236 Tires a nd whee ls
Bead Extra load tire
means the part of the tire that means a tire design to operate
is made of steel wires, wrapped at higher loads and at higher
or reinforced by p ly cords and inflation pressures than the
that is shaped to fit the rim . corresponding standard tire .
Bead separation Extra load tires may be identi-
fied as "XL", "xl", " EXTRA
means a breakdown of the bond LOAD", or "RF" on the sidewall.
between components in the
bead .
Gross A xle Weight Rating
(" GAWR ")
Cord
means the load-carrying capaci-
means the strands forming the ty of a single axle system,
p lies in the tire .
measured at the tire-ground in-
Cold tire inflation pressure terfaces.
means the tire pressure recom-
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
mended by the vehicle manu-( "GVWR ")
facturer for a t ire of a designat-
means the maximum total
ed size that has not been driven loaded weight of the vehicle.
for more than a couple of miles
Groove
(kilometers) at low speeds in
the three hour period before means the space between two
the tire pressure is measured or adjacent tread ribs.
adjusted.
Load rating (code )
Curb weight
means the max imum load that
means the weight of a motor a tire
is rated to carry for a giv-
vehicle with standard equip -en inflation pressure
. You may
ment including the maximum not find th
is information on all
capacity of fuel, oil, and cool- tires because it is not required
ant, air condit ioning and addi- by law.
...
tional weight of optional equip-
ment.
M N
0 > co ,...., \!) 1.1'1
M 1.1'1 ,....,
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-
Tires and wheels 249
ed to carry ("seating capacity")
with an assumed weight of 1
SO 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 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 5 seating posi
tions, 2 in the front and 3 in the rear for total seating capacity
of 5. Each seating position has
a safety belt¢
page 135, Safe
ty 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 ""
' •
•
' •
M N
0 > co ,...., \!) ..,.,
M ..,., ,....,
fall fro m a lift if the re is a c hange in ve
h icle we ight d istr ibut ion a nd ba lance.
This might happen, for e xamp le, w hen
heavy compone nts such as the engi ne
b lock or transmiss io n are removed .
- Whe n remov ing heavy components li ke
t hese, ancho r vehicl e to hoist o r add cor
r es pond ing w eig hts to mai ntain the cen
t e r of g ravity . Othe rwise, the v ehicl e
m ight til t or slip off th e hois t, causi ng
serious person al inju ry.
(D Note
- Be awa re of the fo llowing po in ts befo re
li fting the vehicle:
- The vehicle should never be lifted or
jacked up from unde rneath 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
inserted between the floor jack and
the lift points.
- Before driving over a workshop hoist,
check that the vehicle weight does not
exceed the permissible 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 285
•
•
•
M N
0 > co ,...., \!) ..,.,
M ..,., ,....,
Te chn ic a l da ta 28 7
designated seating position) and luggage
weight ~&. .
Gros s Axle W eight Rating
The G ross Axle Weight Rating is the maximum
l oad that can be applied at each axle of the
vehicle ~.&. .
Vehicle capacit y weight
The vehicle capac ity we ight (max. load) is list
ed either on the dr iver's side B-pillar or inside
the fuel filler flap.
_& WARNING
- T he actual Gross Axle Weight Rat ing at
the front and rear axles shou ld not ex
ceed the permissible weights, and their
combination must not exceed the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating .
Dimensions
The dimensions can vary depend ing on the
model and equipment.
-
When driving on poor roads, by curbs and on
steep ramps, make sure that low-ly ing compo-
A3 Sed an
Length
Width
Width (across mir rors)
He ight (unloaded)a) -
Exceeding perm iss ible weight ratings can
result in vehicle damage, acc idents and
personal injury.
([) Note
-The vehicle capacity weight figures apply
when the load is d istr ibuted evenly in the
vehicle (passengers and luggage). When
transport ing a heavy load in the luggage
compartment, carry the load as near to
the rear axle as poss ible so that the vehi
cle's handling is not impaired.
- Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle loads or the maximum gross veh icle
we ight. Always remember that the vehi
cle's handling w ill be affected by the ex
tra load. Therefore, ad just yo ur speed ac
co rdingly.
