Wheels
happy to provide more informa
tion .
® Mud and snow capability
"M/S" or "M+S" indicates the tire
has characteristics that make it
suitab le for driving on mud and
snow .
& indicates a winter t ire .
@ Compos ition of the tire cord
and materials
The number of plies indicates the
number of rubberized fabric lay
ers in the tire . In general: the
more layers, the more weight a
tire can carry. Tire manufacturers must also specify the materia ls
used in the tire . These include
steel, nylon, polyester and other
materials .
@ Maximum permitted load
This number indicates the maxi
mum load in k ilograms and
pounds that the tire can carry.
@ Uniform tire quality grade
standards for treadwear,
traction and temperature
resistance
Treadwear, traction and tempera
ture ranges
c::> page 234 .
@ Running direction
The arrows indicate the running
direction of unidirec tiona l tires.
220
You must a lways follow the speci
fied runn ing direction
c::> page 247.
@ Maximum permitted
inflation pressure
This number indicates the maxi
mum pressure to which a tire can be inflated unde r normal operat
ing condit ions .
Glossary of tire and loading
terminology
Accessory weight
means the comb ined we ight (in
excess of those standard items
which may be replaced) o f auto
matic tra nsmission , power steer
ing , power brakes , power wi n
dows, power seats , radio , and
heater, to the extent that these
items a re available as facto ry-in
stalled equipment (whet her in
stalled or not).
Aspect ratio
means the rat io of the height to
the width o f the tire in pe rcent.
Numbe rs of 55 or lower indicate a
low sidewa ll for imp roved steer
ing response and better overa ll
handling on dry pavement .
...
Wheels
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight, and
(d) Production options weight
Maximum (permissible )
inflation pressure
means the maximum cold infla
tion pressure to which a tire may be inflated. Also called "maxi
mum inflation pressure ."
Normal occupant weight
means 150 lbs . (68 kilograms)
times the number of occupants
seated in the vehicle up to the to
ta l seating capacity of your vehi
c le .
Occupant distribution
means distribut ion of occupan ts
in a vehic le .
Outer diameter
means the overall diamete r of an
inflated new tire.
Overall width
means the l inear distance be
tween the exter iors of the side
walls of an infla ted tire , including
elevations due to labeling , deco
rations, or protective bands or
r ibs.
222
Ply
means a layer of rubber -coated
pa rallel cords.
Production options weight
means t he comb ined we ight of
those insta lled regular production
options weighing over 5 lbs . (2 .3
kg) in excess of those standard
items which they replace , not pre
viously considered in curb weight or accessory weight, inc luding
heavy duty brakes, ride levelers,
roof rack, heavy duty battery, and
special trim.
Radial ply tire
means a pneumatic tire in which
the ply co rds that extend to the
beads are laid at subs tantially 90
deg rees to the centerline o f the
tread .
Recommended inflation
pressure
see~ page 221, Cold tire infla
tion pressure.
Reinforced tire
means a tire designed to operate
at highe r loads and at h igher in
flat ion pressures than t he corre
spond ing standa rd tire . R ein
forced tires may be identified as .,.
Wheels
-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.
-Do not use run-flat tires on your vehicle. Using them when
not permitted can lead to ve
hicle damage or accidents.
-If you install wheel covers on the vehicle, make sure they al
low enough air circulation to
cool the brake system. If they
do not, this could increase the
risk of an accident.
226
Tire wear/damage
Fig. 191 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 Audi Service Facili
ty 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.
Treadwear indicator
The original tires on your vehicle have 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) high
"wear indicators" ¢fig.
191 ...
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
driver 's side 8-pillar
¢ page 228,
fig. 192.
& 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 increase the risk of the loss of
vehicle control.
Wheels
-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.
-Always 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.
Determining correct load
limit
Use the example below to calcu
late the total weight of the pas
sengers and luggage or other
things that you plan to transport
so that you can make sure that
your vehicle will not be overload ed.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement "THE
COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCU-
PANTS AND CARGO SHOULD .,.
231
Preliminary steps
Some preliminary steps are necessary for tire re
pair.
• If you have a flat tire, park the vehicle as far as
poss ible from moving traffic.
• Apply the
parking brake firmly .
• Move the
selector lever to the P position .
• Check whether a repair using the Tire Mobility
System is possible ¢
page 239, General and
safety pointers.
• Have all passengers leave the vehicle and stay
away from the danger zone
~ _& .
• Take the sealant bottle and the electric air
pump from the luggage compartment under
the floor
¢page 239, fig. 197 .
• Remove the "max . SO mph" (80 km/h) sticker
from the sealant bottle and affix it to the in
strument cluster in the dr iver's view .
