2018 AUDI Q7 service

Wheel s
0 US DOT number (TIN) and
manufacture date
T he manufacture date is listed on
the tire sidewall (it may only ap­
pear on the inner side of the tire) :
DOT ... 2217 ...
means, for example, that the tire
was produced in the 22nd week of
the year 2017.
@ Audi Original Tires
Audi Original equipment tires
with the designation "AO" have
been specially matched to your
Audi. When used correctly, these
tires meet the highest standards
for safety and handling. An au ­
thorized Audi dealer or author­
ized Audi Service Facility will be
able to provide you with more in­
formation.
® Mud and snow capability
"M/5" or "M+S" indicates the tire
has properties ma king it suitable
to drive in mud or snow.
& indi­
cates a winter t ire .
@) Compos ition of the tire cord
and materials
T he number of plies indicates the
number of rubberized fabric lay­
ers in the tire . In general: the
more layers, the more weight a
332
tire can carry. Tire manufacturers must also specify the materials
used in the tire . These include
steel , nylon, po lyester and other
materials .
@ Maximum permitted load
This number indicates the max i­
mum load in kilograms and
pounds that the tire can carry.
@ Uniform tire quality grade
standards for treadwear,
tr action and temper ature
resistance
Treadwear, traction and tempera­
ture ranges ¢
page 346.
@ Running direction
The arrows indicate the running
direction of unidirectional tires.
You must always follow the speci­
fied running direction
¢ page 362 .
@Maximum permitted
inflation pressure
This number indicates the maxi­
mum pressure to which a tire can
be inflated under normal operat­
ing condit ions .

0 a, .... N
" N .... 0
0
l: ..
by the tire manufacturer. This in­
formation is used to contact con­ sumers if a tire defect requires a
recall.
Vehicle capacity weight
means the rated cargo and lug­
gage load plus 150 lbs . (68 kilo­
grams) times the vehicle's desig­
nated seating capacity.
Vehicle ma ximum load on the
tire
means that load on an indiv idual
tire that is determined by distrib­
uting to each axle its share of the
maximum loaded vehicle weight
and dividing by two.
Vehicle normal load on the tire
means that load on an indiv idual
tire that is determined by distrib­ uting to each axle its share of the
curb weight, accessory weight,
and normal occupant weight (dis ­
tributed in accordance with¢
ta­
ble on page 342)
and dividing by
two .
Occupant loading and distr i­
bution for vehicle normal load
for various designated seating
capacities
Refer to the tire inflation pres­
s u re label
¢page 340, fig . 272
Wheels
for the n umber of seating posi­
tions . Refer to the table ¢
table
on page 34 2
for the number of
people tha t correspond to the ve­
hicle normal load.
New tires or wheels
Audi recommends having all work
on tires o r wheels performed by
an authorized Audi dealer or au­
thorized Audi Service Facility.
These facilities have the proper
knowle dge and are eq uipped with
the requ ired too ls and replace­
ment parts.
.,. New tires do not yet have the
optimum g ripping properties .
Drive carefully and at mode rate
speeds for the first 350 miles
(500 km) with new tires.
.,. Only use tires with the same de­
s ign , size (rolling circumfer­
ence), and as close to the same
tread pattern as possible on all
four whee ls .
.,. Do not replace tires indiv idually .
At least replace both tires on the
same ax le at the same time .
.,. Audi recommends that you use
A udi Original Tires . If you would
like to use different tires , please
note that the tires may perform ...
337

Wheels
differently even if they are the
same size
i=:> &. -
.,,. 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
i=:> ,&. .
Because the spare tire* is differ­
ent from the regular tires instal­
led on the vehicle (such as winter
tires or wide tires), only use the
spare tire* temporarily in case of
emergency and drive carefully
while it is in use . It should be re­
placed with a regular tire as soon
as possible.
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 is the same
circumference as the regular
tires.
A WAR NING ~ -
-Do not use steel rims that are
17 inches or larger. Other-
338
wise, damage to the vehicle
and an accident could result .
-Only use tire/rim combina­
tions and su itable 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 ti res from
the same vehicle model.
-Make sure that the tires you
select have enough clearance
to the vehicle . Replacement
tires should not be c hosen
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.
- Run-flat tires* may only be
used on vehicles that were
...

