2018 AUDI A4 service

for the number of seating posi­
tions. Refer to the table ¢
table
on page 346
for the number of
people that correspond to the ve­
hicle normal load.
New tires or wheels
Audi recommends having all work on tires or wheels performed by
an author ized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility.
These facilities have the proper
knowledge and are equipped with
the required tools and replace­
ment parts.
.,.New tires do not yet have the
optimum gripping properties. Drive carefully and at moderate
speeds for the first 350 miles
(500 km) with new tires.
.,.Use tires of the same construc­
tion, size (rolling circumference)
and as close to the same tread
pattern as possible on all four
wheels.
.,.Do not replace tires individually .
At least replace both tires on the
same axle at the same time.
.,.Audi recommends that you use
Audi Original Tires. If you would
~ like to use different tires, please .-<
~ note that the tires may perform .-< 0
~ a:,
Wheels
differently even if they are the
same
size ¢.&,. .
.,. If you would like to equip your
vehicle with a tire/rim combina­
tion that is different from what
was installed at the factory, con­
sult with an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility before making a pur­
chase¢ .&,..
If the spare tire is different from
the regular tires installed on the
vehicle
-for example, if winter
tires or wide tires are installed
-
then only use the spare tire tem­
porarily in case of emergency and
drive carefully while it is in use . It
should be replaced with a regular
tire as soon as possible.
On
all wheel drive vehicles, all
four wheels must be equipped
with tires that are the same brand
and have the same construction
and tread pattern so that the
drive system is not damaged by different tire speeds. For this rea­
son, in case of emergency, only
use a spare tire that has the same
circumference as the regular
tires.
341

Wheels
&,. WARNING
-Do not use steel rims that are 17 inches or larger . Other­
wise, 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 .
-Do not use run-flat tires on your vehicle. Using them when
not permitted can lead to ve­
hicle damage or accidents.
342
-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.
Tire wear /damage
Fig. 275 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
..

0 C0 .-< N ,...
vehicle components could wear more quickly.
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¢ fig. 275. 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
¢ A.
Tire rotation
Rotating the tires regularly is rec­
ommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly. To rotate the tires,
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-
8 l) Obey any applicable regulations in your
! country.
Wheels
ing to the running direction indi­
cated on the tire sidewall
¢ page 366 .
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 increase the risk of an
accident because it has a nega­
tive effect on handling, driving
through curves, and braking,
and because it increases the
risk of hydroplaning when driv­
ing through deep puddles.
343

Wheels
the risk of a n acc ident beca use it can cause
the tire to burst.
- Always adapt your driving to the road and
traff ic conditions. Drive carefully and red uce
yo ur speed on icy or slippery roads. Even
winter tires can lose traction on b lack ice.
@ For the sake of the environment
Reinstall summe r tires at the approp riate
time, because they provide better hand ling
when roads are free of snow and ice. S ummer
tires cause less road noise, tire wear and fuel
consumption.
(D Tips
You can also use all season tires instead of
w inter t ires. Please note that in some coun­
tries w here w inte r ti res are req uired, only
w inter t ires with the
& symbol may be per ­
m itted.
Snow chains
Snow ch ains not only i mprove the d riving in win ­
t er ro ad cond itions, b ut also the brak ing.
... Only insta ll snow chains o n the front wheels .
T h is applies also to ve hicles w ith all wheel
drive* .
... Check an d cor rect the sea ting of the snow
c h ains a fte r dr iv ing a few feet, i f necessary. Fo l­
l ow the instructions from the manufacturer .
... Note the maximum permitted speed when d riv ­
ing with snow chains . Do not exceed 30 mp h
(SO km/h).
Use of snow chains is on ly pe rmitted with certain
rim/t ire combinations due to technical reasons.
Check with an authorized Audi dealer o r autho r­
ized Aud i Service Fac ility to see if yo u may use
snow chains.
Use
fine -mesh snow chains . They must not add
more t han 0.53 in (13.5 mm) in height, includ ing
the chain lock .
You must remove the snow c hains on roads wit h­
out snow. Othe rw ise, you could impa ir dr iv ing
ab ility and damage the tires.
350
A WARNING ~
Using incorrect snow chains or installing snow
cha ins i ncor rectly can result in loss of veh icle
con trol, which increases the risk of a n acci­
d ent.
(D Note
Snow chains can damage the rims/whee l cov­
e rs* if the chains come into direct contact
wi th them . Remove the whee l covers* first.
Us e coated snow chai ns.
(D Tips
When using snow chains, it may be useful to
swi tc h on spo rt mode/offroad mode
<:;> pag e 147.
Low-profile tires
Applies to: vehicles with low-profile tires
Your vehicle is equip ped wi th low -profi le t ires* at
t h e factory. Compa re d t o o ther tire/r im com bina ­
tions, low -profi le tires offer a w ider tread surface
and a larger rim diameter with shorter tire side­
walls . This results in an agile dr iv ing style. How­
ever, it may reduce the leve l of com fort and in­
crease road noise whe n driving on roads in poor
cond it ion.
Low-p rofile ti res can become damaged mo re
q uick ly than standard tires when dr iv ing ove r
l a rge bumps, potholes, manhole covers, speed
bumps and curbs . Therefore, it is particularly im­
po rtan t to maintain the correct tire pressure
<:;> page 344.
To reduce the risk of damage to the tires and
rims, drive very caref ully on poor roads.
Check your wheels regu larly eve ry 2,000 mi
(3,000 km) for damage. For example, check for
bulges/cracks on the tires or deformations/
cracks on the rims .
After a heavy impact o r damage, have the tires
and rims inspected or replaced immediately by
an authorized Audi dea ler or authorized Audi
Service Facility .