..&, WARNING
- Turn the hazard flashers on and set up the
warning triangle* if you have a flat tire in
moving traffic. In this way you protect your
self and other road users.
- Make sure that all passengers are in a safe
place, out of the danger zone (for example,
behind a guard rail).
(D Note
Particular care is necessary if you are making
a tire repair on a steep incline.
{i) Tips
Obey all laws .
Emergency assistance
Making a tire repair
Tire repair consists of the following sections .
Fig. 199 Parts of th e Tire Mobility System
Fig. 200 Con necto r fo r t he Tire Mobi lity System
Assembling Tire Mobility System
• Open the lid@ of the electr ic air pump
¢fig. 199 .
• Pull the p lug @ and the pressure hose® with
the gauge out of the housing.
• Screw the pressure hose® of the electric air
pump onto the f lange ® of the sealant bottle
@.
• Push the sealant bottle w ith the flange down
into the recess @ on the lid of the electric a ir
pump .
• Remove the dust cap from the va lve of the de
fective ti re.
• Screw the hose@) onto the valve
(J) ~ fig. 200.
• Ins ert the plug @¢ fig. 199 into the socket for
the cigarette lighter.
• Switch on the ign ition.
241
Replacing wheels
Before changing a wheel
Observe the following precautions for your own
and your passenger's safety when changing a
wheel.
.,. After you experience a tire failure, pull the car
well away from moving traffic and try to reach
level ground before you stop¢.,&..
.. All passengers should
leave the car and move
to a safe location (for instance, beh ind the
guardrail)¢ .,&. .
.,. Engage the
parking brake to prevent your vehi
cle from rolling unintentionally¢ .,&..
.. Move
selector lever to position P ¢ .,&. .
.. Take the
jack out of the luggage compartment
c:>page 239.
A WARNING
You or your passengers could be injured while
chang ing a wheel if you do not follow these
safety precautions:
- If you have a flat tire, move a safe distance
off the road. Turn off the engine, turn the
eme rgency flashers on and use other warn
ing devices to alert other motorists.
- Make sure that passengers wait in a safe
place away from the vehicle and well away
from the road and traffic.
- To help prevent the vehicle from moving
sudden ly and possibly slipping off the jack,
always fully set the parking brake and block
the wheel diagonally opposite the wheel be
ing changed . When one front wheel is lifted
off the ground, placing the Automatic
Transmission in P (Park) will
not prevent the
vehicle from moving.
- Before you change a wheel, be sure the
ground is level and firm. If necessary, use a
sturdy board under the jack.
- Always store the veh icle tool k it, the jack
and the replaced tire in the luggage com
partment
c> page 124.
(D Note
If you are changing the whee l on a steep in
cline, use a rock or similar object to b lock the
Emergency assistance
opposite wheel to prevent the vehicle from
moving.
(D Tips
- Before changing the wheel, you must acti
vate the jacking mode, so that the automat
ic controls for the Adaptive Air Suspension*
do not make it more difficu lt to lift the vehi
cle with the jack
c> page 245.
- Obey all laws .
Changing a wheel
When you change a wheel, follow the sequence
described below step-by-step and in exactly thot
order .
1. Activate the vehicle jack mode* c> page 245.
2. Remove the
wheel bolt caps*. For more de
tails see also
¢ page 244, Wheels with
wheel bolt caps.
3. Loosen the wheel bolts c:> page 244.
4. Locate the proper mounting point for the
jack and align the jack below that point
~page 245.
5. Raise the car with the jack c:> page 245.
6. Remove the
wheel with the flat tire and then
install the other whee l¢
page 246.
7. Tighten all whee l bolts lightly.
8.
Lower the vehicle with the jack.
9. Use the wheel bolt wrench and
firmly tighten
all wheel bolts
c> page 244.
10. Replace the
wheel bolt caps*.
11. Deact ivate the vehicle jack mode* in the
MMI:
I CARI funct ion button> (C ar )* systems
contro l butto n > Servicing & checks > Air
susp.: jack mode >
Off.
The vehicle jack mode* switches off automat ical
ly at speeds above 6 mph (10 km/h) .
A WARNING
-
Always read and follow all WARNINGS and in-
formation
¢ .&. in Raising the vehicle on
page
245 and ¢ page 247.
243
Emergency assistance
-Passengers must not remain in the vehicle
when it is jacked up.
- Make sure that passengers wait in a safe
place away from the vehicle and well away
from the road and traffic.
- Make sure jack posit ion is correct, adjust
as necessary and then continue to raise
the jack.
- Changes in temperature or load can affect
the height of the vehicle.
(D Note
Do not lift the vehicle by the sill. Position the
vehicle jack only at the designated lifting
points on the sill. Otherwise, your vehicle will
be damaged.
