2018 AUDI A7 service

Wheels
-Only use tires that are more than six years old when abso­lutely 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 al­low enough a ir circulation to
cool the brake system. If they
do not, this could increase the risk of an accident.
Tire wear/damage
Fig. 188 Tire profile: trea dwear indica ­
tor
Tire wear
Check the tires regularly for wear.
-Inflation pressure that is too low
or high can increase tire wear
considerably.
l) Obey any applicable regulations in your
country.
214
-Driving qu ickly 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 quick ly.
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 . 188. The letters "TWI"
or triangles on the tire sidewall indicate the location of the tread­
wear indicators.
The t ires 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 . "'

Ti re rotation
Rotating the tires regularly is rec­
ommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly. To rotate the t ires,
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 i ng to the running direction indi­
cated on the tire sidewall
¢page 241.
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, dr ive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Audi deal­ er or authorized Audi Service Fa­
cility to have the vehicle inspect­
ed.
A WARNING , ~ -
o Tread that has worn too low or co ...
~ different tread depths on the
... 0 Cl() I..J ' Wheels
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.
Tire pressure
Fig. 189 Driver's side 8-pillar : tire pres ­
sur e lab el
;;;
--------------- -
(. c ==. ~:t I : I :,. I ) (':~ ) l ~
1111..-... ............................ -.. ..... ..... _ .... "" ................ .. .,_...._,. ..... .............. ... .
-KPA. . PSI
-KPA. . PSI
-KPA. . PSI
Fig. 190 Tire pressur e label
The correct tire pressure for tires
mounted in the factory and for
the spare tire* is indicated on a la­
bel. The label is located on the B-
p illar
¢ fig. 189, ¢ fig. 190. ..,
215

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J ' @ 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 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 speed of 30 mph (SO km/
h). Note the local regulations.
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 zed Audi Service Facility to see if you may use
snow chains.
You must remove the snow chains on roads with­
out snow. Otherwise, you could impair driving
ability and damage the tires.
A WARNING
Using incorrect snow chains or installing snow
chains incorrectly can result in loss of vehicle
control, which increases the risk of an acci­
dent.
@ Note
- Snow chains can damage the rims/wheel
covers* if the chains come into direct con­
tact with them . Remove the wheel covers*
first . Use coated snow chains.
Wheels
- Using snow chains that add more than 0.4
inch (10.5 mm) of height can severely dam­
age the wheel housings and other vehicle
components.
- Do not install and use snow chains if there is
a malfunction in the air suspension*, be­
cause the vehicle height will be very low. If
you drive with snow chains anyway, the
wheel housings and other vehicle compo­
nents can be severely damaged .
(D Tips
When using snow chains, it may be useful to
switch on sport mode
c> page 121.
Low-profile tires
Applies to: vehicles with low-profile tires
Compared to other tire/rim combinations, low­
profile tires offer a wider tread surface and a
larger rim diameter with shorter tire sidewalls.
This results in an agile driving style. However, it
may reduce the level of comfort and increase
road noise when driving on roads in poor condi­
tion.
Low-profile tires can become damaged more
quickly than standard tires when driving over
large bumps, potholes, manhole covers and
curbs. Therefore, it is particularly important to
maintain the correct tire pressure
c>page 215.
To reduce the risk of damage to the tires and
rims, drive very carefully on poor roads.
Check your wheels regularly every 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 or damage, have the tires
and rims inspected or replaced immediately by
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility.
Low-profile tires can wear out faster than stand­
ard tires.
Uniform tire quality grading
-Tread wear
221

Wheels
- Traction AA A B C
- T emperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where appl icable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width
~ page 206, fig. 187.
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 contro lled conditions on a specified gov ­
ernment test course.
F or examp le, 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 actua l conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
d ifferences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, Band
C. T hose grades represent the tire's
abi lity 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 d iss ipate
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 excess ive temperature can lead to sudden
tire
fa ilure ~.&. .
The grade C corresponds to a level of perform ­
ance which a ll passenger car tires must meet un-
222
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No.
109. Grades Band A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
A WARNING -
The tract ion grade assigned to this t ire 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 tha t 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
proper ly inflated and not over or underinflat­
ed.
Tire pressure monitoring system
ill General notes
Each tire, including the spare (if prov ided),
shou ld 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 veh icle has
t ir es of a diffe rent size t han the size ind icated on
the vehicl e placard or tire infl ation press ure la ­
bel, you sho uld determine the proper tire infla­
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety featu re, you r vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure tell ­
ta le when one or more of your tires is significant­
l y under-inflated. According ly, w hen the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your t ires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Dr iving on a
.,..

