Tires and wheels
Tires
General notes
Tires may be the least appreci
ated and most abused parts of
a motor vehicle .
Tires may be the least appreci
ated and most abused parts of
a motor vehicle. Tires are, how
ever, one of the most important
parts of a vehicle, particularly
considering the comparatively
small patch of rubber on each
tire that assures that all-impor
tant contact between you, your
vehicle and the road.
Maintaining the correct tire
pressure, making sure that your
vehicle and its tires do not have
to carry more weight than they can safely handle, avoiding
damage from road hazards and
regularly inspecting tires for
damage including cuts, slashes
irregular wear and overall con
dition are the most important
things that you can do to help avoid sudden tire failure includ
ing tread separation and blow-
~ outs.
0 ::.,: co ,...., \!) 1.1'1 ,...., 1.1'1 ,....,
Tires and wheels 22 7
Avoiding damage
If you have to drive over a curb
or similar obstacle , drive very
slowly and as close as possible
at a right angle to the curb.
Always keep chemicals includ ing grease, oil, gasoline and
brake fluid off the tires.
Inspect the t ires regularly for
damage (cuts, cracks or blis
ters, etc.). Remove any foreign bodies embedded in the treads.
Storing tires
Mark tires when you remove
them to indicate the direction
of rotation. This ensures you to be able to mount them correct
ly when you reinstall them.
When removed, the wheels or
tires should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark place.
Store tires in a vertical position if they are not mounted on
rims, in a horizontal position if
they are mounted on rims.
New tires
New tires have to be broken in
¢ _&..
The tread depth of new tires
may vary , according to the type .,.
•
•
'
230 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.
Tires and wheels 243
and can lead to sudden tire fail- The Gross Axle Weight Rating •
ure, including a blowout and ("GAWR") is the maximum load • '
sudden
deflation that can cause that can be applied at each of
the vehicle to crash. the vehicle's two axles.
Your safety and that of your The Gross Vehicle Weight Rat- passengers also depends on ing and the Gross Axle Weight
making sure that load limits are Rating are listed on the safety
not exceeded. Vehicle load in- compliance sticker label locat-
eludes everybody and every- ed on the driver's side B-pillar.
thing in and on the vehicle. Your Audi has 5 seating posi-
These load limits are technical- tions, 2 in the front and 3 in the ly referred to as the vehicle's rear for total seating capacity
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 5. Each seating position has
("GVWR"). a seat belt¢
page 136~ Safety
The "GVWR" includes the belts.
weight of the basic vehicle, all The fact that there is an upper
factory installed accessories, a limit to your vehicle's Gross Ve-
full tank of fuel, oil, coolant hicle Weight Rating means that
and other fluids plus maximum the total weight of whatever is
load. The maximum load in- being carried in the vehicle (in-
eludes the number of passen- eluding the weight of a trailer
gers that the vehicle is intend- hitch and the tongue weight of
ed to carry ("seating capacity") the loaded trailer) is limited.
with an assumed weight of The more passengers in the ve- 150 lbs. (68 kg) for each pas- hicle or passengers who are
senger at a designated seating heavier than the standard
position and the total weight of weights assumed mean that
any luggage in the vehicle . If less weight can be carried as
you tow a trailer, the weight of luggage. the trailer hitch and the tongue The tire pressure label on your
'"" weight of the loaded trailer N
Audi also lists the maximum 0 ::.,:
must be included as part of the co .... combined weight of all of the \!) 1.1'1
vehicle load . .... 1.1'1 ....
"' N
0 ::.,: co ,...., \!) 1.1'1 ,...., 1.1'1 ,....,
Automatic climate control Air vents ... ..... ..... ... .. .. .. .... 80
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Setup ... .. ................. .. .... 81
Automatic S hift Lock (ASL) .. .. .. .. .. .. 95
Automatic transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Automatic S hift Lock (ASL) . . . . . . . . . . . 95
D riving .. .. ............. .... .. .. .. 95
E mergency mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
E me rgency release ........ .. .. .. .. . 100
Kick -down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
M anual shift program .. ... .. .. .. .. .. 98
Remova l lock (ignition key) ... .. .. .. .. 82
Selector lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Automatic wipe rs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Auto Safety Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Avoid damag ing the vehicle .. .. .. .. .. . 193
B
Bag hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 222
Battery location inside the luggage com -
partment .. .. ........... .. .. .. ... 222
Charging . ................ ... ... .. 224
Important warn ings when working on
the battery . ................ ... ... 222
J ump starti ng ............ .... .. .. . 274
L ow . .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. .. ... 19 1
Replacing the ba ttery .. ... .. .. .. .. . 225
State of charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Winter operation . ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 222
Working on the battery .... .. .. .. .. . 222
B efore driving ............. .... .. .. . 126
Bio-ethanol (Fuel) ..... ..... .. .. .. .. . 208
Blended gasoline ... .... ... .. .. .. .. . 207
B lower (automatic climate cont rol) . . . . . . 80
Booster seats ............. .... .. .. . 173
B rake fl uid
Changing the brake fl uid ... .. .. .. .. . 22 1
Checking the brake fluid level ... .. .. . 221
Reservoir .. ............. .... .. ... 221
