2021 AUDI A8 Owners Manual

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maximum permissible road
speeds. See also > A in General
information on page 289.
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.
Tread separation
means pulling away of the tread
from the tire carcass.
Treadwear indicators (TWI)
means the projections within the
principal grooves designed to give
a visual indication of the degrees
of wear of the tread. See
=> page 298, Treadwear indicator
for more information on measur-
ing tire wear.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
is a tire information system devel-
oped by the United States Nation-
al Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration (NHTSA) that is designed
to help buyers make relative com-
parisons among tires. The UTQG is
not a safety rating and not a guar-
antee that a tire will last fora
prescribed number of miles (kilo-
meters) or perform ina certain
way. It simply gives tire buyers
additional information to com-
bine with other considerations,
such as price, brand loyalty and
dealer recommendations. Under
UTQG, tires are graded by the tire
manufacturers in three areas:
treadwear, traction, and tempera-
ture resistance. The UTQG infor-
mation on the tires, molded into
the sidewalls.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN)
This is the tire’s “serial number”.
It begins with the letters “DOT”
and indicates that the tire meets
all federal standards. The next
two numbers or letters indicate
the plant where it was manufac-
tured, and the last four numbers
represent the week and year of
manufacture. For example,
DOT... 2220...
means that the tire was produced
in the 22nd week of 2020. The
other numbers are marketing co-
des that may or may not be used >
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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 maximum load on the
tire
means that load on an individual
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 individual
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 301) and dividing by
two.
Occupant loading and distri-
bution for vehicle normal load
for various designated seating
capacities
Refer to the tire inflation pressure
label > page 299, fig. 190 for the
296
number of seating positions. Re-
fer to the table > table on
page 301 for the number of peo-
ple that correspond to the vehicle
normal load.
New tires or wheels
Audi recommends having all work
on tires or wheels performed by
an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
These facilities have the proper
knowledge and are equipped with
the required tools and replace-
ment parts.
>New tires do not yet have the
optimal gripping properties.
Drive carefully and at moderate
speeds for the first 350 miles
(500 km) with new tires.
> Only use tires with the same de-
sign, size (rolling circumfer-
ence), and as close to the same
tread pattern as possible on all
four wheels.
>Do not replace tires individually.
At least replace both tires on the
same axle at the same time.
> Audi recommends using Audi
Genuine Tires. If you would like
to use different tires, please
note that the tires may perform >

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differently even if they are the
same size > A.
>If you would like to equip your
vehicle with a tire and rim com-
bination that is different from
what was installed at the facto-
ry, consult with an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility before making a
purchase > A.
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.


Z\ WARNING
—Do not use steel rims that are
17 inches or larger. Otherwise,


damage to the vehicle and an
accident could result.
—Only use tire/rim combina-
tions and suitable 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 tires from the
same vehicle model.
—Make sure that the tires you
select have enough clearance
to the vehicle. Replacement
tires should not be chosen
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.
—Do not use run-flat tires on
your vehicle. Using them when

297

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not permitted can lead to ve-
hicle damage or accidents.
—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 and damage

B4H-0415

a
Fig. 188 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-


D Obey any applicable regulations in the
country where the vehicle is being oper-
ated.
298
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 inch (1.6 mm) high and are
spaced evenly around the tire per-
pendicular to the running direc-
tion > fig. 188. 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 !) when they
have worn down to the treadwear
indicators. Replace the tires with
new ones > A.
Tire rotation
Rotating the tires regularly is rec-
ommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly. To rotate the tires, >

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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 according to
the running direction indicated on
the tire sidewall > page 322.
Hidden damage
Damage to tires and rims can of-
ten occur in locations that are hid-
den. Unusual vibrations in the ve-
hicle 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, drive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility to have the vehicle inspect-
ed.

Z\ WARNING
Tread that has worn too low or
uneven 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
risk of hydroplaning when driv-
ing through deep puddles.
Tire pressure



B4l-1383


Fig. 189 Driver's side B-pillar: tire pres-
sure label


B8K-1151
@ SEATING CAPACITY. “TOTAL uj FRONT ul REAR a) (ooun NOMBRE DE PLACES TOTAL AVANT ARRIERE soa
‘Tho combined woight of occupants and cargo shi — Ko OF pm ibs. Le poids total des occupants et du chargement n =... a,

TIRE SIZE
PNEU _| DIMENSIONS
FRONT
AVANT
REAR
ARRIERE
‘SPARE
DE SECOURS
COLD TIRE PRESSURE
PRESSION DES PNEUS A FROID
as KPA, Ml PSI
a KPA, Ml PSI
a KPA, Ml PSI







Fig. 190 Tire pressure label
The correct tire pressure for tires
installed at the factory is listed on
a label. The label is located on the
B-pillar > fig. 189, > fig. 190.
Use the tire pressure specified for
a normal vehicle load when the
vehicle is partially loaded > table
on page 301. If driving the vehi-
cle when fully loaded, you must
increase the tire pressure to the
maximum specified pressure > A. >
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Wheels

