2018 AUDI S3 SEDAN Owners Manual

u. 00 .-<
Wheels
Model/ Tire designation Tire pressure
Engine Normal load Maximum load
(up to 2/3*
people)a>
front rear front rear
PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA
S3 sedan: 225/40 Rl8 92Y
38 260 35 240 42 290 42 290
2.0 L
225/40 Rl8 92H 38 260 35 240 41
280 41
280
4-cylinder
235/35 Rl9 91 Y 39 270 36 250 44 300 44 300
RS 3 Sedan: 235/35 Rl9 91 Y 39/ 270/ 35/ 240/ 44/ 300/ 39/ 270/
2.5 L 44b) 300b) 39b) 270b ) 45b) 320b) 44b) 300b)
5-cylinder
255/30 Rl9 91 Y 39/ 270/ --44/ 300/ --
44b) 3oob> 45b) 320 b)
A3 Cabriolet: 225/40 Rl8 92Y 35 240 32 220 38 260 38 260
2.0 L
225/45 Rl7 91H 33 230 30 210 39 270
39 270
4-cylinder
225/40 Rl8 92H 38 260 35 240 41 280 41 280
235/35 Rl9 91 Y 42
290 39 270
45
310 45
310
A3 Sportback 205/55 Rl6 91 V 35 240 35 240 36 250 39 270
e-tron:
225/40 Rl8 92Y 33 230 33 230 36 250 39 270
1.4 l 225/45 Rl7 91H 33
230 33 230 38 260 38 260
4-cylinder
225/40 Rl8 92H
36 250 36 250 41
280 41
280
a) Vehicles with 4 seating positions: two people in the front, Vehicles with S seating
positions:
two peop le in the front, one person in the rear
b) The value before the forward slash applies to vehicles with a maximum speed up to
155 mph (250 km/h) ; the value after
the· slash is for up to 174 mph (280 km/h).
A WARNING
Please note the important safe­
ty precautions regarding tire
pressure
c:::> page 341 and load
Lim its
c:::> page 343.
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 loss of vehicle control, but can al­
so damage important parts of the
vehicle and can lead to sudden
tire failure, including a blowout
and sudden deflation that can
cause the vehicle to crash.
~ well and is more difficult to stop. 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
.-<
~ Overloading can not only lead to
00
technically referred to as the ..,
343

Wheels
vehicle's Gross Veh ic le Weig ht
R ati ng
("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
passengers that the vehicle is in­
tended to carry ("seating capaci­
ty") with an assumed weight of 150 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
Gro ss Ax le W eight Rating
("GAWR") is the maximum load
that can be applied at each of the
vehicle's two axles .
T he 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 -
344
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 Rat ing
are listed on the safety compli­
ance sticker labe l located on the
driver's side B-pillar.
1.8. 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 contro l and a crash.
-Always make sure that the to­ tal load being transported
-..

u. a, ... N
" N ... 0 N > a:,
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.
Determining correct load
limit
Use the example below to calcu­
late the total weight of the pas­
sengers and luggage or other
things that you plan to transport
so that you can make sure that
your vehicle will not be overload­ ed.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Loc ate the statement "THE
COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCU­
PANTS AND CARGO SHOULD
NEVER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX
LBS " on your vehicle's placard
(tire inflation pressure label)
¢ page 341, fig. 2 77.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and pas­
sengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers
from "XXX" kilograms or "XXX"
Wheels
pounds shown on the sticker
¢ page 341, fig. 2 77.
4. The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For ex­
ample, if the
"XXX" amount
equals
1400 lbs. and there will
be five
150 lbs . passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is
650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 X 150) =
650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely ex­
ceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculat­
ed in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your ve­ hicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces
the available cargo and lug­
gage load capacity of your vehi­
cle.
.,.Check the tire sidewall
(¢ page 331, fig . 275) to deter­
mine the designated load rating
for a specific tire.
345