What is the correct brake flu id leve l? . . 221
What should I do if the brake fluid warn-
i ng light comes o n? .. ..... .. .. .. .. . 221
Inde x 289
Brake system . ..... ... .. .. ..... ... .. 221
Anti- lock b raking system ..... ... .. .. . 19
•
B rake assist system .. .. ..... ... .. .. 185 •
Brake fluid .. .. .. ................. 221
Brake fluid specifications for refill and re-
placement ...... .. ............... 221
B rake light defective ... .. .. ... ... .. . 21
B ra ke powe r ass ist unit ............ . 188
Br akes .. .. .. .. .. .. . .............. 188
Ceram ic bra kes . .. .... ........... .. 188
El ec tromechanica l parking brake ... .. . 87
Warning/indicator lights ..... ... .. .. . 15
Wor n brake pads symbo l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
B ra kin g
E mergency bra king f unct ion ..... .. .. . 89
braking guard . .. .... ... ....... ..... 101
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Settings ........ .. ............... 108
Break -in per iod .. .. .... ............. 193
Tires ... .. .. .. .. .. ............... 193
Bul bs . ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 2 72
C
Califor nia Proposition 65 Warn ing . .. .. 213
B attery spec ifi c .. ............. .. .. 223
Capacities ........ .. ............... 281
Carbon pa rts
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204, 205
Care ..... .. .. .. .... ... .......... .. 202
Cargo area
refer to L uggage compartment . . . 70, 132
Catalytic converter ... .. ...... ... .. .. 194
Cen te r armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Central lock ing .. .. ................. . 31
Cen tral lock ing switch ............. .. 35
Co nvenience key .. .. . .. .. .. ... ... .. . 35
Remote cont ro l key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Ceram ic brake rotors
New brake pads .. ............. .... 188
Ce rtification . ... .... . ... ...... ... .. 286
Chang ing a flat t ire . .. ... ....... .... . 263
Chang ing a wheel .. ............. .... 263
Chang ing engine oil ............. .... 217
Checking Engine coolant level .... ....... .... . 218
Checking t ire pressure ............... 239
292 Index
Starting with jumper cab les . ....... . 274
Stopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84, 86
E ng ine compartment
Safety instructions ...... .. .. .. .. .. . 212
Working the engine compartment 212
Eng ine coolant
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
E ngine coolant system ...... .. .. .... . 218
Adding coolant ........... .. .. .. .. . 219
Checking coolant level ..... .. .. .. .. . 218
Check ing the eng ine coolant level .. .. . 218
Radiator fan .............. ... .. .. . 220
E ngine coolant temperature
Temperature gauge ....... .. .. .... .. 10
Engine hood
C losing ......... ......... ... .... . 212
How to release the hood ............ 212
E ng ine oil . .... ........... ........ . 214
Adding .. .. ............. .. .. .. .. . 216
Addit ives ... ................ ..... . 216
Changing . ................. ..... . 217
Check oil level ............ ... .... . 216
Consumption ............ .. .. .. .. . 216
Indicator light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 21
Oil consumption ............ .. .... . 215
Oil grades .. ................ ... .. . 214
Pressure malfunction ...... .. .. .. .. . . 17
Sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Specification and viscos ity .. .. .. .... . 214
Engine speed limitation ......... .... .. 20
Environment Break- in period ............ ... .... . 193
Cata lytic converter ............ .. .. . 194
Disposing of your vehicle battery ..... 225
Driving at high speeds ..... .. .. .. .. . 195
Driving to minimize pollution and noise 195
Fuel ..... .. ..... ........... ... .. . 210
Fuel economy ............. ... .. .. . 195
L eaks under your veh icle . .. .. .. .. .. . 212
L ett ing the vehicle stand and wa rm up . 196
Proper disposal of drained brake fluid . 221
Proper disposal of drained engine coo l-
ant ..... .. ................ ..... . 219
Proper disposal of dra ined engine
oil .. .. .. ................. .. 216,217
Recycling used engine oil ... .. .. .. .. . 216
Roof rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Unleaded fuel
.... ................ . 207
What shou ld I do with an o ld battery? . 22S
EPC
refer to E lectronic power control . . . . . . 20
Ethyl alcohol (Fuel) . .. .. ...... ... .. .. 208
Event Data Recorder (EDR) ............ 184
Exhaust tail pipes
Cleaning .. .... .. ............. .... 203
Expansion tank .... ............. .... 218
Exterior lighting ... ................ .. 49
Exterior m irrors
Adjust ing . .. .. .. .. ........... .. .. . 52
Dimming .. .... .. ............. ..... 53
Heating . .. .. .. . .............. .. .. . 52
F
Fan
Radiator 220
Fastening Booster seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Convertib le child safety seats .. ... ... 172
Infant seats ... .. ... .......... .... 171
Fa stening eye s
refer to Tie-downs .. .... .... ... .. .. . 74
Flat tire Changing ..... .. ................ . 263
flexib le fue l ....... ............. .... 208
Floor .. .... .... .. ................. . 76
Floor mats . ..... .. ................ . 131
Fog lights/rear fog light(s) ......... ... . 49
Folding the rear seats ............ .... . 71
Foot pedals . .... .. ............. .... 131
For the sake of the environment Gasoline fumes and the env ironment .. 210
Letting the engine warm up . . . . . . 82, 85
Refueling . .. .. .. ... .......... .... 210
Sav ing fuel by early upshifting . .. .. .. . 11
Front airbags Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
How they work . .. .......... ...... . 153
Frontal collisions and the laws of physics 137
Front passenger's door emergency lock ing 37
Front seats Adjusting ... .. .. ....... ...... .. .. 128
Child restraints in the front seat .. .. .. 145