- Always observe local regulat ions.
nents such as the spoiler and exhaust system
do not come i nto contact with these or they
could be damaged. This applies espec ially
when the vehicle is fu lly loaded.
in (mm)
175.3 (4456)
in (mm) 70.7 (1796)
in (mm) 77.1 (1960)
in (mm) 55.7 (1416)
al The height of the vehicle depends on the tires and suspension.
53 Sed an
Length in (mm) 175.8 (4469)
Width in (mm) 70
.7 (1796)
Width (across mirrors) in (mm) 77.1 (1960)
Height (unloaded)a) in (mm) 54.8 (1392)
a l The height of the vehicle depends on the tires and suspension.
•
•
298 Index
Environment
Break-in period . ....... ... .. .. .... . 197
Cata lytic converter ....... ... .. .... . 198
Diese l partic ulate filter ............. 199
Disposing of your vehicle battery .... . 231
Driving at h igh speeds ......... .. ... 200
Driving to m inim ize pollution and no ise 199
Fue l economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
L ett ing the ve hicle s tand and wa rm up . 200
P roper disposal of dra ined brake flu id . 227
Pr oper disposal of dra ined engine oil .. 224
Un leaded fu el .. .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 210
What should I do with an old battery? . 231
E PC (eng ine control) .......... .. .... .. 23
ESC Automatic post-collision braking sys-
tem ...... ................... ... . 190
Electron ic stabilization control . . . . . . . 189
Sport mode ...................... 190
Event Data Recorder ( EDR) ... .. .. .. .. . 195
E xterior lighting . .. ..... ... .. .. .... .. 46
E xterio r m irrors
Ad just ing .. .......... ...... ... .. .. 52
D imm ing ... ................ .... ... 53
fo ld in g .. .. .. ... ..... ..... .. .. .. .. 5 2
H ea ting .... .. . .. ..... ... .. .. .... .. 52
F
Fasten ing
Booste r seats . ........ ..... .. .. .. . 179
Convertible chi ld safety seats ..... .. . 17 7
Infant seats . .. .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 176
Fl oor mats . .. ............. .. .. .. .. . 130
Fog lights/rear fog light(s) ..... .. .. .. . . 46
F olding the exte rior mirrors
Cente r locking . ....... ... .. .. .... .. 40
Folding the rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Foot pedals ................. .. .... . 130
F oo twell ligh ting .......... .. .. .... .. 49
For the sake of the environment
Fueling ...................... ... . 212
L eaks .. .. ... ....... ........ ..... . 218
Rear w indow defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2
Front airbags
Descr ipt ion .... ... .... ... ... ... .. . 148
H ow they work ................ ... . 154
Fronta l co llisions and the laws of physics 136 F
ront a rmrest ..... ... .. ..... ... .. .. . 58
Front passenger's door emergency locking 41
Front seats Adjusting . .... .. ............. .... 127
Child restraints in the front seat ...... 146
also refer to Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 64
Fuel Additives .. .... .. ............. .... 210
Blended gasoline .............. .. .. 210
Current consumption ........... .. .. . 28
Fuel filler neck . ................... 212
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12
Fuel ta nk capacity ... .......... .. .. 288
Gasoli ne .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. .. 210
Gaso lin e ad dit ives ................. 211
Indicator light ... .. ... ..... ... .. .. . 24
Octane rat ing .... ... .. ..... ... .. .. 210
Recommendation ... ... ..... ... .. .. 210
Sav ing fuel .... .. ............. .... 106
F uel economy messages (effic iency p ro -
gram) . ... .. .... .. ... .. .. ..... ... .. . 30
Fueling Fuel fi lle r door emergency re lease .. .. 214
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
F uel ta nk capaci ty ... .......... .. .. 288
Open ing the fue l filler door . ... .. .. .. 212
Fuses Ass ignment ..... ................ . 277
I n te rio r ... .... .. ............. .... 276
replacing .. .... .. ............. .... 276
G
Ga rment hooks .. .. ............. .. .. . 62
Gas discharge lamps ................. 279
G lossary of tire and loading term inology 235
G love compar tment ................ .. 61
CD changer ...................... .. 61
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) ... 286
H
Headlight range control system ... .. .. . 46
Indicator light ... .. ... ..... ... .. .. . 25
Head lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 48
Head lig hts
Cleaning ........................ . 206