M N
er
u..
co ,...., \!) 1.1'1 ,...., 1.1'1 ,....,
If you wish to improve comfort
when operating the vehicle at
normal load (up to 2 occu
pants), you can adjust tire
pressures to those specified
for normal vehicle load. Before
operating the vehicle at maxi mum load, you must increase
the tire pressures to those
specified for maximum vehicle
load
c> .&. .
Bear in mind that the tire pres
sure monitoring system* can
only monitor the tire pressures
you have stored. The system does not recognize the load
condition of your vehicle.
The effectiveness of the tire p ressure monitoring system*
will be impaired if you store normal load pressures but then
operate the vehicle at its maxi
mum load
c> .&. .
Model Tire designation
Engine
RS 5 Cabriolet: 265/35 Rl9 98V XL
4.2
liter High Performance
a-cylinder
275/30 R20 97V XL
High Performance
Tires and wheels 219
See the illustration c> fig. 182
for the location of the label on driver's side B-pillar (color of
the actual label and exact loca
tion on the vehicle will vary slightly).
Note that the following table is
accurate at the time of going to
press and is subject to change.
In the event of discrepancies,
the tire pressure label is locat ed on the driver's side B-pillar
always takes precedence.
The table below lists the rec ommended cold tire inflation pressures for the Audi model
covered by your Owner's Litera
ture at the vehicle's capacity
weight and the tire sizes instal
led on the respective models as
original equipment , or as a fac
tory option.
Tire pressure
normal load condition full load condition (up to 2 occupants)
front rear front rear
PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA
41 280 38 2 60 45 310 44 300
41 280
38 2
60 4 5 310 44 30 0
•
•
'
XL= reinforced or extra load tire. It may also appear as xi, EXTRA LOAD, or RF on the tire side-
wall.
M N
a! u.. co ,...., \!) 1.1'1 ,...., 1.1'1 ,....,
trailer hitch and the tongue
weight of a loaded trailer - does not make the vehicle heavier than the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rat
ing.
A WARNING
-Incorrect tire pressures
and/or underinflation can lead to a serious or fatal ac
cident.
-Incorrect tire pressures
and/or underinflation cause
increased tire wear and can
affect the handling of the
vehicle.
-Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation can
also lead to sudden tire failure, including a blowout
and sudden deflation, caus ing loss of vehicle control.
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the
tires originally installed on
your vehicle is listed on the tire pressure label located on driv
er's side 8-pillar.
The recommended tire pres
sures are on the tire pressure
label and in the table
Tires and wheels 221
¢ page 217, Cold tire inflation
pressure.
This means that the
pressure must be checked and
adjusted when the tire has not
been driven for more than a
couple of miles (kilometers) at low speeds during the previous
three hours. Air in the tires ex
pands when the tire heats up as
a result of internal friction as it
flexes in use. The tire pressure is higher when the tire has
warmed up than when it is "cold."
It is the inflation pressure in a
"cold" tire that counts. There
fore, you should never let air out of a warm tire to match
"Cold tire inflation pressure" recommendations ¢
page 217.
The tires would then be under
inflated and could fail sudden
ly.
The tire pressure label on your
Audi lists the recommended cold tire inflation pressures at
maximum capacity for the new,
original equipment tires that
were on your vehicle at the time it was manufactured. For the
location of the label
¢ page 217, fig. 182. .,.
•
•
'
222 Tires and wheels
Most tires Lose air naturally If the pressure in any tire is too
over time. They can also Lose Low, note the difference be-
some air if you drive over a pot- tween the pressure in the cold
hole or hit a curb while parking . tire and the pressure you need
It is usually not possible to see and add the air that you need to
whether the radial tires used reach the correct pressure for
today are underinflated just by the vehicle load (passengers
looking at them. and luggage) for the tires on
Therefore , be sure to check tire your vehicle as listed on the on
pressures at least once a month your vehicle and in
this manual
and always before going on a and the kind of driving you plan
long trip. Make sure to take the to do.
number of people and the
Never exceed the maximum in-
amount of luggage into ac-flation pressure listed on the
count when adjusting tire pres-tire sidewall for any reason.
sure for a trip -even one that
Remember that the vehicle
you would not consider to be manufacturer, not the tire man-
"long." See
¢ page 224, Tires ufacturer, determines the car-
and vehicle load limits for more
rect tire pressure for the tires
important information. on your vehicle.