a co .... N ,....
N .... 0 0
3 co
Low -profile tires can wear out faster than stand­
ard tires.
Summer tires are not su itable for cold weather,
snow or b lack ice. If you are driving in these con­
ditions, use winter or all season tires
¢ page 349.
Uniform tire quality grading
-Tread wear
- Traction AA AB C
- T emperature ABC
Qual ity grades can be found where app licable on
the t ire side wa ll between tread shou lde r and
maximum sect ion w idth
¢page 334, fig. 274.
For e xample : Tread wear 200 , Traction AA, Tem­
pe rature
A .
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.
Tread w ear
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.
F or example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one ha lf
(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 significant ly from the norm due to
variations in driving hab its, service practices and
d ifferences i n road characteristics and climate.
Tracti on
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, Band
C. Those grades represent the tire's
ab ility 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
¢ _& .
Temper ature
The temperature grades are A (the h ighest), B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
Wh eel s
generat ion of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained h igh temperature can cause the mate­
ria l 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 per form ­
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un­
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades Band A represe nt higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum requ ired by law.
A WARNING c,...._ -
The tract ion grade assigned to this t ire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, co r­
nering, hyd roplaning or pea k traction cha rac­
terist ics.
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
i n comb inat ion, can cause heat bu ildup and
possib le tire fai lure.
A WARNING
-Temperature grades apply to tires that are
properly inflated and not over or under inflat­
ed.
Tire pressure monitoring system
ill General notes
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
.
should be checked monthly when cold and inflat-
ed to the i nflat io n pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the veh icle placard or
t ir e infla tion p ressure labe l. (If your ve hicle has
ti res of a different size t han t he si ze ind icated on
IIJi,-
351

a co .... N ,....
N .... 0 0
3 co
q page 353. In some cases, you must drive for
several minutes after storing the pressures until
the indicator light turns off . If the indicator lig ht
does turn off or turns on aga in after a short peri­
od of time, drive to an authorized Audi dealer or
author ized Audi Service Facility immed iately to
have the ma lfunction corrected .
A WARNING
-If the t ire pressu re indica tor appea rs in the
display, red uce your speed immed iate ly and
avoid any har d st eer ing or braking maneu­
vers. Stop a s soon as possib le and check the
ti res and their press ure.
- T he driver is responsi ble for main taining the
cor rect ti re pressure. You must check the
tire pressure regu larly .
- Under certa in conditions (s uch as a sporty
driving style, winte r cond itio ns or unpaved
roads), the tire pressure monitoring system
indicator may be delayed.
(D Tips
- The t ire press ure monitoring sys tem can al ­
so stop work ing when there is an ESC mal ­
funct ion .
- Usin g snow chains may result in a system
malfunction.
- The t ire press ure moni toring sys tem in yo ur
A udi was ca librated with "A udi Orig inal
Tires"¢
page 341 . Using these ti res is rec­
ommended.
Storing tire pressures
If the tire pressure changes or a tire is replaced,
it must be confirmed in the Infotainment sys­ tem.
~ Make s ure before storing that the tire pressures
of a ll fo ur ti res meet the specified values and
are adapted to the load
¢ page 344.
~ Switch the ign ition on.
~ Select in the Infotainment system: I MENUI but­
ton
> Vehicle > Service & checks > Tire pre s­
s ure monitoring > Store tire pres sure > Yes ,
store now .
Wheel s
{!) Tips
Do not store the tire pressures if snow chains
are installed.
353