Wheels
Wheel bolts and rims
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be clean and loosen/tighten
easi ly.
Rims
Rims with a bolted rim ring* or with bolted wheel
covers* consist of multiple pieces . These compo­
nents were bolted together using special bolts
and a special procedure . You must not repair or
d isassemble
them ¢_&. .
_& WARNING
Wheel bolts that are tig htened or repaired in­
correctly can become loose and result in loss
of vehicle control, which increases the risk of
an accident. For the correct tightening specifi­
cation, see
q page 364, 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 less 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
¢ A in
General information on page 330.
An author­
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa­
cility can inform you about the maximum per­
mitted speed for your tires .
.. Check the tire pressure after installing wheels
¢page 341 .
346
The effectiveness of winter tires is reduced great­
ly when the tread is worn down to a depth of
0.157 inch (4 mm). The characteristics of winter
tires also decrease greatly as the tire ages, re­
gardless of the remaining tread.
@) 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 cha ins 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 authori zed 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 inch (13.5 mm) in height, includ­
ing the chain lock .
You must remove the snow chains on roads with­
out snow . Otherwise, you cou ld impair driving
ability and damage the tires .

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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 cov­
ers* if the chains come into direct contact
with them. Remove the wheel covers* first .
Use coated snow chains.
(D Tips
When using snow chains, it may be useful to
switch on sport mode
¢page 149.
Low-profile tires
App lies to: ve hicles with low -profi le tires
Compared to other tire/rim combinations, low­
profile tires offer a wider tread surface and a
la rger r im 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.
L ow -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¢ page 341.
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 .
L ow -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 331, fig. 275.
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 ion s 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 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 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 ¢,& .
347

Wheels
The grade C corresponds to a leve l of perform ­
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un­
der the Federa l 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 traction grade ass igned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acce le rat ion, cor­
ne ring, hydroplaning or peak traction charac­
teristics.
A WARNING
Th e temperatu re 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 separate ly 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 indicator
(J.) General notes
Each t ire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and inflat­
ed to the inflation pressure recommended by the
ve hicl e manufacturer on the vehicle placard or
tire in flat ion press ure label. ( If yo ur vehicle has
t ires of a different siz e than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure la­
be l, you should determine the proper tire infla­
tion pressure for those t ires) .
As an added safety feature, your veh icle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure te ll­
tale when one or more of your t ires is significant­
ly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure tellta le illuminates, you should stop and
348
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure . Driving on a signifi ­
cant ly under-inflated t ire causes the t ire to over­
heat and can lead to tire fa ilure . Under-inflation
also reduces fue l eff iciency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle's handling and stop ­
ping ability .
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the dr iver's re­
spons ibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pres­
su re te lltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the sys­
tem is not operating prope rly . The TPM S 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 wi ll continue upon
s ub sequent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal­
funct ion exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
l ow tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
i nstallation of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the veh icle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS ma lfunction telltale after replac ing one or
more tires or wheels on you r vehicle to ens ure
that the rep lacement or alternate tires and
whee ls allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System indicator
appears
App lies to : vehicles wit h Tire Pressure Mo nitor ing System in­
dicator
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
in g system compares the tire tread circumfer­
en ce and vibration characteristics of the

