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 291, 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.
Loose wheel warning
Applies to: vehicles with loose wheel warning
Within the limits of the system, the loose wheel
warning in the instrument cluster warns you if
one or more wheels are loose.
Using the ABS sensors, the loose wheel warning
system compares the vibration characteristics of
the individual tires. If one or more wheels are
loose, it will be indicated in the instrument clus-
ter display with the & indicator light and a mes-
sage. If only one wheel is affected, the location
of that wheel will be indicated.
Messages
fi Wheel bolts loose. Please safely stop the ve-
hicle and check all wheel bolts!
Loose wheel warning for at least one wheel > A\.
Check the wheel bolts on all wheels with the
wheel wrench (vehicle tool kit). Have the tighten-
ing specification checked as soon as possible with
a torque wrench. Drive carefully until then. For
the correct tightening specification, see
=> page 291, Finishing.
fl Wheel assessment active. Please continue
driving carefully
After this message appears and you have checked
the wheel bolts, the assessment phase begins
when the vehicle is in motion. This may take sev-
eral minutes.
272
fi Loose wheel warning: malfunction! See
owner's manual
There is a system malfunction. Drive immediately
to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility to have the malfunction repaired.
Z\ WARNING
Wheel bolts that are tightened incorrectly can
become loose and result in loss of vehicle con-
trol, which increases the risk of an accident.
— If a message appears, reduce your speed im-
mediately and avoid any hard steering or
braking maneuvers. Stop as soon as possible
and check the wheel bolts.
— Check your wheels for damage. Have the
damaged wheels checked and/or replaced
immediately by an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility.
— Under certain conditions (such as a sporty
driving style, winter conditions, or unpaved
roads), the message may be delayed.
— The driver is responsible for ensuring that
the wheels are attached correctly.
(i) Tips
— The loose wheel warning system can also
stop working when there is an ESC malfunc-
tion.
— Using snow chains may result in a system
malfunction.
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 256. An author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa-
cility can inform you about the maximum per-
mitted speed for your tires.
4M8012721BF
Emergency assistance
height, which increases the risk of an acci-
Removing the caps
\e4
Fig. 173 Wheel: wheel bolts with caps
B4L-1337
> Slide the plastic clip from the vehicle tool kit
onto the cap until it engages > fig. 173.
> Remove the cap with the plastic clip.
ON tated 1 re)
Applies to: vehicles with anti-theft wheel bolts
B4H-0470
i ue
Fig. 174 Anti-theft wheel bolt with cap and adapter
You need a special adapter in the vehicle tool kit
to remove the anti-theft wheel bolts.
> Remove the cap (2).
> Slide the adapter @) all the way onto the anti-
theft wheel bolt @.
> Slide the wheel wrench* from the vehicle tool
kit all the way onto the adapter @).
> Loosen the wheel bolt > page 289.
D_ You need the matching adapter in order to loosen and
tighten anti-theft wheel bolts* > page 289.
@) Tips
Note the code number for the wheel bolt
adapter and store it in a safe place separate
from the vehicle. If you need a replacement
adapter, contact an authorized Audi dealer or
authorized Audi Service Facility and give them
the code number.
Loosening the wheel bolts
B4S-0221
SS Ws
Fig. 175 Wheel: loosening the wheel bolts
> Slide the wheel wrench* from the vehicle tool
kit all the way onto the wheel bolt).
> Turn the wheel bolt approximately one turn to
the left. To achieve the required torque, hold
the end of the wheel wrench*. If the wheel bolt
will not loosen, press carefully on the wheel
wrench* with your foot. Hold onto the vehicle
securely while doing this and make sure your
footing is stable.
ZA\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of an accident, only loosen
the wheel bolts gently one turn before raising
the
vehicle with the vehicle jack*.
289
4M8012721BF
Emergency assistance
Removing and installing a wheel
@ Rg Tt
“ 0 oO
B8K-1477
Removing a wheel
> Remove the top wheel bolt completely using
the hex socket in the screwdriver handle from
the vehicle tool kit > fig. 178 and place it ona
clean surface.
> Then install the alignment pin from the vehicle
tool kit by hand in the empty wheel bolt hole
> fig. 179”.
> Remove the rest of the wheel bolts.
> Remove the wheel >(). The alignment pin re-
mains in the hole while doing this.
Installing a wheel
Read the directions on > page 291 when instal-
ling unidirectional tires.
