
appear in the instrument cluster display to a le rt
the driver. The
[I] warning light in the instru ­
ment cluster comes on when the tire is signifi ­
cantly underinflated .
The warning
light [l'J also illuminates in the case
of a system malfunction.
Be aware that tire p ressure is also dependent on
the temperat ure of the t ire. For every 18 ° F
(10 °() increase in tire temperature, tire pressure
increases by about 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) . The tire
warms up while the vehicle is moving and tire
pressure rises. So you shou ld adjust tire pressure
only when they are
cold, when the temperature
of the tires is roughly the same as the ambient
air temperature.
In order to keep the tire pressure monitoring sys­
tem properly calibrated, tire pressure on all four
tires should be checked at regular intervals .
The tire pressure is shown on the label located on
~ the driver 's side B-pillar (visible when the door is r--
~ open) .
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Tires a nd w hee ls
A WARNING
-
When the tire pressure monitoring system
warning light is lit, one or more of your tires is
significantly under- inflated . You should stop
and check your t ires as soon as poss ible, and
i nflate them to the proper pressure as indicat­
ed on the vehicle 's t ire pressure label
¢ page 176. Driving on a significant ly 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
stopping ability.
@ For the sake of the environment
Driving with under -inflated tires reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life.
(D Tips
- Each tire should be checked monthly when
the temperature of the tires is about the
same as ambient air temperature and set to
the recommended inflation pressure as
specified on the tire pressure label
¢page 176.
- The tire pressure mon itoring system helps
the driver to keep an eye on tire pressures.
But the driver still has the responsib ility for
ma inta ining the correct tire pressure.
- Tire pressure must only be adjusted when
the temperature of the tires is about the
same as amb ient air temperature.
- When tires are replaced, the sensors and
valves should not be exchanged. The valve
core, nut, valve seal ing and seal washer (re­
placement kit) needs to be replaced. If nec­
essary, the valve and the wheel electronics
have to be replaced.
- The tire pressure mon itoring system on your
Audi was calibrated using tires with "RO"
identification. We recommend using these
tires .
- If you sho uld put different wheels and tires
on your vehicle (e .g. winter whee ls and
tires), you must be certain that the wheels
197