@ Tips
The vehicle jack mode* switches off automati
cally at speeds
above 6 mph (10 km/h).
Removing and installing the sill extension
cover
Applies to: vehicles w ith sil l extension
Fig. 205 Sill: removing the cover
.,. Pull the cover down to remove it. c:> fig. 205
.,. To install the cover, insert i t in the mount and
press it upward until it clicks into place. The
cover must be flush with the surface of the sill
extension .
1
> A pp lies to vehicles wit h c eramic brake ro tor s*: Use a sec
on d alig nment pin* (sto re d in th e spare w hee l w ell mold
in g) fo r the lower hole, foll ow in g t he descrip tion for the
firs t alig nm ent pin.
246
@ Tips
Some models may also have a cover for the
rear vehicle lift point.
Taking the wheel off/installing a wheel
Follow these instructions step -by-step for chang
ing the wheel.
Fig. 206 Changing a wheel : using the sc rewdr iver han d le
(wi th t he blade re m oved) to turn the bol ts
Fig. 207 Changing a wh eel: alignment pin in side the t op
ho le
After you have loosened all wheel bolts and
raised the vehicle off the ground,
remove and re
place the wheel as follows:
Removing the wheel
.,. Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver
handle
to completely remove the topmost
wheel bolt and set it aside on a
clean surface
c::> fig. 206.
.,. Sc rew the threaded end of the alignment pin
from the tool kit hand-t ight into the empty bolt
hole
¢ fig . 2011>. .,.
~ Then remove the other wheel bolts as described above.
~ Takeoff the wheel leaving the a lignment pin in
the bolt ho le ¢ (D.
Putting on th e oth er w heel
~ Lift the whee l and carefully slide it over the
alignment pin to guide it in place ¢(D.
~ Use the hexagonal socket in the screwdriver
handle to screw in and tighten all whee l bolts
sligh tly.
~ Remove the alignment pin and insert and tight
en the remaining wheel bolt slightly like the
rest .
~ Turn the jack handle counter-clockwise to lower
the vehicle until the jack is fu lly re leased.
~ Use the wheel bolt wrench to tighten all wheel
bolts firmly ¢
page 244 . Tighten them cross
wise,
from one bolt to the (approximately) op
posite one, to keep the whee l centered .
When removing or installing the whee l, the
rim could hit the brake rotor/ceramic brake
rotor* and damage the rotor. Work carefully
and have a second person help you.
(D Tips
Never use the hexagonal socket in the handle
of the screwdriver to loosen or tighten the
wheel bo lts.
- Pu ll the reversible blade from the screwdriv
er before you use the hexagonal socket in
the handle to turn the wheel bo lts.
- When mounting tires w ith
u nidirectio nal
tre ad design
make sure the tread pattern is
po inted the r ight way ¢
page 247.
-The wheel bolts should be clean and easy to
turn . Check for d irt and corrosion on the
mating surfaces of both the wheel and the
hub . Remove all dirt from these surfaces be
fo re remo unt ing the wheel.
Em ergenc y ass is tanc e
Tires with unidirectional tread design
Tires with unidirectional tread design must be
mounted with their tread pattern pointed in the
right direction .
Using a repl acement t ire w ith a tread pattern
intend ed for use in a sp ecific direction
When using a rep lacement tire with a tread pat
tern intended for use in a spec ific d irection ,
please note the follow ing:
- The direction of rotation is marked by an arrow
on the side of the tire .
- If the replacement tire has to be installed in
the incorrect direction, use the replacement tire only temporarily s ince the t ire w ill not be
ab le to achieve its optimum perfo rmance char
acter istics with rega rd to aquap lan ing, no ise
and wear.
- We recommend that you pay pa rt icu lar atten
tion to th is fact d uring wet weather and that
you adjust your speed to match road cond i
tions .
- Rep lace the flat tire w ith a new one and have it
installed on your veh icle as soon as possib le to
restore the hand ling advantages of a unidirec
tional tire.
Notes on wheel changing
Please read the information ¢ page 225, New
tires or wheels
if you a re go ing to u se a replace
ment t ire wh ich is different from the t ires on
you r vehicle .
After you change a tire:
- Check the tire pre ssure on the r epl acement
tire immed iatel y afte r in st a llat ion .
- Have th e whe el bolt tight ening torqu e
c hecked with a torque w rench as s oon as pos
s ible b y your authorized Audi de aler o r a
qualified ser vice st ation.
- With steel and allo y wheel rim s, the wheel
bolt s are co rr ectl y ti ghtened at a torque of 90
ft lb
( 1 20 Nm) .
-If you notice that the wheel bolts are corroded
and diffi cult to turn while changing a ti re ,
the y should be r eplaced before you chec k the
tightening torque. ..,.
247