AUDI R8 SPYDER 2015 Owners Manual

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.&_ 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 in­ crease the risk of a loss of ve ­
hicle 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 causing loss of control
and a crash.
A WARNING
-
- Incorrect tire pressures and/or
underinflation can lead to a
serious or fatal accident.
-Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinflation cause increased
tire wear and can affect the
handling of the vehicle.
- Incorrect tire pressures and/or
underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehicle control.
Tires and wheels
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the
tires originally installed on your
vehicle is listed on the tire pres­
sure label located on driver 's side
8-pillar .
The recommended tire pressures
are on the tire pressure label and
in the table
c:::> page 176 , Cold tire
inflation pressure.
This means
that the pressure must be checked and adjusted when the
tire has not been driven for more
than a couple of m iles (kilome­
ters) at low speeds during the
previous three hours. Air in the
tires expands when the t ire heats
up as a result of internal friction
as it flexes in use . The tire pres­
sure is higher when the tire has
warmed up than when it is "cold".
It is the inflation pressure in a
"cold" tire that counts. Therefore,
you shou ld never let air out of a
warm tire to match "Cold tire in­
flation pressure" recommenda ­
tions
c:::> page 176. The tires would
then be underinflated and could
fail suddenly.
The tire pressure label on your
Audi lists the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures for the
1 79

Tires and wheels
new, original equipment tires that
were on your vehicle at the time it
was manufactured. For the loca­ tion of the label¢
page 176,
fig. 147.
Most tires lose air naturally over
t ime. They can also lose some air
if you drive over a pothole or hit a
curb while parking. It is usually not possible to see whether the
radia l tires used today are under ­
inflated just by look ing at them .
T herefore, be sure to check tire
pressures at least once a month
and always before going on a long
trip. Make sure to take the num­
ber of peop le and the amount of
luggage into account when ad­
justing tire pressure for a trip -
even one that you would not con­
sider to be "long". See
¢ page 182, Tires and vehicle
load limits
for more important in­
forma tion .
Always use an accurate tire pres ­
sure gauge when checking and
adjust ing inflation pressures .
Check all o f the tires . If the pres­
sure in any tire is too h igh when
the tire is "cold", let air ou t of the
tire slowly with the edge of the
tire gauge and keep checking the
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pressure until you reach the pres­
sure that is correct for the load
(passengers and luggage) and
kind of driving you plan to do .
If the pressure in any tire is too low , note the difference between
the pressure in the co ld tire and
the pressure you need and add
the air that you need to reach the
correct pressure fo r the vehicle
load (passengers and luggage) for
the tires on yo ur vehicle as listed
on the on your veh ic le and in this
manual and the kind of driving
you plan to do .
Never exceed the ma ximum in­
flation pressure listed on the tire sidewall for any reason.
Remember that the vehicle manu­
facturer, not the tire manufactur ­
er, determines the cor rect tire
pressure for the t ires on you r ve­
hicle.
It is important to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold .
- Read the required tire pressure
from the tire pressure label lo­
cated on driver 's side B-pillar .
- Turn the va lve stem cap counter­
cl ockw ise to remove it from the
tire va lve . .,.

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-Place the air pressure gauge on the valve .
- The tire pressu res should only be
checked an d adjusted when the
t ires are cold. The slig htly raised
pressures of warm tires must
not be reduced .
- Adjust the tire pressure to the
load you are carrying.
-Reinstall the valve stem cap on the valve .
When should I check the tire
pressu re?
The correct tire pressure is espe­
cially important at high speeds .
The pressure should therefore be
checked at least once a month
and always before starting a jour­
ney.
When should I adjust the tire pressures ?
Adjust the tire pressure to the
load you are carrying . After
changing a wheel
or replacing
wheels you have to adjust the tire pressures on all wheels. In addi ­
tion, you must then initialize the
new tire pressures in the tire pres­
sure mon itoring system
¢page 196 .
Tires and wheels
A WARNING
Incorrect tire pressures and/or
underinflation can lead sudden
tire failure, loss of control, col­ lision, serio us personal injury or
even death .
-When the warning symbol
rD]
appears in the instrument
cluster, stop and inspect the
tires.
- Incorrect tire pressure and/or
underinflation can cause in­
creased tire wear and can af ­
fect the handling of the vehi­
cle and stopping ab ility.
- Incorrect tire pressures and/or
underinflation can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a
blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehicle control.
- The driver is responsib le for
the correct tire pressures for
all t ires on the vehicle . The ap ­
plicable pressure values are lo­
cated on a sticker on the driv ­
er's side B-pillar.
-Only when all tires on the ve­ hicle are filled to the correct
pressure, the tire pressure monitoring system can work
correct ly .
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Tires and wheels
-The use of incorrect tire pres­sure values can lead to acci­
dents or other damage. There­
fore it is essential that the driver observe the specified
tire pressure values for the
tires and the correct pressures
for the function of the tire pressure monitoring system.
-Always inflate tires to the rec­ ommended and correct tire
pressure before driving off.
-Driving with underinflated tires bend more, letting them get too hot resulting in tread
separation, sudden tire failure
and loss of control.
-Excessive speed and/overload­
ing can cause heat build-up,
sudden tire failure and loss of
control.
-If the tire pressure is too low
or too high, the tires will wear
prematurely and the vehicle
will not handle well.
-If the tire is not flat and you do not have to change a wheel
immediately, drive at reduced
speed to the nearest service
station to check the tire pres­
sure and add air as required .
182
d) Note
Driving without valve stem caps
can cause damage to the tire
valves. To prevent this, always
make sure that factory instal­
led valve stem caps on all
wheels are securely mounted on the valve.
@ For the sake of the environment
Underinflated tires will also in­
crease the fuel consumption.
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 ...

