2017 AUDI Q3 warning

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tires according to the load and
the size of the tires installed .
Model/
Tire designation
Engine
Wheels
Tire pressure
Normal load Maximum load
(up to 3 people)a>
front rear front rear
PSI
Q3: 235/50 Rl8 97H
32 2.0L All Season
4 cylinders 235/50 Rl8 97V
High Performance
32
255/40 Rl9 l00Y
33 High Performance
255/35 R20 97Y
33 High Performance
255/40 Rl9 l00H
33 All Season
a) 2 people in the front, 1 person in the rear
A WARNING
Please note the important safe­
ty precautions regarding tire pressure
c:::> page 181 and load
limits
c:::> page 183.
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
tire failure, including a blowout
kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI
220 32 220 33 230 36
220 32 220 33 230 36
23 0 33 230 44
300 4
6
230 33 230 44 300 46
23 0
33 230
44 3
00 4
6
and sudden deflation that can
cause the vehicle to crash.
kPA
250
250
320
320
3 20
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
plus maximum load. The maxi­
mum load includes the number of.,.
183

Wheels
passengers that the vehicle is in­
tended to carry ("seating capaci­
ty") with an assumed weight of 1 SO 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
are listed on the safety compli­
ance sticker label located on the
184
driver's side B-pillar ¢ page 181,
fig. 149.
~ 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
and a special procedure. You must not 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, see ¢
page 199, After changing a
wheel .
- 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
Winter tires significantly improve the vehicle's
handling when driving in winter conditions . Be­
cause of their construction (width, compound,
tread pattern), summer tires provide l ess trac­
tion on ice and snow.
.,. Use winter tires on all four wheels.
.,. Only use winter tires that are approved for your
vehicle.
.,. Please note that the maximum permitted
speed may be lower 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 install ing wheels
q page 181.
The effectiveness of winter tires is reduced great­
ly when the tread is worn down to a depth of
0 .157 in (4 mm). The characteristics of winter
tires also decrease greatly 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
186
-
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 provide better handling
when roads are free of snow and ice. Summer
tires cause less road noise, tire wear and fuel
consumption .
(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 with the~ symbol may be per­
mitted.
Snow chains
Snow chains not only improve the driving in win­
ter road conditions, but also the braking.
.,. Only install snow chains on the front wheels .
This applies also to vehicles with a ll 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
fine-mesh snow chains. They must not add
more than 0.53 inch (13 .5 mm) in height, includ­
ing the chain lock.
You must remove the snow chains on roads with­
out snow. Otherwise , you could impair driving
ability and damage the tires .
Use of snow chains is only permitted with certain
rim/tire combinations due to technical reasons.
Check with an authorized Audi dealer or author­ i z ed Audi Service Facility to see if you may use
snow chains.

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& WARNING
Using incorrect snow chains or insta lling snow
chains incorrectly can result in loss of vehicle
control, which increases the risk of an acc i­
dent.
(D Note
Snow chains can damage the rims/wheel cov­
ers * if the chains come into direct contact
wit h them . Remove the wheel covers * first .
Use coated snow chains.
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Aud i is factory-equipped with low aspect ra­
tio tires . These t ires have been thoroughly tested
and been se lected specifica lly for you r model for
the ir supe rb performance, road feel and handling
u nder a va riety of d riving conditions. As k yo ur au­
thor ized Audi dealer for mo re de tails.
The low aspect ratio of these t ires is indicated by
a numera l of
55 or l ess in the tire's size desig na­
tion . The numera l rep resents t he rat io of the
tire's sidewall he ight in rela tion t o its tread w idth
expressed in percen tage. Conventional t ires have
a height/w idth ratio of 60 or more .
The performan ce of low -aspect-r atio tire s is par­
ticularly sen sitiv e to impr oper infla tion pre s­
s ure . It is therefore important that low a spect
ratio tires are infl ated to the specified pressure
and that the inflation pre ssure is regularl y
checked and ma inta ined . Tire pre ssure s should
be checked at least once a month and alwa ys
before a long trip
c> page 181.
