
4S1012721BA 
Wheels 
  
Tire designations 
  
B8K-2316 
  
      
Fig. 191 Tire designation on the side- 
wall 
@ Tires for passenger vehicles 
(if applicable) 
“P” indicates a tire for a passen- 
ger vehicle. “T” indicates a tire 
designated for temporary use. 
@ Nominal width 
Nominal width of the tire be- 
tween the sidewalls in millime- 
ters. In general: the larger the 
number, the wider the tire. 
@) Aspect ratio 
Height/width ratio expressed as a 
percentage. 
@ Tire construction 
“R” indicates a radial tire. 
©) Rim diameter 
Size of the rim diameter in inches. 
© Load index and speed rating 
The load index indicates the tire's 
load-carrying capacity. 
The speed rating indicates the 
maximum permitted speed. Also 
see > A in General information on 
page 244. 
“EXTRA LOAD”, “xl” or “RF” indi- 
cates that the tire is reinforced or 
is an Extra Load tire. 
     
         
  
        
  
  
Speed rat- /Maximum permitted speed 
ing 
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h) 
Q up to 99 mph (160 km/h) 
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h) 
S up to 110 mph (180 km/h) 
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h) 
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h) 
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h) 
Vv up to 149 mph (240 km/h)? 
Zz above 149 mph (240 km/h)? 
w up to 168 mph (270 km/h)? 
Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)®) 
      
) For tires above 149 mph (240 km/h), 
tire manufacturers sometimes use the 
code “ZR”. 
245  

4S1012721BA 
Wheels 
  
windows, power seats, radio, and 
heater, to the extent that these 
items are available as factory-in- 
stalled equipment (whether in- 
stalled or not). 
Aspect ratio 
means the ratio of the height to 
the width of the tire in percent. 
Numbers of 55 or lower indicate a 
low sidewall for improved steer- 
ing response and better overall 
handling on dry pavement. 
Bead 
means the  part of the tire that is 
made of steel wires, wrapped or 
reinforced by ply cords  and that is 
shaped to fit the rim. 
Bead separation 
means a breakdown of the bond 
between components in the bead. 
Cord 
means the strands forming the 
plies in the tire. 
Cold tire inflation pressure 
means the tire pressure recom- 
mended by the vehicle manufac- 
turer for a tire of a designated 
size that has not been driven for 
more than a couple of miles (kilo- 
meters) at low speeds in the three 
hour period before the tire pres- 
sure is measured or adjusted. 
Curb weight 
means the weight of a motor ve- 
hicle with standard equipment in- 
cluding the maximum capacity of 
fuel, oil, and coolant, air condi- 
tioning and additional weight of 
optional equipment. 
Extra load tire 
means a tire designed to operate 
at higher loads and at higher in- 
flation pressures than the corre- 
sponding standard tire. Extra  load 
tires may be identified as “XL”, 
“xl”, “EXTRA LOAD”, or “RF” on 
the sidewall. 
Gross Axle Weight Rating 
(“GAWR”) 
means the load-carrying capacity 
of a single axle system, measured 
at the tire-ground interfaces. 
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 
(“GVWR”) 
means the maximum total loaded 
weight of the vehicle. 
Groove 
means the space between two ad- 
jacent tread ribs. 
247 
>  

Wheels 
  
Load rating (code) 
means the maximum load that a 
tire is rated to carry for a given in- 
flation pressure. You may not find 
this information on all tires be- 
cause it is not required by law. 
Maximum load rating 
means the  load rating for a tire at 
the maximum permissible infla- 
tion pressure for that tire. 
Maximum loaded vehicle 
weight 
means the sum of: 
(a) Curb weight 
(b) Accessory weight 
(c) Vehicle capacity weight, and 
(d) Production options weight 
Maximum (permissible) 
inflation pressure 
means the maximum cold infla- 
tion pressure to which a tire may 
be inflated. Also called “maxi- 
mum inflation pressure.” 
Normal occupant weight 
means 150 lbs (68 kg) times the 
number of occupants seated in 
the vehicle up to the total seating 
capacity of your vehicle. 
248 
Occupant distribution 
means distribution of occupants 
in a vehicle. 
Outer diameter 
means the overall diameter of an 
inflated new tire. 
Overall width 
means the linear distance be- 
tween the exteriors of the side- 
walls of an inflated tire, including 
elevations due to labeling, deco- 
rations, or protective bands or 
ribs. 
Ply 
means a layer of rubber-coated 
parallel cords. 
Production options weight 
means the combined weight of 
those installed regular production 
options weighing over 5 lbs 
(2.3 kg) in excess of those stand- 
ard items which they replace, not 
previously considered in curb 
weight or accessory weight, in- 
cluding heavy duty brakes, ride 
levelers,  roof rack, heavy duty 
battery, and special trim. 
Radial ply tire 
means a pneumatic tire in which 
the ply cords that extend to the >  

