u co ..... N r--N ..... 0 <( 0 00
control, which increases the risk of an
accident.
@ 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.
-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 the offroad mode on <=>
page 141.
Low-profile tires
App lies to: ve hicles with low -profile tires
Compared to other tire/rim combinat ions, low
profile tires offer a wider tread surface and a
l arger r im diameter with shorter tire sidewalls.
This results in an agile dr iv ing style. However, it
may reduce the leve l of comfort and increase
road noise when driving on roads in poor condi
tion .
L ow -profile tires can become damaged more
quickly than standard tires when driving over
l arge bumps, potholes, manhole covers, and
curbs . Therefore, it is particular ly important to
maintain the correct tire pressure<=>
page 335 .
To reduce the risk of damage to the tires and
rims, drive very carefu lly on poor roads.
Check your wheels regularly every 2,000 mi
(3,000 km) for damage. Fo r 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 immediate ly by
an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility .
Lo w-profile tires can wear out faster than stand
ard tires.
Wheels
Uniform tire quality grading
-Tread wear
-Traction AA ABC
-Temperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width <=>
page 326, fig. 266.
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 cond it ions on a specified gov
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one half (1 1/2) times as we ll on the govern
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon
the actual cond it ions of the ir use, however, and
may depa rt significantly from the norm due to
variations in driv ing 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 o n 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
c:>,& .
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
c:> ,& . ..,.
341