Always use an accurate tire
It is important to check the tire
pressure gauge when checking pressure when the tires are
and adjusting inflation pres- cold.
sures . Check all of the tires. If
the pressure in any tire is too -Read the required tire pres-
sure from the tire pressure la-
high when the tire is "cold ", let
bel. The tire pressure label is
air out of the tire slowly with
located on the driver's side 8-
the edge of the tire gauge and
pillar. The tire pressure label
keep checking the pressure un-
lists the recommended cold
til you reach the pressure that
tire inflation pressures for the
is correct for the load (passen-
vehicle at its maximum capaci-
gers and luggage) and kind of
ty weight and the tires that
...
driving you plan to do.
Tires and wheels 223
were on your vehicle at the changing a wheel or replacing •
time it was manufactured. For wheels you have to adjust the • '
recommended tire pressures tire pressures on all wheels. In
for normal load conditions, addition, you must then initial-
please see chapter ize the new tire pressures in the
9page 217. tire pressure monitoring sys-
-Turn the valve stem cap coun- tern*
9 page 239.
ter-clockwise to remove it
_&. WARNING
from the tire valve.
Incorrect tire pressures and/
-Place the air pressure gauge or underinflation can lead
on the valve. sudden tire failure, loss of
-The tire pressures should only control, collision, serious per-
be checked and adjusted when sonal injury or even death.
the tires are cold. The slightly -When the
[IJ warning sym-
raised pressures of warm tires bol appears in the instru-
must not be reduced. ment cluster, stop and in-
-Adjust the tire pressure to the spect the tires.
load you are carrying. -Incorrect tire pressure and/
-Reinstall the valve stem cap or underinflation can cause
on the valve. increased tire wear and can
When should I check the tire affect the handling of the
pressure? vehicle and stopping ability.
The correct tire pressure is es- -Incorrect tire pressures
pecially important at high and/or underinflation can
speeds . The pressure should also lead to sudden tire fail-
therefore be checked at least ure, including a blowout
once a month and always be -and sudden deflation, caus-
fore starting a journey. ing loss of vehicle control.
When should I adjust the
-The driver is responsible for
the correct tire pressures for
tire pressures?
M all tires on the vehicle. The N
er Adjust the tire pressure to the u..
applicable pressure values ... co ,....,
load you are carrying. After \!) 1.1'1 ,...., 1.1'1 ,....,
224 Tires and wheels
are located on a sticker on
the driver's side B-pillar.
-Only when all tires on the vehicle are filled to the correct pressure, the tire pres
sure monitoring system*
can work correctly.
-The use of incorrect tire pressure values can lead to
accidents or other damage.
Therefore it is essential that
the driver observe the speci
fied tire pressure values for
the tires and the correct pressures for the function of
the tire pressure monitoring
system*.
-Always inflate tires to the
recommended and correct
tire pressure before driving
off.
-Driving with underinflated
tires bend more, letting
them get too hot resulting
in tread separation, sudden
tire failure and loss of con
trol.
-Excessive speed and/over loading can cause heat
build-up, sudden tire failure
and loss of control.
-If the tire pressure is too
low or too high, the tires will wear prematurely and
the vehicle will not handle
well.
-If the tire is not flat and you
do not have to change a
wheel immediately, drive at
reduced speed to the near
est service station to check
the tire pressure and add air
as required.
(D Note
Driving without valve stem
caps can cause damage to
the tire valves. To prevent
this, always make sure that
factory installed valve stem
caps on all wheels are secure ly mounted on the valve.
@ For the sake of the environment
Underinflated tires will also
increase the fuel consump
tion.