Wheels
Indicator lights
It]-loss of pressure in at least one tire¢,&. .
Check the tires and replace or repair if necessary.
Check/correct the pressures of all four tires and
store the pressure again in the Infotainment sys­
tem
¢ page 224.
[m]) (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Tire
pressure: System malfunction!.
If[m]J appears
after switching the ignition on or while driving
and the
RI] indicator light in the instrument clus­
ter blinks for approximately one minute and then
stays on, there is system malfunction. Try to
store the correct tire
pressures¢ page 224 . 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 authorized Audi Service Facili­
ty immediately to have the malfunction correct­
ed.
A WARNING
- If the tire pressure indicator appears in the
display, reduce your speed immediately and
avoid any hard steering or braking maneu­
vers. Stop as soon as possible and check the
tires and their pressure .
- The driver is responsible for maintaining the
correct tire pressure. You must check the
tire pressure regularly.
- Under certain conditions (such as a sporty
driving style, winter conditions or unpaved
roads), the tire pressure monitoring system
indicator may be delayed.
(D Tips
- The tire pressure monitoring system can al­
so stop working when there is an ESC mal­
function.
- Using snow chains may result in a system
malfunction.
- The tire pressure monitoring system in your
Audi was calibrated with "Audi Original
Tires"
¢ page 212. Using these tires is rec­
ommended .
224
Storing tire pressures
Applies to: vehicles with Tire P ressure Monitoring System in­
dicator
If the tire pressure changes or a tire is replaced,
it must be confirmed in the Infotainment sys­
tem.
.,. Make sure before storing that the tire pressures
of all four tires meet the specified values and
are adapted to the load
¢page 215.
.,. Switch the ignition on .
.,. Select: the I CARI function button > (Car)* Sys­
tems
control button > Service & control > Tire
pressure monitor> Store tire pressure > Yes,
store now.
(D Tips
Do not store the tire pressures if snow chains
are installed.
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 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 monitoring 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
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle's handling and stop-
ping ability.
.,.

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \,;J ' Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's re­
sponsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pres­
sure telltale .
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the sys­
tem is not operating properly. The TPMS mal­
function indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for approxi­
mately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal­
function exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly . Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure
that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
Description
Applies to: vehicles with tire pressure monitor ing system
The tire pressure monitoring system monitors
the pressure in the four tires when driving.
T he system uses sensors that measure the tem ­
perature and pressure in the tires . The data is
sent from these sensors to the control module by radio frequency.
T he Tire Pressure Monitoring System shows the
current pressures and temperatures of the tires
in the Infotainment system
¢page 226. It also
compares the current tire pressures with the
stored tire pressures and gives a warning in the
driver information system if the tire pressure is
different from what is
stored ¢ page 226 .
Wheels
The system does not detect if the stored tire
pressures match the recommended tire pres­
sures. You must store the tire pressures again
¢ page 226:
- every time the tire pressures change, for exam­
ple when the load in the vehicle changes,
- after replacing a tire, or
- if wheels with new wheel sensors are used.
_& WARNING
- The tire pressure monitoring system assists
the driver in monitoring tire pressures. The
driver is responsible for having the tires in­
flated to the correct pressure.
- Do not change the tire pressure when the
temperature of the tire is extremely high.
This could result in serious damage to the
tire and even cause the tire to burst, in­
creasing the risk of an accident.
- A tire with low pressure flexes more. This heats the tire up too much. This could cause
the tread to separate and even cause the
tire to burst, increasing the risk of an acci­
dent.
- The tire pressure monitoring system does not warn about damage or defects in the
tire construction that could cause the tire to
burst, for example. Inspect your tires regu­
larly.
(D Tips
- If tires are replaced, the sensors/valves do
not need to be removed or replaced . Just re­
placed the valve stem and, if necessary, the
valve and the wheel electronics. If you have questions, see an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility.
- An incorrect display or a malfunction in the
tire pressure monitoring system can occur
after using the tire mobility kit. Have the
sensors replaced by an authorized Audi
dealer or authori zed Audi Service Facility.
- For an explanation on conformity with the
FCC regulations in the United States and the
Industry Canada regulations, see
¢ page 258.
225