What you can do to avoid tire and rim damage
Low aspect rat io tires can be damaged more easi­
ly by impact with potholes, curbs, gul lies or
ridges on the road, pa rticularly if the tire is un­
de rinflated .
In order to minimize the occurrence of impact
damage to the t ires of your ve hicle, we recom­
mend that you observe the follow ing precau­
tions:
Wh eel s
-Always maintain recommended inflat ion pres ­
sures . Check your tire pressure every 2,000
m iles (3,000 km) and add air if necessary .
- Drive carefully on roads wit h potholes, deep
gu llies or ridges . T he impact from dr iving
through or over such obstacles can damage
your tires. Impact with a curb may a lso cause
damage to your tires.
-After any impact, immed iate ly inspect your
tires or have them inspected by the nearest au­
thorized Audi dealer . Replace a damaged tire as
soon as possible .
- Inspect your tires every 2,000 m iles (3,000 km)
for damage and wear. Damage is not a lways
easy to see . Damage can lead to loss of a ir and
unde rinflat ion, wh ic h could eventually cause
t ire fa ilu re . If yo u be lieve th at a t ire may have
been damaged, repla ce the tire as soon as pos­
sible.
- These tires may we ar mo re quickly tha n others.
- Please also remember that, while these tires
de live r responsive ha nd ling, they may ride less
comfort ably and make more noise t han other
choices .
Reduced performance in winter/cold season
conditions
All t ires are des igned for certai n pu rposes. The
l ow aspect ratio, ultra h igh performance tires
origina lly installed on your vehicle are intended
for maximum dry and wet road performance and handling. They are not suitable for co ld, snowy or
icy weather conditions. If you drive under those
c ircumstances, you should equip your vehicle
with all-season or winter tires, which offer better
t ract ion under those conditions . We suggest you
u se the recommended s now or a ll-season tires
spe cified for your veh icle, o r the ir equiva lent.
Refer to
c> page 186 for more detailed informa ­
t ion regard ing winter tires.
Uniform tire quality grad ing
- Tread wear
- Traction AA ABC
- Temperature ABC
187

Wheels
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and maximum section width
¢ page 171, fig. 147.
For example: Tread wear 200, Traction AA, Tem­
perature
A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov­
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the govern­
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, Band
C. Those grades represent the tire 's
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured un­
der controlled conditions on specified govern­ ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction performance
¢&_ .
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the mate­ rial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure ¢&. .
The grade C corresponds to a level of perform­
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un­
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109 . Grades Band A represent higher levels
188
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
A WARNING -
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor­ nering, hydroplaning or peak traction charac­
teristics .
A WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab­
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla­
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
A WARNING
Temperature grades apply to tires that are properly inflated and not over or underinflat­
ed.
Tire pressure monitoring system
(l) General notes
Appl ies to: vehicles with tire pressure mon itoring system
-
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and inflat­
ed to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure la­
bel, you should determine the proper tire infla­
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitor ing system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure tell­
tale when one or more of your tires is significant-
ly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure . Driving on a signifi­
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to over­
heat and can lead to tire failure . Under-inflation ..,.

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also reduces fuel e fficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle's handling and stop­ p ing ability .
Pl ease no te that the TPMS is not a substi tute for
p roper tire maintenance, and it is the drive r's re ­
sponsib ility to maintain cor rect tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the leve l
to tr igger illum inat ion of the TPMS low tire pres ­
sure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been eq uipped with a TPMS
mal funct ion indicator to indicate when the sys ­
tem is not operating properly. The TPMS mal­
function indicator is combined w ith the low tire
pressure tellta le. Whe n the system detects a
malfunct ion, the telltale will flash for approx i­
mately one min ute and then remai n cont inuo usly
i llum inated. This sequence will continue upon
s ubseq uen t ve hicl e start- ups as long as the m al­
f u nction ex ists.