0
a:,
.... N
equipped with them at the
factory
r=> page 349.
-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. 270 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-
"
8 l) Obey any applicable regulations in your
0 ~ country.
Wheels
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.
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. 2 70. 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¢ &.-
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 ..,.
339

Wheels
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
cated on the tire sidewall
¢ page 362.
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
s ide, drive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Audi deal­ er or authorized Audi Service Fa­
cility to have the vehicle inspect­
ed.
.&_ 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
340
risk of hydroplaning when driv­
ing through deep puddles.
Tire pressure
I
4
Fig. 271 Driver's side 8-pillar : tire pres­
sure label
-"' --~-----------~ ,;
ta (i ta SIZI: COU> TIii£ P'RESSUIIIE l'NEU OMlHilONS PMSSION OU l"HEUI A fflOK> .... , .. AVANT -KPA. • PSI
-...,_ -KPA. • PSI
Fig. 272 Tire pressure label
SEE OWMER"S MANU4l.FOA AODmONAI. INFORMATION VO .. Lf MAN\JIE\. DU PROPRIE"T AIRE l"OU"PlUSDE RENSEIGNEM!NTS
The correct tire pressure for tires
installed at the factory is listed on
a label. The label is located on the B-pillar
¢ fig. 271, ¢fig. 272. The
location may vary depending on
the model.
Use the tire pressure specified for
a normal vehicle load when the
vehicle is partially loaded¢
table
on page 342.
If driv ing the vehi-
cle when fully loaded, you must ...

Wheels
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.
~ 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
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.
.&_ 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.
(LlJ) 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
346
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
r=> page 143.
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
r=.> page 340.
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
- Traction AA ABC
- Temperature ABC
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and maximum section width
r=.> page 331, fig. 269.

Cl a:, ...... N
" N ...... 0
0
::r ' 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 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 habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B and
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
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Wheels
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
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 ind icated 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 fue l efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle 's handling and stop-
ping ability. .,.
347

Wheels
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.
If the tire pressure monitoring indicator
appears
Applies to: vehicles with Tire Pressure Monitoring System in­
dic ato r
The tire pressure indicator in the instrument
cluster informs you if the tire pressure is too low
or if there is a system malfunction.
Using the ABS sensors, the tire pressure monitor ­
ing system compares the tire tread circumfer­
ence and vibration characteristics of the individu­
al tires . If the pressure changes in one or more
tires, this is indicated in the instrument cluster
display with an indicator light
RI] and a message.
If only one tire is affected , the location of that
tire will be indicated.
The tire pressures must be stored in the Infotain­
ment system again each time the pressures
348
change (switching between partial and full load
pressure) or after changing or replacing a tire on
your vehicle ~
page 349. The tire pressure moni­
toring system only monitors the tire pressure you have stored. Refer to the tire pressure label for
the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle
~ page 340, fig . 272.
Tire tread circumference and vibration character­
istics can change and cause a tire pressure warn­
ing if:
- the tire pressure in one or more tires is too low
- the tires have structural damage
- the tire was replaced or the tire pressure was
changed and it was not stored
~ page 349
- tires that are only partially used are replaced
with new tires
Indicator lights
RI] -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 349.
m (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Tire
pressure: malfunction! See owner's manual.
If
m appears after switching the ignition on or
while driving and the
RI] indicator light in the in­
strument cluster blinks for approximately one
minute and then stays on, there is system mal­
function. Try to store the correct tire pressures
~ page 349. In some cases, you must drive for
several minutes after storing the pressures until
the indicator light turns off . If the indicator light
does turn off or turns on again after a short peri­
od of time, drive to an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.
& 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.