Checking and Filling
-Never charge a frozen or a thawed-out bat
tery. It could explode! If a battery has fro
zen, then it must be rep laced. A discharged
battery can freeze over at 32°F (0°C).
- Make sure the vent hose is always attached
to the opening on the side of the battery.
- Never use batteries which are damaged.
There is the danger of an explos ion! A lways
rep lace a damaged battery .
A WARNING
California Propositio n 65 Warning:
- Battery posts, terminals and re lated acces
sories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cance r and rep roduct ive p roblems.
Wash hands after handling.
(D Note
- Do not d isconnect the vehicle battery when
the ig nitio n is switched on or when the en
g ine is r unning, o therwise, you w ill damage
electron ic compone nts in t he e lectr ica l sys
t em.
- If your vehicle is going to stan d for a long
period of t ime without be ing dr iven, p rotect
the b attery from "free zing", o therwise it
will be d am age d and will then h ave to be re
placed .
Battery charging
Starting the engine requires a well charged ba t
tery.
F ig . 2 5 1 Eng ine compartmen t: Co nnectors for charger and
jump er cables
314
Alway s read and heed all WARNINGS below
¢ A and c:> A in Working on the battery on
page 313.
.. Tur n off the ign ition and all ele ctrica l consum
ers .
.. Make sure the area is well ventilated when you
charge the battery .
.. Open the engine hood
c:> page 305 .
.. Open the cover on the positive pole c:> fig. 251 .
.. Connect the charger connectors according to
the instruct ions to the
jump start bolts. (Bo lts
unde r the cover= "positive", Bolts with hex
head= "n ega tive").
.. Onl y now plug the m ain s lead fo r the ch arging
equ ipment in to the wall o utlet and tu rn it on
¢ _A .
.. Make sure the charging rate is not over
30 amps /14.8 Volt.
.. When the battery is fully charged: Turn the
charging equipment off and remove the mains
lead from the wa ll out let .
.. Now remove the clamps for the c harg ing equip-
ment.
.. Close the cover on the posi tive pole.
.. Close the hood
¢ page 305.
A d ischa rged battery can freeze at temperat ures
of only 32 °F (0 °C). Allow a fro zen ba ttery to
thaw completely befo re a ttemp ting to ch arge it
¢ &. . However, we recommend not u sing a
thawed battery aga in beca use the ba tte ry casing
can be cracke d due to ice formation a nd can leak
battery acid.
Battery charging (Maximum charging rate of
30 amps/14.8 Volt)
When charging at low voltages (e .g . with a trick·
le charger ),
the battery cables do not have to be
disconnected fir st. The batte ry caps should
not
be opened when charging a battery.
It is not necessary to remove the battery from
the luggage compartment .
Fast charging the battery (charging rate
above 14 .8 Volts)
For technica l reasons do not use a battery cha rg
er that uses voltage greater than 14.8 Vo lts to
c h arge your veh icle's battery.
<( a, .... N ,....
N .... 0 0
3 a,
& WARNING
Charging a battery can be dangerous.
- Always follow the operat ing instruct ions
provided by the battery charger manufactur
er when charging your battery .
- Never charge a frozen ba ttery . It may ex
plode because of gas trapped in the ice. A l
low a frozen battery to thaw out first .
- Do not reuse batteries wh ich were frozen.
The battery housing may have cracked and
weakened when the battery froze .
- Charge the battery in a we ll ventilated area.
Keep away from open flame or electrical
spark. Do not smoke . Hydrogen gas generat
ed by the battery is exp losive.
- To reduce the danger of explosion, never
connect or disconnect charger cables whi le
the charger is operat ing.
- Fast charging a battery is dangerous and
should only be attempted by a competent
technician with the proper equipment.
- Battery acid that may spill during charging
should be washed off with a solution of
warm water and baking soda to neutralize
the acid .
(D Note
Never use a fast charger as a booster to start
the engine. This will serious ly damage sensi
tive electronic components, such as control
units, relays, radio, etc ., as well as the battery
charger .
Replacing the battery
Your veh icle is equipped with an inte llige nt ene r
gy management system for d istr ibut ing elect rici
ty ¢
page 138. The battery cha rges better in
vehicles with the en ergy management system
than in vehicles without the system. To ensure
that th e additional pow er is availabl e after re
p lac ing the battery, rep lacing w ith the same type
of b attery from the s ame manufac turer ( like the
battery that was delivered with the veh icle) is
recommended . Yo ur authorized deale r must code
the battery in the energy management system to
Ch eck ing and Filling
enable you to use the energy management func
tions corr ectly aft er replacing the batt ery .
If it is no t possib le to use a battery of this type,
the new battery mus t have the same capacity,
vo ltage ( 12-volts), amperage, construction and
plug sealing.