Checking and correcting tire
pressure
> Check the tire pressure at least
once per month and also check it
before every long drive.
> Always check the tire pressure
when the tires are cold. Do not
reduce the pressure if it increas-
es when the tires are warm.
>Refer to the sticker > fig. 190
for the correct tire pressure.
>Correct the tire pressure if nec-
essary.
> Store the new tire pressure in
the MMI & page 308.
> Check the pressure in the spare
tire*. Always maintain the maxi-
mum temperature that is speci-
fied for the tire.


and follow the important safe-
ty precautions in > page 302.
—The tire must flex more if the
tire pressure is too low or if
the vehicle speed or load are
too high. This heats the tire up
too much. This increases the
risk of an accident because it
can cause the tire to burst and
result in loss of vehicle con-
trol.
—Incorrect tire pressure increas-
es tire wear and has a negative
effect on driving and braking
behavior, which increases the
risk of an accident.


Z\ WARNING
Always adapt the tire pressure
to your driving style and the ve-
hicle load.
—Overloading can lead to loss of
vehicle control and increase
the risk of an accident. Read

() Note
Replace lost valve caps to re-
duce the risk of damage to the
tire valves.
©) For the sake of the envi-
ronment
Tire pressure that is too low in-
creases fuel consumption.
Uc ecm] )
Please note that the information
contained in the following table
was correct at the time of print-
ing, and the information is sub-
300
ject to change. If there are any
differences, you should always
follow the tire pressure sticker
> page 299, fig. 189.

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Make sure that the tire designa-
tion on your tire matches the des-
ignation on the tire pressure label
and the tire pressure table.
The following table lists recom-
mended tire pressures in cold
tires according to the load and
the size of the tires installed.


















Model/ Tire designation Tire pressure
Engine Normal load Maximum load
(up to 2*/3 people)»
Front Rear Front Rear
PSI | kPA | PSI | kPA | PSI | kPA | PSI | kPA
AB L: 255/45R19104Y | 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 35 | 240 | 35 | 240
3.0L 265/40 R20104Y | 35 240 | 32 | 220 | 35 | 240 | 35 | 240
6-cylinder 255/45R19104H| 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 38 | 260 38 | 260
265/40R20104H| 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260
275/35 R21103Y | 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 35 | 240 | 35 | 240
265/35R21101Y | 36 | 250 | 33 | 230 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260
265/35R21101H| 38 | 260 | 35 | 240 | 41 | 280 | 41 | 280
AB L: 255/45R19104Y | 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260
4.0L 265/40 R20104Y | 35 240 | 32 | 220 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260
B-cylinder —[555/45R19104H| 38 | 260 | 33 | 230 | 41 | 280 41 | 280
265/40 R20104H | 38 | 260 | 33 | 230 | 41 | 280 | 41 | 280
275/35 R21103Y | 35 | 240 | 32 | 220 | 38 | 260 | 38 | 260
265/35R21101Y | 36 | 250 | 33 | 230 | 39 | 270 | 39 | 270
265/35R21101H| 39 | 270 | 35 | 240 | 42 | 290 | 42 | 290
ASLTFSIe: |255/45R19104Y/ 35 | 240 | 35 | 240 | 38 | 260 41 | 280
3.0L 265/40R20104Y | 35 | 240 | 35 | 240 | 38 | 260 | 41 | 280
6-cylinder 255/45R19104H| 36 | 250 | 36 | 250 | 39 | 270 | 42 | 290
265/40R20104H| 36 | 250 | 36 | 250 | 39 | 270 | 42 | 290
275/35 R21103Y | 35 | 240 | 35 | 240 | 38 | 260 | 41 | 280
265/35R21101Y | 36 | 250 | 36 | 250 | 39 | 270 | 42 | 290
265/35R21101H| 39 | 270 | 39 | 270 | 42 | 290 | 45 | 310
S8L: 265/40R20104Y | 38 | 260 | 33 | 230 | 42 | 290 | 39 | 270
4.0L 265/35R21101Y | 42 290 | 36 | 250 | 46 | 320 | 44 | 300
8-cylinder 275/35 R21103Y | 39 | 270 | 35 | 240 | 44 | 300 | 41 | 280
265/35R21101H| 42 | 290 | 36 | 250 | 46 | 320 | 44 | 300

@) Vehicles with four seating positions: two people in the front, Vehicles with five seat-
ing positions: two people in the front, one person in the rear
301
>

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Z\ WARNING
Please note the important safe-
ty precautions regarding tire
pressure > page 299 and load
limits > page 302.
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
well and is more difficult to stop.
Overloading can not only lead to
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.

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
technically referred to as the vehi-
cle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(“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
302
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
uggage 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 Gross Axle Weight Rating
(“GAWR’”) is the maximum load
that can be applied at each of the
vehicle’s two axles.

The 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-
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 Rating >