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technically referred to as the vehi­
cle's
Gross Vehicle We ight 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 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.
The
Gross Axle Weight Rating
("GAWR") is the maximum load
that can be applied at each of the
vehicle's two axles .
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compli­
ance sticker label located on the
driver's side B-pillar. Your Audi
has 2 seating positions . Each
seating position has a safety belt
¢ page 95, Safety belts.
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
Tires and wheels
carried in the vehicle is limited.
The more passengers in the vehi­
cle or passengers who are heavier
than the standard weights as­
sumed mean that less weight can
be carried as luggage.
The tire pressure label on your
Audi also lists the maximum com ­
bined weight of all of the occu­
pants and luggage or other cargo
that the vehicle can carry. For the location of the label¢
page 176,
fig. 147.
A 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 in­
crease 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 •
183

Tires and wheels
sudden deflation, causing loss
of control and a crash .
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 . Locate the statement "THE
COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCU­
PANTS AND CARGO SHOULD
NEV ER EXCEED XXX KG OR XXX
LBS"on your vehicle's placard
(tire inflation pressure label)
c:::> page 176, fig. 147.
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"
pounds shown on the sticker
c:::> page 176, fig. 147.
4 . The resulting figure equa ls the
available amount of ca rgo and
1 8 4
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 capac ity is 650 lbs .
(1400-7 SQ (5 X 150) = 650
lbs.)
5. Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehic le.
That weight may not safely ex­
ceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculat­
ed in Step 4 .
6. If your vehic le w ill be towing a
trailer, load from your t railer
will be transferred to yo ur vehi­
cle . Consult this manual to de­
termine how this reduces the ava ilable cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
~ check the tire sidewall
(c:::> page 186, fig. 150) to deter­
mine the designa ted load rating
for a specific tire .

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Tire service life
The service life of tires depends
on a lot of different things includ­
ing proper installation and bal ­
ancing, correct tire pressure and
driving style.
Fig. 149 Tire tread: tread wear indica ­
tors (TWI)
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)
The original tires on your vehicle
have 1/16 inch (1 .6 mm) high
"wear indicators"c::>
fig. 149 run­
ning across the tread. Depending
on the make, there will be s ix to
eight of them evenly placed
around the tire. Marks on the tire
sidewall (for example "TWI" or
other symbols) indicate the posi­
tions of the tread wear indicators.
Worn tires must be replaced. Dif­
ferent figures may apply in other
countries c::>
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Tire pressure
Incorrect tire pressure causes pre­
mature wear and can cause sud-
Tires and wheels
den tire blow-out. For this reason,
tire pressure must be checked at least once a month c::>
page 179.
Driving style
Driving fast around curves, heavy
acceleration and hard braking in­
crease tire wear.
Wheel balancing
The wheels on new vehicles are
balanced. However, various situa­
tions during everyday driving can
cause them to become unbal­
anced, resulting in vibrations you
can usually feel through the
steering wheel.
Unbalanced wheels must be reba­
lanced to avoid excessive wear on
steering, suspension and tires . A
wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tire is installed .
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment can
cause excessive tire wear, impair­
ing the safety of the vehicle. If
tires show excessive wear, have
the whee l alignment checked by
an authorized Audi dealer or
qualified workshop.
185

