AUDI A3 SEDAN 2018 Owners Manual

u. Cl) ... N
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-Do not use run-flat tires on your vehicle. Using them when
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/damage
Fig. 276 T ire profile : treadwear indica­
tor
Tire wear
Check the tires regular ly 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.
l ) Obey any applicable regulations in your
country.
Wheels
-Have an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili­
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
c::> fig. 2 76. 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
c::> .&.-
Tire rotation
Applies to: RS models: tires may
only be rotated if the tires on the
..,.
339

Wheels
front and rear axles are the same
size¢&.
Rotating the tires regularly is rec­
ommended to ensure the tires
wear evenly . To rotate the tires,
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 accord­
ing to the running direction indi­
cated on the tire sidewall
¢page 368.
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
side, drive slowly and carefully to
the nearest authorized Audi deal­
er or authorized Audi Service Fa­
cility to have the vehicle inspect­
ed .
340
.&_ 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 neg­
ative effect on handling, driv­
ing through curves, and brak­
ing, and because it increases
the risk of hydroplaning when
driving through deep puddles.
- Applies to: RS models: de­
pending on the equipment,
the widths of the standard
summer tires may be different
on the front and rear axles.
The wider tires are mounted
on the front axle. The tires
must not be rotated .

Tire pressure
Fig. 277 Driver's side B-pillar: tire pres­
sure label
"' -,------------~ ,::
9c:==. ~: I :.:: I :.. I ) @ l8 n. _____________ ....., _ _. . ... _ ..
vi ................ ~--"""""' ..... .... ..
TR IIZl 00lO '1111. NaSIUl'll ,,._U DNlNIIONS .......,,.DUftillUSAAIOIJ
-KPA. -PSI
Fig. 278 Tire pressure label
The correct tire pressure for tires
mounted in the factory and for
the spare tire* is indicated on a la­ bel. The label is located on the
8-
pi llar ¢ fig. 2 77, ¢ fig. 2 78. 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 driving the vehi­
cle when fully loaded, you must
increase the tire pressure to the
~ maximum specified pressure ¢,&. .
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Checking/correcting tire
pressure
Wheels
11>(heck the tire pressure at least
once per month and also check it
before every long drive.
11>Always check the tire pressure
when the tires are
cold. Do not
reduce the pressure if it increas­
es when the tires are warm.
11>(heck the label¢ fig. 2 78 for
the correct tire pressure based on vehicle load.
11>(orrect the tire pressure if nec­
essary.
11>Store the new tire pressure in
the Infotainment system
¢ page 349 or ¢page 352.
11>(heck the pressure in the emer­
gency tire* /spare tire*. Always
maintain the maximum temper­
ature that is specified for the
tire.
A WARNING
Always adapt the tire pressure
to your driving style and vehicle load.
-Overloading can lead to loss of vehicle control and increase
the risk of an accident. Read and follow the important safe­
ty precautions
inc:::> page 343,
Tires and vehicle load limits.
341

Wheels
-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 in­ creases tire wear and has a
Tire pressure table
Please note that the information
contained in the following table
was correct at the time of print­
ing, and the information is sub­
ject to change. If there are differ­
ences between this information
and the tire pressures specified
on the label on the driver's side B­
pillar, always follow the specifica­
tion on the B-pillar label
c> page 341 , fig. 2 77.
Model/ Tire designation
negative effect on driving and
braking behavior, which in­
creases the risk of an accident.
@ Note
Replace lost valve caps to re­
duce the risk of damage to the
tire valves.
@ For the sake of the environment
Tire pressure that is too low in­ creases fuel consumption.
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.
Tire pressure
Engine Normal load Maximum load
(up to 2/3*
people)al
front rear front rear
PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA PSI kPA
A3 sedan: 225/40 R18 92Y 35 240 32 220 36 250 36 250
2.0 L
225/45 R17 91H 33 230 30 210 41 280 41
280
4-cylinder
225/40 R18 92H 36 250 33 230 41
280 41 280
235/35 R19 91 Y 33 230 30 210 38 260 41 280
342

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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
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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 .

u. 00 .-< N l'­ N .-< 0 N > 00
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