Care and cleaning
Care and cleaning
General information
Regular, proper care helps to maintain your vehi­
cle's value.
It can also be a requirement when
submitting warranty claims for corrosion damage
and paint defects on the body.
The required cleaning and care products can be
obtained from an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Service Facility. Read and follow the in­
structions for use on the packaging .
A WARNING
-Using cleaning and care products incorrectly
can be dangerous to your health .
- Always store cleaning and care products out
of reach of children to reduce the risk of poi­
soning .
@ For the sake of the environment
- Preferably purchase environmentally-friend­
ly cleaning products.
- Do not dispose of leftover cleaning and care
products with household trash.
Car washes
The longer that deposits such as insects, bird
droppings, tree sap or road salt remain on the ve­ hicle, the more the surface can be damaged. High
temperatures such as those caused by sunlight
increase the damaging effect .
Before washing, rinse off heavy deposits with
plenty of water.
Stubborn deposits such as bird droppings or tree
sap are best removed with plenty of water and a microfiber cloth.
Also, wash the underside of your vehicle once road salt stops being used for the season .
Pressure washers
When washing your veh icle w ith a pressure wash ­
er, always follow the operating instructions pro­
vided with the pressure washer. This is especially
important in regard to the pressure and spraying
distance. Do not aim the spray directly at the
354
seals on the side windows, doors, lids or the sun­
roof* or at tires, rubber hoses, insulating materi­
al, sensors* or 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 nozzles or high pressure nozzles.
The water temperature must not be above 140 °F
(60 °().
Automatic car washes
Spray off the vehicle before washing.
Make sure that the windows and roof* are closed
and the windshield wipers are off . Follow instruc­
tions from the car wash operator, especially if
there are accessories attached to your vehicle.
If possible, use car washes that do not have
brushes.
Washing by hand
Clean the vehicle starting from the top and work­
ing down using a soft sponge or cleaning brush.
Use solvent-free cleaning products.
Washing vehicles with matte finish paint by
hand
To avoid damaging the paint when washing, first
remove dust and large particles from your vehi­
cle. Insects, grease spots and fingerprints are
best removed with a special cleaner for matte
finish paint .
Apply the product using a microfiber cloth. To
avoid damaging the paint surface, do not use too
much pressure.
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water. Then
clean using a neutral shampoo and a soft micro­
fiber cloth .
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly again and let it air
dry. Remove any water residue using a chamois .
A WARNING
-
- Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is
off and follow the instructions from the car

Care and cleaning
Component Situation Solution
E x haust tail p ipe s
Road salt Water, cleaning solution suitab le for stainless steel, if nee-
essary
D eco ra tiv e part s/ Deposits M
ild soap so lution a), a cleaning so lution s uitable fo r stain-
trim less stee l, if necessary
Paint Paint damage Refer to t he paint number on the vehicle data label, repair
with touch up
pa int ~ page 379
Spilled fuel Rinse with water
immediately
Surface rust Rust remover, then protect w ith hard wax; for questions,
consult an author ized A udi dealer or authorized Aud i Serv-
ice Facility.
Corros ion Have it removed by an authorized Audi dea ler or author-
ized Audi Service Facil ity.
Water no longer P
rotect wi th hard wax (at least tw ice per year)
beads on the sur face
of clean paint
No shine even though Treat wit h su itable polish; then apply paint protectant if
paint has been pro- the polish that was used does not conta in any protectant
tected/pa int looks
poor
Deposits such as in- Dampen w ith water immediately and remove w it h a micro-
sects, bird dropp ings, f iber cloth
tree sap and road salt
Grease-based con- Remove immediately with a mi ld soap so lution
a) and a
taminants such as soft cloth
cosmetics or sunblock
Carbon parts Deposi ts Inter ior: clean the same way as plastic parts
E xterior : clean the same way as painted pa rts
Decorat iv e decal s Deposits Soft sponge with a mild soap solutiona l
a) Mi ld soap solution: maximum two tablespoons of neutral soap in 1 quar t Cl liter) of water
Interior cle aning
Component Situation Solution
Window gla ss
Deposits Glass cleaner, then wipe dry
Decorative parts / Deposits Mild soap solutiona>
Trim
Pla sti c parts
Deposits Damp cl oth
Heavier deposits M ild soap solution al, detergent-free p lastic clean ing solu-
tion, if necessary
Di splay s/instru-Deposits Soft cloth with
LCD cleaner; dust in the lower area of the
ment cluste r instrument cluster can be removed using a soft brush .
Controls Deposits Soft brush, then a soft cloth with a m ild soap so lutiona >
Safety belts Deposits Mild soap solution al, allow to dry before letting them re-
tract
356