Tires and wheels
All-wheel drive
Only the wheel/tire sizes specified
by the manufacturer may be used
on vehicles with all-wheel drive. For details see¢
page 139.
A WARNING
Sudden tire failure can lead to
loss of control, a crash and seri­
ous personal injury!
-Never drive a vehicle when the tread on any tire is worn down
to the wear indicators.
-Worn tires are a safety hazard,
they do not grip well on wet
roads and increase your risk of
"hydroplaning" and loss of
control.
-Always keep chemicals that can cause tire damage, such
as grease, oil, gasoline and brake fluid away from tires.
-Tires age even if they are not
being used and can fail sud­
denly, especially at high
speeds. Tires that are more
than 6 years old can only be
used in an emergency and
then with special care and at lower speeds.
-Never mount used tires on
your vehicle if you are not sure
of their "previous history." Old
186
used tires may have been
damaged even though the
damage cannot be seen that
can lead to sudden tire failure
and loss of vehicle control.
New tires and replacing tires
. and wheels
New tires and wheels have to be
broken in.
Fig. 150 Tire specification codes on the
sidewall of a tire
No Description
•
@ Passenger car tire (where ap-
plicable)
@ Nominal width of tire in mil-
limeters

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No Descript ion
•
® Ratio of height to width (as -
pect ratio)
© Radial
® Rim diameter code
® Load index and speed rating
(j) U.S. DOT tire identification
number
® Audi Original tire
® Sever snow conditions
@ Tire ply composition and ma-
terials used
@ Maximum load rating
@ Treadwear, traction and tern-
perature grades
@ Maximum permissible infla-
tion pressure
The tires and rims are essential parts of the vehicle's design. The
tires and rims approved by Audi
are specially matched to the char­
acteristics of the vehicle and can
make a major contribution to
good road holding and safe han­
dling when in good condition and
properly inflated ¢
&.
We recommend that all work on
tires and wheels be performed by
an authorized Audi dealer. They
are familiar with recommended
Tires and wheels
procedures and have the necessa­
ry special too ls and spare parts as
well as the proper facilities for
disposing of the old ti res.
Authorized Audi dealers have the necessary information about
technical requirements for insta l­
ling or changing tires and rims.
Replacing tire s and wheel s
Tires should be replaced at least
in pairs and not individually (for
example both front tires or both rear tires together).
Be sure to read and heed the in ­
formation to the tire pressure
monitoring system¢
page 190.
Always buy replacement radial
tires that have the same specifica­
tions as the tires approved for
your vehicle by Audi . Replacement
tires must always have the same
load rating specification as the
original equipment or approved
optional tires listed in the table
i=> page 176 .
Audi-approved specification tires
are specially matched to your ve­
hicle and its load limits, and can
contribute to the important road­ holding, driving characteristics,
and safety of the vehicle. The .,.
187

Tires and wheels
table( ¢ page 176) lists specifica­
tions of the tires approved for the
Audi models covered by your
Owner's Literature.
The tire pressure label located on driver's s ide 8-pillar
(¢page 176,
fig. 148) lists the specifications of
the original equipment tires in­
stalled on your vehicle at the time
it was manufactured.
Federal law requires tire manufac­
turers to place standardized infor­
mation on the sidewall of all tires
¢ fig .
150 . This information iden­
tifies and describes the funda­
mental characteristics, the quality
grade of the tire and also provides
a tire identification number for
safety standard certification and in case of a recall.
Tire specifications
Knowledge of tire spec ifications
makes it easier to choose the cor­
rect tires. Radial tires have the
tire specifications marked on the
sidewall, for example:
P235 / 35 R 19 91 Y
This contains the following infor ­
mation:
P I ndicates the tire is for passen­
ger cars
1 88
235 Nominal tire width in mm of
the tire from sidewall edge to
sidewall edge . In general, the
larger the numbe r, the wide r
the tire
35 Height/width ratio in percent
(aspect ratio)
R Tire construction: Radial
19 Rim diameter code (in inches)
91 Load rating code
Y Speed rating letter code
XL (or "xl", "EXTRA LOAD", or
"RF") indicates that the tire is
a"Reinforced" or an "Ext ra
Load" ti re
M+S (o r "M/S") Indicates that the
tire has some mud and sn ow
capability
The tires could also have the in ­
formation of direction of rotation
¢page 170.
Tire manufacturing date
The manufactur ing date is a lso in­
dicated on the tire sidewa ll (pos ­
sibly only on the
inner side of the
wheel) :
"DOT .. . 2213 ... "means, for ex ­
ample, that the tire was produced in the 22nd week of 2013. .,.