When install ing the battery, make sure the ig ni
t ion and all electr ica l cons umers are tu rned off.
Q) Note
- Vehicles, fo r example with a Start-Stop sys
t em*, a re equipped with a specia l cycle
proof bat tery (such as an AGM battery). In
sta lling a different type of battery can cause
prob lems in the veh icle elect rical system .
When replacing the vehicle battery, always
install one w ith the same specifications as
the origina l battery.
- Make sure that the gas venting hose is al
ways connected to the original opening on the battery s ide . Otherw ise gasses or bat
tery acid could leak out .
- Battery mounts and clamps must always be
secured correct ly .
- Read and follow the warn ings under
¢
page 313, Working on the battery before
performing any work on the battery.
® For the sake of the environment
Because of the problem of proper d isposa l of
a battery, we recommend your authori zed
Audi dealer change the battery for you. Bat
teries contain sulfur ic acid and lead and must
always be disposed of properly in compliance
wi th a ll envi ronmenta l reg ulat ions. Dispos ing
of veh icle bat teries improperly is very da nger
ous to the environment.
315
&_ WARNING . -
-Only use tire/rim combina-tions and suitable wheel bolts
that have been approved by
Audi. Otherwise, damage to
the vehicle and an accident
could result.
-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 six years old when abso
lutely necessary and drive
carefully when doing so.
-If you install wheel covers on
the vehicle, make sure they al low enough air circulation to
Wheels
cool the brake system. If they
do not, this could increase the
risk of an accident.
Tire wear/damage
Fig. 254 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. .,..
325
Wheels
Treadwear indicator
Original equipment tires contain
treadwear indicators in the tread
pattern, which are bars that are 1/16 in (1.6 mm) high and are
spaced evenly around the tire per pendicular to the running direc
tion
c::> fig. 254 . The letters "TWI"
or triangles on the tire sidewall indicate the location of the tread
wear indicators.
The tires have reached the mini
mum tread depth
l) when they
have worn down to the treadwear
indicators. Replace the tires with
new ones
c::> A .
Tire rotation
Rotating the tires regularly is rec
ommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly. To rotate the tries,
install the tires from the rear axle
on the front axle and vice versa.
This will allow the tires to have
approximately the same length of
service life.
For unidirectional tires, make
sure the tires are installed accord
ing to the running direction indi-
1> Obey any applicable regulations in your
country.
326
cated on the tire sidewall
c::> page 348.
Hidden damage
Damage to tires and rims can of
ten occur in locations that are
hidden. Unusual vibrations in the
vehicle or pulling to one side may indicate that there is tire damage .
Reduce your speed immediately.
Check the tires for damage. If no
damage is visible from the out
side, drive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Audi deal
er or authorized Audi Service Fa
cility to have the vehicle inspect
ed.
A WARNING
Tread that has worn too low or different tread depths on the
tires can reduce driving safety.
This can especially have a nega
tive effect on handling, on the risk aquaplaning when driving
through water, when driving
through curves and when brak ing, which increases the risk of
an accident.
~ .... N ,-.. N .... 0
0
5 (X)
Tire pressure
Fig. 255 Driver 's side B -pillar : tire pres
sure label
- KPA. . PSI
Fig. 256 Tir e pressur e label
"' -
The correct tire pressure for tires
mounted in the factory and for
the spa re tire* is indicated on a la
bel. The sticker is located on the
door pillar (driver's side)
c:::>fig. 256.
Use the tire pressure specified for
a normal vehicle load when the
vehicle is partially loaded
c:::> table
on page 329.
If driving the vehi
cle when fully loaded, you must increase the tire pressure to the
maximum specified pressure
c:::> ,&. .
Checking/correcting tire
pressure
Wheels
.. Check the tire pressure at least
once per month and also check it before every long drive .
.. Always check the tire pressure
when the tires are
cold. Do not
reduce the pressure if it increas
es when the tires are warm.
.. Check the label
c:::> fig. 256 for
the correct tire pressure based on vehicle load .
.. correct the tire pressure if nec
essary .
.. store the new tire pressure in
the Infotainment system
c:::> page 336 .
.. Check the pressure in the spare
tire (compact spare tire)*. Al
ways maintain the maximum
temperature that is specified for
the tire.
A WARNING
Always adapt the tire pressure
to your driving style and vehicle load.
-Overloading can lead to loss of vehicle control and increase
the risk of an accident. Read and follow the important safe
ty precautions inc:::>
page 329,
Tires and vehicle load limits.
327
<( a, .... N ,....