u. 00 .-< N l'­ N .-< 0 N > 00
individual tires. If the pressure changes in one or
more tires, this is indicated in the instrument
cluster display with an
RE ind icator light and a
message . If only one tire is affected, the location
of that tire w ill be ind icated.
The tire pressures must be stored in the menu
d isp lay aga in each time the press ures c hange
(sw itching between part ial and fu ll load p res­
sure) or after changing or replac ing a tire on your
ve hicle
r=>page 349 . The t ire pressure monitor­
in g sys tem only monito rs t he tire pressure you
have stored . Refe r to the ti re p ressure labe l for
the recommended ti re p ressure for you r veh icle
r=>page 341, fig. 278.
Tire tread circumference and v ibrat ion character­
i stics can change a nd cause a t ire pressure warn­
in g if:
- the tire pressure i n one or more tires is too low
- the tire has structura l damage
- the tire was replaced o r the tire p ressure was
changed and it was not stored
r=> page 349
- one si de of the vehicle is more heavily loaded
than the other
- th e whee ls on one ax le are mo re heavi ly loaded
t h an the others (for examp le, w hen tow ing a
trailer or when driv ing up and down hills)
- snow c hains a re installed
- the spare t ire* is ins talle d
- on ly one tire w as replaced on each ax le
Indicator lights
RE -loss of pressu re in at least one tire r=> ,&. .
Check the ti res and rep lace o r repa ir if necessary .
C heck/ co rrect t he p ressures of a ll four tires. Then
s to re t he ti re p ressures i n the men u
r=> page 349 .
mm (Ti re Pressure Monitori ng System) Tire
pressure: malfunction! See owner's manual. If
mm appears after switching t he ign it io n on o r
while driving and the
RE i ndicato r light in the in­
s trumen t cluster blinks fo r approxim ately one
minu te and t hen stays o n, there is system ma l­
f u nction. Check/cor rect the pressu res on all fo ur
tires an d sto re t he p ressures
r=> page 349. If the
ind icator light does turn
off or turns on again af­
ter a short per iod of t ime, drive to an author ized
Wheels
Audi dealer or author ized A udi Se rvice Fac ility im ­
med iate ly to have the ma lfu nction co rrected.
A WARNING
--
- If the tire p ressure ind icator appears in the
instr ument cluster disp lay, reduce your
speed immediately and avoid any hard
steer ing o r braking maneuvers . Stop as soon
as poss ible and check the tires and the ir
p ressures.
- The drive r is responsible fo r maintain ing the
correct tire press ures . You must check the
tire p ressures regularly.
- Unde r ce rtain condit ions (such as a sporty
d riving s tyle, win ter condi tions or unpaved
roads), the pressu re moni tor indicator may
be de layed.
- Do not use run -flat tires on your vehicle. Us­
ing them when no t pe rm itted can lead to
veh icle d amage o r acc id en ts .
(D Tips
- The tire p ressure mon itoring system can al ­
so s top working w hen
th ere is a n ESC/ ABS
m alfunc tion.
- Us ing snow chains may resul t in a system
m alfu nction.
- The tire p ressure mon itoring system in your
Audi was calibrat ed with "Audi Original
Ti res"
r=>page 33 7. Usi ng these tires is rec­
ommende d.
- The tire p ressure mon itoring system can on­
ly moni to r the tire p res sure o f the d riving
t ires. Check the tir e press ure o f the spare
wheel in the l uggage compa rtment so tha t
if necessary it is ready for use .
Storing tire pressures
Applies to: vehicles wit h Tir e Pressure Monito rin g Syste m in·
dicator
A change in tire pr essure or a change in tires
must be stored in the system.
Make su re before stori ng that the tire p ressures
of all fo ur tir es meet the specified val ues and a re
adapted to the load
r=> pag e 339. .,,.
349

Wheels
~ Select in the Infotainment system: IMENUI but ­
ton
> Vehicle > left control button > Service &
checks > Tire pressure monitoring > Store tire
pressure> Yes, store now.
(D Tips
Do not store the tire pressures if snow chains
are installed.
Tire pressure monitoring
system
(.L) 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 t ire 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
equ ipped w ith a t ire 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
p in g ability.
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 leve l
to trigger illuminat ion of the TPMS low tire pres­
sure telltale .
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunct ion 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
350
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 tel ltale after replac ing 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 monitoring system
The tire pressure monitoring system monitors
the pressure in the four tires when driving.
The system uses sensors that measure the tema
perature and pressure in the tires. The data is
sent from these sensors to the control module by
radio frequency .
The tire pressure monitoring system shows the
current pressures and temperatures of the tires
in the Infotainment system while driving
¢ page 351. It also compares the current tire
pressures with the stored tire pressures and
gives a warning if the tire pressure is different
from what is stored
¢ page 351.
The system does not detect if the stored tire
pressures match the recommended tire pres ­
sures . You must store the tire pressures again
¢ page 352:
- 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.