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount
of load or weight that any vehi
cle and any tire can carry. Ave
hicle that is overloaded will not
handle well and is more diffi
cult to stop. Overloading can not only lead to loss of vehicle
control, but can also damage .,.
important parts of the vehicle
and can lead to sudden tire fail
ure, including a blowout and
sudden deflation that can cause
the vehicle to crash.
Your safety and that of your
passengers also depends on
making sure that load limits are not exceeded. Vehicle load in
cludes everybody and every
thing in and on the vehicle.
These load limits are technical ly referred to as the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the
weight of the basic vehicle, all
factory installed accessories, a
full tank of fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids plus maximum
load. The maximum load in
cludes the number of passen
gers that the vehicle is intend
ed to carry ("seating capacity")
with an assumed weight of 150 lbs . (68 kg) for each pas
senger at a designated seating
position 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
Tires and wheels 225
must be included 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 Gross Vehicle Weight Rat ing and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating are listed on the safety
compliance sticker label locat
ed on the driver's side 8-pillar.
Your Audi has 4 seating posi
tions, 2 in the front and 2 in the rear for total seating capacity
of 4. Each seating position has
a seat belt¢ page 123, Safety
belts.
The fact that there is an upper limit to your vehicle's Gross Ve
hicle Weight Rating means that
the total weight of whatever is being carried in the vehicle (in
cluding the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue weight of
the loaded trailer) is limited.
The more passengers in the ve hicle or passengers who are
heavier than the standard
weights assumed mean that less weight can be carried as
luggage.
•
•
'
226 Tires and wheels
The tire pressure label on your
Audi also lists the maximum
combined weight of all of the
occupants and luggage or other
cargo that the vehicle can carry. For the location of the label
¢page 217, fig. 182.
A WARNING
-
Overloading a vehicle can
cause loss of vehicle control,
a crash or other accident, se
rious personal injury, and
even death.
-Carrying more weight than your vehicle was designed to carry will prevent the ve
hicle from handling properly
and increase the risk of the
loss of vehicle control.
-The brakes on a vehicle that has been overloaded may
not be able to stop the vehi
cle within a safe distance.
-Tires on a vehicle that has
been overloaded can fail
suddenly, including a blow
out and sudden deflation,
causing loss of control and a
crash .
-Always make sure that the
total load being transported
- including the weight of a trailer hitch and the tongue
weight of a loaded trailer does not make the vehicle
heavier than the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rat
ing.
Determining correct load
limit
Use the example below to cal
culate the total weight of the
passengers and luggage or oth
er things that you plan to trans
port so that you can make sure
that your vehicle will not be
overloaded.
Steps for Determining
Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement "THE
COMBINED WEIGHT OF OC
CUPANTS AND CARGO
SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX LBS"on your vehi
cle's placard (tire inflation
pressure label)
¢page 217,
fig. 182.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and pas
sengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
...
230 Tires and wheels
New tires and replacing
tires and wheels
New tires and wheels have to
be broken in.
Fig. 186 Tire specification codes on
the sidewall of a tire
No. Description
CD Passenger car tire (where
applicable)
@ Nominal width of tire in
millimeters
@ Ratio of height to width
(aspect ratio)
© Radial
® Rim diameter code
® Load index and speed rat-
1ng
(j) U.S. DOT tire identifica -
tion number
No. Description
® Audi Original tire
® Sever snow conditions
@ Tire ply composition and
materials used
@ Maximum load rating
@ Treadwear, traction and
temperature grades
@ Maximum permissible in-
flation pressure
The tires and rims are essential
parts of the vehicle's design.
The tires and rims approved by
Audi are specially matched to
the characteristics of the vehi
cle and can make a major con
tribution to good road holding and safe handling when in good
condition and properly inflated
¢ A .
We recommend that all work
on tires and wheels be per
formed by an authorized Audi
dealer. They are familiar with recommended procedures and
have the necessary special tools
and spare parts as well as the
proper facilities for disposing of
the old tires.
Authorized Audi dealers have
the necessary information