When the malfunct io n in dicator is ill uminated,
the system may not be ab le to detect or signa l
l ow tire press ure as intended . TPM S malfu nctions
may oc cur for a var iety of reasons, incl uding the
installation of replacement or alternate ti res o r
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly . Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after rep lacing one or
more t ires or whee ls on your ve hicle to ensure
that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to cont inue to funct ion
p roperly.
If the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
ind icator appears
A ppl ies to: ve hicles with Tir e Pressure Moni toring System in­
di cato r
The tire pressure indicator in the instrument
cluster informs you if the tire pressure is too low
or if th ere is a system malfunction .
Using the ABS sensors, the tire p ressure mo nitor­
i ng system compa res the tire tread circumfer ­
e n ce and vib ra tion characteristics of the individ u­
a l tir es .
If the pressure c hanges in o ne or more
wheels , th is is indica ted in the instrument clus ter
d is p la y with a n
[I] indica to r li ght and a message.
Wh eel s
If only one tire is affected, the location of tha t
t ir e will be indicated.
T he tire press ures mus t be store d in the Infot ain­
ment system again each t ime the pressures
c h ange (switching between partia l and full load
pressure) or after changing or replacing a tire on
yo ur vehicle
r::!;> page 190 . The tire pressure mon i­
toring system on ly monitors the tire pressure you
have stored . Refer to the t ire pressure label for
the recommended t ire press ure fo r yo ur vehicle
r::!;>page 181, fig . 150 .
Tire tread c ircumfe rence and vibration cha racter ­
istics can change and cause a tire pressu re warn­
i ng if :
- the t ire pressure in one or more tires is too low.
- the t ire has str uctural damage .
- t he t ire w as rep lace d or the t ire pressu re was
changed and it was no t store d
r::!;> page 190.
- t he spare tire* is i nstalled.
Indicator lights
[I] -Loss of pressu re in at leas t one tire r::!;> & .
Check the tires and replace or repair if necessary .
Check/correct the pressures of all fou r tires and
store the pressu re again in the menu disp lay
r::!;>page 190.
ffim (T ire Pressure Moni tor ing Sys tem) Tire
pre ssure: Syst em malfunction!. Ifm appears
after sw itching the ignition on or while d riv in g
and the
[I] i ndic ator ligh t in the i nstru men t clus­
te r blinks for approx imately one minute and then
stays on, the re is system ma lf u nction . Try to
store the co rrect tire pressures
r::!;> page 190 . If
the indicator light does turn off or turns on again
after a short period of time, drive to an author­
ized Audi dealer or author ized Audi Se rvice Facili­
ty immediate ly to have the ma lfunction correct ­
ed.
_&. WARNING
- I f the tire p ressure in dicator appears in the
d isp lay, redu ce you r speed immedi ately and
a void any h ard stee ring or bra king m aneu­
vers . S to p as soon as poss ible and check the
tires an d their pressure .
~
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Care and cleaning
General information
Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehi ­
cle's value. It can a lso be a requirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The necessary care products can be obtained
from an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility . Read and follow the instruc­
tions for use on the packaging.
A WARNING
- Us ing clean ing and care products incorrectly
can be dangerous to your health.
- Always store clean ing and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the r isk of po i­
son ing .
@ For the sake of the environment
- Preferably purchase env ironmenta lly-friend­
l y cleaning products.
- Do not d ispose of leftover cleaning and care
products with household trash.
Car washes
T he longer that deposits remain on the vehicle,
the more the surface may be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight increase the damag ing effect.
Befor e washing, rinse
off heavy depos its with
p lenty of water.
S tubborn depos its such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water and a
microfiber cloth.
A lso, wash t he un derside of yo ur vehicle once
road sa lt stops being used for the season .