> Slide the wheel on over the alignment pin >@.
> Install the wheel bolts and tighten them gently
using the hex socket.
> Remove the alignment pin and tighten the re-
maining wheel bolt.
D Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brake rotors*: Use a sec-
ond alignment pin* from the vehicle tool kit for the lowest
hole according to the steps described for the first align-
ment pin.
> Carefully lower the vehicle using the vehicle
jack*.
> Tighten the wheel bolts in a diagonal pattern
using the wheel wrench*.
The wheel bolts must be clean and loosen and
tighten easily. Check the contact surfaces for the
wheel and hub. Contaminants on these surfaces
must be removed before installing the wheel.
ZX WARNING
— Read and follow the important information
and notes under > page 263.
— Never use the hex socket in the screwdriver
handle to tighten the wheel bolts. Using the
hex
socket will not achieve the required
tightening torque, which increases the risk
of an accident.
() Note
When removing or installing the wheel, the
rim could hit the brake rotor and damage the
rotor. Work carefully and have a second per-
son help you.
Unidirectional tires
A unidirectional tire profile is identified by arrows
on the tire sidewall that point in the running di-
rection. You must always maintain the specified
running direction. This is necessary to ensure the
tire's optimal performance in regard to adhesion,
running noise, and friction, and to reduce the risk
of
hydroplaning.
To benefit fully from the advantages of the uni-
directional tire design, you should replace faulty
tires as soon as possible and restore the correct
running direction on all of the tires.
> Reinstall the caps on the wheel bolts if necessa-
ry.
291
Emergency assistance
> Store the vehicle tool kit in its designated
place.
> If the removed wheel does not fit in the spare
wheel well, store it securely in the luggage
compartment > page 83.
> Check the tire pressure on the installed wheel
as soon as possible.
> Correct the tire pressure and store it in the MMI
=> page 276 or > page 278.
> The wheel bolt tightening specification must be
120 ft lbs (160 Nm). Have it checked as soon as
possible with a torque wrench. Drive carefully
until then.
> Have the faulty wheel replaced as quickly as
possible.
Collapsible spare tire
Applies to: vehicles with collapsible spare tire
The collapsible spare tire is intended for short-
term use only. Have the damaged tire checked
and replaced if necessary by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as soon
as possible.
There are some restrictions on the use of the col-
lapsible spare tire. The collapsible spare tire has
been designed specifically for your type of vehi-
cle. Do not replace it with the collapsible spare
tire from another type of vehicle.
The collapsible spare tire is located in the lug-
gage compartment under the cargo floor cover.
Requirement: the vehicle tool kit > page 286 and
the compressor must be laid out.
Removing
> Lift the cargo floor using the handle.
> Turn the handwheel counter-clockwise and re-
move it.
> Remove the collapsible spare tire.
You must inflate the collapsible spare tire before-
hand in order to use it.
Inflating
> Remove the valve cap from the collapsible
spare tire.
> Tighten the compressor hose on the collapsible
spare tire valve.
292
> Connect the compressor hose to a vehicle sock-
et and switch it on.
> Let the compressor run until the specified value
on the tire pressure sticker is reached
> page 266, fig. 168 >.
> Screw the valve cap back onto the valve.
Returning to storage
> To release air, turn the valve insert. See an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
> Turn the valve insert back once the air has been
released.
> Wait several hours before placing the collapsi-
ble spare tire in the spare wheel well. Only then
will it fold down completely so that you can
store it securely.
> Then screw the valve cap back onto the valve.
> Secure the collapsible spare tire with the hand-
wheel.
> Fold the cargo floor cover back into place.
Snow chains
Using snow chains on the collapsible spare tire is
not permitted for technical reasons.
If you have to drive with snow chains and a rear
tire fails, mount the collapsible spare tire in place
of a front tire. Install the snow chains on the
front tire that you removed, and install that in
place of the rear tire that failed.
Z\ WARNING
— Only use the collapsible spare tire in emer-
gencies and drive very carefully, especially if
it is more than six years old.
— The compressor and the hose can become
very hot during operation which increases
the risk of burn injuries.
— After installing a collapsible spare tire, the
tire pressure must be checked as quickly as
possible to reduce the risk of an accident.
— Do not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h)
with the collapsible spare tire. Driving faster
than that increases the risk of an accident.
— To reduce the risk of an accident, avoid hard
acceleration or braking and driving fast
around curves with the collapsible spare
tire.