Wheels
Displaying tire pressures/temperatures
Applies to: vehicles with tire pressure monitoring system
Requirement: the ign ition must be switched on.
.,. Select : the ICARI function button > Car systems
> Service & control> Tire pressure monitor>
Display tire pressure .
The current tire pressures are shown in green and
yellow numbers in the Infotainment system:
- Green: the current tire pressure and the speci­
fied tire pressure are approximately the same.
- Yellow: the current tire pressure is too low
compared to the specified tire pressure.
The specified tire pressure is the last tire pres­
sure that was stored
9 page 226 .
Note that the tire pressure also depends on the
temperature of the tire. The tire pressure in­
creases as the engine becomes warmer while
driving.
A WARNING
Read and follow the important information
and notes
q page 225.
@ Tips
The tire pressure or temperature are not dis ­
played in adaptation mode. Dashes --.-- are
shown in place of the pressure and tempera ­
ture.
CD Tire pressure loss
App lies to: veh icles with tire pressure mon itoring system
Fig. 192 Display : in dic ato r light with a me ssage
226
-
If the (D] indicator light turns on, the pressure in
at least one tire is too low or new sensors were
not adapted:
RE indicator lights turns on after turning the
ignition on
The tire pressure is too low compared to the
specified pressure.
.,. Check and store the tire pressure(s) the next
time it is possible
9 page 226.
RE indicator light turns on while driving
Wheels with new sensors were not adapted or
the tire pressure has reached a critical level com­
pared to the specified pressure.
.,. Avoid unnecessary steering and braking maneu-
vers.
.,. Adapt your driving sty le to the situation.
.,. Stop as soon as possible and check the tire(s).
.,. If it is possible to continue driving, see an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately and have your tire(s) re­
paired or replaced.
A WARNING
Read and follow the important information
and notes ¢
page 225.
Storing new tire pressures
Applies to: vehicles with tire pressure mon itoring system
Correctly stored tire pressure specifications are
necessary for reliable tire pressure monitoring.
.,. Check the tire pressures in all wheels .
-
.,. Correct the tire pressure if necessary. Refer to
the tire pressure Label for the recommended
tire pressure for your vehicle
c> page 215,
fig . 190 .
Only correct the pressure in tires
whose temperature is approximately the same
as the ambient temperature. If the tempera­
ture of the tire is higher than the ambient air
temperature, the tire pressure must be in­
creased approximately 3 PSI (0,2 bar) above
the value on the sticker .
.,. Switch the ignition on .
.,. Select: !CAR ! function button > Car systems>
Tire pressure monitoring
> Store tire pressure . ..,.

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J ' After storing, the tire pressure monitoring sys­
tem measures the current tire pressures and stores them as the new specified pressures.
~ If the changed tire pressures are not displayed
in the Infotainment system, drive the vehicle
for approximately 10 minutes so that the sen­
sor signal from the wheels is received again.
During this adaptation phase, --.·· is displayed
for the pressure and temperature and the tire
pressure monitoring system is only partially
available. It only provides a warning if one or
more tir e pressures is below the minimum per­
mitted specified pressure. If this is the case, the
IE indicator light appears with a message.
& WARNING
Read and follow the important information
and notes
¢p age 225.
Malfunctions
Applies to: vehicles with tire pressure monitoring syste m
-
If the Tire Pressure Monitoring System is not
avai lable, the
mm indicator light appears in the
driver information system. The
IE indicator light
also blinks for approximately one minutes each
time the ignition is switched on . The tire pressure
monitoring system cannot be selected in the In­
fotainment system. The fol lowing are examples
of situat ions that could cause a malfunction:
-If the message appears at the end of the adap­
tation phase, the system cannot detect the
wheels installed on the vehicle. This may resu lt
from one or more wheels being installed with­
out wheel sensors or with incompatible wheel
sensors.
-A wheel sensor or another component has
failed.
-Using snow cha ins can affect the function of
the system because of the shield ing effect of
the chains .
-The tire pressure monitoring system is not
available due to a malfunction.
-T ransmitters with the same frequency, such as
headphones or remote-control led dev ices, may
cause a temporary system malfunction due to
the strong electromagnetic field.
Wheels
T he m;i indicator light turns off once the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System is available again. If
you cannot correct the ma lfunction and the
m;i
indicator light stays on, drive immediately to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility to have the malfunction repaired.
227