Pressure washers
When washing your ve hicle w ith a pressure wash­
e r, a lways fo llow the operating instructions pro­
vided wi th the p ressure washer. This is especially
i mportant in rega rd to the pressure and sp raying
d istance . Do not aim the spray directly at seals on
side windows, doors, the hood, the luggage com-
Ca re and cleaning
partment lid or the panorama glass roof* or at
tires, rubber hoses, insulating material, sensors *
o r camera lenses* . Keep a distance of at least 16
in
(40 cm).
Do not remove snow and ice with a pressure
washer.
Never use cone nozz les o r high press ure nozzles .
T he water temperatu re must not be above
140 °F
(60 °().
Automatic car washes
Spray off the vehicle before washing.
Make s ure that the windows and roo f* are closed
and the windshie ld wipers are
off . Follow instruc ­
tions from the car wash ope rator, especially if
there are accessories attached to your vehicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes .
Washing by hand
Clean the ve hicl e starting from the top and wor k­
i ng down using a soft sponge o r cleaning br ush.
U se solven t-free cleaning produ cts.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
T o avo id damag ing the pa int w hen washi ng, fi rst
remove dust and large pa rticl es from you r vehi­
cle . Insects, grease spots and fingerprints are
best removed w ith a special cleaner for matte
finish paint.
Apply t he product using a microf iber cloth . To
avoid damaging the paint surface, do not use too
much pressure.
Rinse the ve hicl e thoroug hly w ith wate r. Then
cl ean usi ng a neutral shampoo and a soft micro­
fiber cloth .
Rinse the ve hicl e thorough ly aga in and let it air
dry. Remove any wate r residue using a chamois.
WARNING
-On ly wash the vehicle when the ign ition is
off and follow the instr uctions from the car
191

Care and cleaning
Component Situation Solution
Te xtil es
Deposits adhering to Vacuum cleaner
artifi cial le ather , the surface
Alcan tara Water-based depos- Absorbent cloth and mild soap
solutional
its such as coffee,
tea, blood, etc.
O il-based deposits Apply a mild soap solution a), blot away the dissolved oil o r
such as oil, make-up, dye, treat afterward with water, if necessary
etc.
Special deposits such Special sta ,in remover, blot with absorbent material, treat
as ink, na il polish, la- afterward with mild soap solution, if necessary al
tex paint, shoe pol-
ish, etc.
Natural leather Fresh stains Wool cloth with a m
ild soap solutional
Water-based depos- Fresh stains: absorbent cloth its such as coffee, dried sta ins: stain remover suitable fo r leather
tea, blood, etc.
Oil-based deposits Fresh stains: absorbent cloth and stain remover suitable for
such as oil, make-up, leather
etc. dried sta
ins: oil clean ing sp ray
Special deposits such Spot remover suitable for leather
as ink, nai l polish, la -
tex paint, shoe pol-
ish, etc.
Ca re Regularly apply cond itioning cream tha t protects from light
a nd penetr ates into the ma ter ial. Use spec ia lly-co lored con -
ditioning cream, i f necessary.
Carbon parts Deposits clean the same way as plastic parts
a) Mild soap sol ution: maxim um two tablesp oons of neutral soap in 1 quart (l liter) of water
_& WARNING
The windshie ld may not be trea ted with w a­
ter-repelling windshield coating agents. Un­
favorable conditions s uch as wetness, dark­
ness, or low sun can result in increased glare .
Wiper blade chatter is also possib le.
(D Note
- Headlights/tail light s
-Never clean headlights or ta il lights with a
dry cloth or sponge.
- Do not use any cleaning p roduct that con­
tains alcohol, because they cou ld cause
cracks to form.
- Wheels
194
-
- Never use any paint polish or other abra­
sive materials.
- Damage to the protect ive layer on the
rims such as stone chips or scratches must
be repaired immediately.
- Sensors /camera lenses
- N ever use wa rm or ho t wa ter to remove
snow or ice from the camera lens . This
could ca use the lens to crack .
- N eve r use abrasive cleaning m aterials or
a lcohol to clea n the camera lens . This
could cause scratches and c racks .
-Door windows
- Remove snow and ice on windows and ex-
terior mirrors with a plast ic scraper. To