4S1012721BA 
Wheels 
  
beads are laid at substantially 
90 degrees to the centerline of 
the tread. 
Recommended inflation 
pressure 
see > page 247, Cold tire infla- 
tion pressure. 
Reinforced tire 
means a tire designed to operate 
at higher loads and at higher in- 
flation pressures than the corre- 
sponding standard tire. Rein- 
forced tires may be identified as 
“XL”, “xl”, “EXTRA LOAD”, or “RF” 
on the sidewall. 
Rim 
means a metal support for a tire 
or a tire and tube assembly upon 
which the tire beads are seated. 
Rim diameter 
means nominal diameter of the 
bead seat. If you change your 
wheel size, you will have to pur- 
chase new tires to match the new 
rim diameter. 
Rim size designation 
means rim diameter and width. 
Rim width 
means nominal distance between 
rim flanges. 
Sidewall 
means that portion of a tire be- 
tween the tread and bead. 
Speed rating (letter code) 
means the speed at which a tire is 
designed to be driven for extend- 
ed periods of time. The ratings 
range from 93 mph (150 km/h) 
to 186 mph (298 km/h) > table 
on page 245. You may not find 
this information on all tires be- 
cause it is not required by law. 
The speed rating letter code, 
where applicable, is molded on 
the tire sidewall and indicates the 
maximum permissible road 
speeds. See also > A in General 
information on page 244. 
Tire pressure monitoring 
system* 
means a system that detects 
when one or more of a vehicle's 
tires are underinflated and illumi- 
nates a low tire pressure warning 
telltale. 
Tread 
means that portion of a tire that 
comes into contact with the  road. > 
249  

4S1012721BA 
Wheels 
  
  
ZA\ WARNING 
Wheel bolts that are tightened 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 > page 276, Finishing. 
— 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 significantly improve the vehicle's 
handling when driving in winter conditions. Be- 
cause of their construction (width, compound, 
tread pattern), summer tires provide less traction 
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 244. 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 254. 
The effectiveness of winter tires is reduced great- 
ly when the tread is worn down to a depth of 
0.157 in (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. 
@) 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 win- 
ter tires with the 4 symbol may be permit- 
ted. 
Snow chains improve both driving and braking in 
winter road conditions. 
> Only install snow chains on the rear 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 
(50 km/h). Observe 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. 
You must remove the snow chains on roads with- 
out snow. Otherwise, you could impair driving 
ability and damage the tires. 
  
ZA\ 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. 
CG) Note 
— Snow chains can damage the rims and 
wheel covers* if the chains come into direct 
contact with them. Remove the wheel cov- 
ers* first. Use coated snow chains. 
      
— Using snow chains that add more than  0.53 
in (13,5 mm) of height can severely damage 
the wheel housings and other vehicle com- 
ponents. 
@) Tips 
When using snow chains, it may be advisable 
to limit the ESC > page 87. 
259  

Wheels 
  
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 > page 254. 
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 AAABC 
— Temperature ABC 
Quality grades can be found where applicable on 
the tire side wall between tread shoulder and 
maximum section width > page 245, fig. 191. 
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 
260 
under controlled conditions 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 driving 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 
oA. 
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 > A\. 
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 B and A represent higher levels 
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than 
the minimum required by law. 
  
ZA\ 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. > 
       

4S1012721BA 
Technical data 
  
Technical data 
Identification data 
Vehicle identification label 
XXXXX AX = X= AXXX XXX XK 
vor KX x XXXXXXXX 
XXX. XXX 
XX XXXXXXX XX. XX XX 
XXX KW XXX 
XXXX XXX  XXX 
YL XXKK XXX XX 
5RW 
1BA 
  
B4H-0800 
FAHRZG. - IDENT - NR. 
VEHICLE - IDENT - NO, 
[Tye /1yPE 
‘MOTORKB. / GETR. KB. 
ENG. CODE / TRANS. CODE 
LACKNR. / INNENAUSST. 
PAINT NO./ INTERIOR 
(M.- AUST. / OPTIONS 
EOA  7D5 4UB 6XM 5SG 
2EH 
JOZ 1LB 1AS 
3FC 5MU 7X1 
FOA  9G3 OG7  OYH OJF 
TL6 3KA  8EH U1A X9B QZ7 
1xXW 803  908 824 D2D 
7176 CV7 7KO  4X3  2K2 
3L4 4KC 3Y0 413 
1SA 7GB Q1A 
  
aaa 
5D2 
4GQ   
XX. X XX. XXX. X_—XXXK 
WV 
    
  
    
Fig. 211 Vehicle identification label 
The vehicle identification label > fig. 211 is locat- 
ed near the fuses in the front passenger's side 
footwell > page 281. 
The vehicle identification label information can 
also be found in the Warranty & Maintenance 
booklet. 
Vehicle data 
The sticker contains the following vehicle data: 
@® Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 
@ Vehicle type, engine output, transmission 
® Engine and transmission codes 
@) Paint and interior codes 
© Optional equipment  numbers 
Vehicle identification number (VIN) 
The VIN is located in the following areas: 
  
     — Select: [MENU] button > left control button > 
Service & checks > Vehicle information. 
  
— On the vehicle identification label 
— At the front behind the windshield* 
— Under the carpet under the right front  seat 
Notes about technical data 
The values may vary based on special equipment 
as well as market-specific equipment and meas- 
uring methods. 
Please note that the specifications listed in the 
vehicle documentation always take precedence. 
G) Tips 
Any technical data that is missing  was not 
available at the time of printing. 
  
     
        
Length (in (mm)) | Width (in (mm)) | Width across the | Height at curb 
mirrors (in (mm)) | weight (in (mm)) 
R8 Coupe 174.4 (4,429) 76.4 (1,940) 80.2 (2,037) 48.7 (1,236) 
R8 Spyder 174.4 (4,429) 76.4 (1,940) 80.2 (2,037) 48.9 (1,242) 
      
289