N .... 0 0
3 a,
Wheels
Model/ Tire designation Tire pressure
Engine Normal load Maximum load
(up to 3 people)
front rear front rear
PSI
225/50 Rl 7 94H
30 All Season
A4: 245/40 R18 93Y
2.0L High Performance
30
4 cylinders
245/40 R18 97H
Gasoline
35
engine All Season
245/35 R19 93Y
36 High Performance
225/50 Rl 7 94H
32 All Season
A4: 245/40 R18 93Y
2.0L High Performance
30
4 cylinders
245/40 R18 97H
Diesel en-
35
gine All Season
245/35 R19 93Y
35 High Performance
A WARNING
Please note the important safe
ty precautions regarding tire pressure
¢ page 32 7 and load
limits
¢ page 329.
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of
load or weight that any vehicle
and any tire can carry. A vehicle
that is overloaded will not handle
well and is more difficult to stop. Overloading can not only lead to
loss of vehicle control, but can al
so damage important parts of the
vehicle and can lead to sudden
kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA
210 28 190 35
240
35 240
210 28 190 33 230 33 230
240 32 220 36 250 36 250
250 33 230 41
280
44 300
220 29 200 36 250 36 250
210 28 190
33 230
33 230
240 32 220 36 250 36 250
240 32 220 39 270 42 290
tire failure, including a blowout
and sudden deflation that can
cause the vehicle to crash.
Your safety and that of your pas
sengers also depends on making
sure that load limits are not ex
ceeded. Vehicle load includes ev
erybody and everything in and on
the vehicle. These load limits are
technically referred to as the vehi cle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rat
ing
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehicle, all factory in
stalled accessories, a full tank of
fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids ..
329
Wheels
plus maximum load . The maxi
mum load includes the number of
passengers that the vehicle is in
tended to carry ("seat ing capaci
ty") with an assumed weight of
150 lbs (68 kg) for each passen
ger at a designated seating posi
tion 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 includ
ed 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 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
330
are listed on the safety compli
ance sticker label located on the
driver's side B-pillar
~ page 327,
fig . 255 .
& 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.
-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.
Wheels
bolts and a special procedure. You must never
repair or disassemble them ¢
.&..
A WARNING
Wheel bolts that are tightened or repaired in
correctly can become loose and result in loss
of vehicle control, which increases the risk of
an accident. For the correct t ightening specifi
cation, refer to ¢
page 348, Finishing .
-Always keep the wheel bolts and the
threads in the wheel hub clean and free of
grease .
- Only use wheel bolts that fit the rim .
- Always have damaged rims repaired by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility . Never repair or disassemble
rims yourself, because this increases the risk
of an accident.
Winter tires
W inter tires significantly improve the vehicle's
handling when driving in winter conditions. Be
cause of their construction (width, compound,
tread pattern) , summer tires provide less trac
tion on ice and snow.
.,. Use winter t ires on all four wheels.
.,. Only use winter tires that are approved for your
vehicle.
.,. Please note that the maximum permitted
speed may be lowe r with winter tires
q ,&. . An
authori zed Audi dealer or authori zed Audi Serv
ice Facility can inform you about the maximum
permitted speed for your tires .
.,. Check the tire pressure after installing wheels
¢page 327.
The effectiveness of winter tires is reduced great
ly when the tread is worn down to a depth of
0 .16 in (4 mm) . The characteristics of winter
tires also decrease great ly as the tire ages, re
gardless of the remaining tread .
A WARNING
-Never drive faster than the maximum per
mitted speed for your tires. This could cause
the tires to heat up too much. This increases
332
-
the risk of an accident because it can cause
the tire to burst.
- Always adapt your driving to the road and
traffic conditions . Drive carefully and reduce
your speed on icy or slippery roads . Even
winter tires can lose traction on black ice .
@ For the sake of the environment
Reinstall summer tires at the appropriate
time, because they prov ide better handling
when roads are free of snow and ice. Summer
tires cause less road noise, tire wear and fuel
consumpt ion .
(D Tips
You can also use all season tires instead of
winter tires. Please note that in some coun
tries where winter tires are required, only
winter tires w ith the ~ symbol are permitted .
Snow chains
Snow cha ins not only improve the driving in win
ter road condit ions, but also the braking.
.,. Only install snow chains on the
front wheels .
This applies a lso to vehicles with all wheel
drive* .
.,. Check and correct the seating of the snow
chains after driving a few feet, if necessary. Fol
low the instructions from the manufacturer.
.,. Note the maximum permitted speed when driv
ing with snow chains. Do not exceed 30 mph
(SO km/h) .
Use of snow chains is only permitted with certain
rim/tire combinations due to technical reasons.
Check with an authorized Audi deale r or author
ized Audi Service Facility to see if you may use
snow chains .
Use
fine-mesh snow chains. They must not add
more than 0.53 in (13 .5 mm) in height, including
the chain lock.
You must remove the snow chains on roads with
out snow. Otherwise , you could impair driving
ability and damage the tires .