warning AUDI TT ROADSTER 2008 Owners Manual
Page 254 of 316
-Tires and wheels
P'tr:1-------------------
will not work prope rly . In this case, the tire pressure monitoring
s ys tem would n ot b e ab le to mon itor the tire p ressure or wa rn yo u
if it is necessary .
• The battery inside of the tire pressure sensor has a limited
se rvice life .
• Always d rive with the valve stem caps sec urely mounted . We
recommend using factory insta lled valve stem caps . Ask your au tho
rized Audi dealer to replace lost va lve stem cap s.
The installation o f rep laceme nt tire s wi th steel cor d body p lies in
the tire sidewal l may cause malfunction of the tire pressure moni
t or ing sys tem, a nd is no t re com mended (cord mater ial i nformat ion
in molded on the tire sidewa ll) .
A lw ays check your tire p ressure monito rin g s ystem i ndicator afte r
replacing o ne or mor e tir es o n you r vehi cle. If th e tire p ressu re
monito ring syste m indicat or flashes, o r is on, you r sy stem is not
wo rk in g pr oper ly. Your rep lac em ent ti re mig ht be i nco mpat ibl e wi th
your tir e pressure monitoring syst em , or som e component o f th e
tir e pr ess ure monito ring syste m may be da mag ed.
& WARNING
• Using incorrect or unmatched tires and/ or wheels or improper
tire and wheel combinations can lead to loss of control, collision
and serious personal injury .
• Always use tires , rims and wheel bolts that meet the specifica
tions of original factory -installed tires or other combinations that
have been spe cifically approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fail suddenly ,
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 vehi cle if you are not sure of
their "previous history. " Old used tires may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire failure and loss of vehi cle control.
& WARNING (continued)
• All four wheels must be fitted with radial tires of the same type,
size (rolling circumference ) and the same tread pattern. Driving
with different tires reduces vehicle handling and can lead to a loss
of control.
• If the spare tire is not the same as the tires that are mounted
on the vehicle -for e xample with winter tires -only use the spare
tire for a short period of time and drive with extra care . Refit the
normal road wheel as soon as safely possible.
• Never drive faster than the maximum speed for which the tires
on your vehicle are rated because tires that are driven faste r than
their rated speed can fail suddenly .
• Overloading tires cause heat build-up , sudden tire failure ,
including a blowout and sudden deflation and loss of control .
• Temperature grades apply to tires that are properly inflated and
not over or underinflated .
• For te chnical reasons it is not always possible to use wheels
from other vehicles -in some cases not even wheels from the
same vehicle model.
• If you install wheel trim discs on the vehicle wheels, make sure
that the air flow to the brakes is not blocked. Redu ced airflow to
the brakes can them to overheat , increasing stopping distances
and causing a collision.
• Run flat tires may only be used on vehicles that were equipped
with them at the fa ctory . The vehicle must have a chassis designed
for run flat tires and a factory -installed tire pressure monitoring
system that indi cate s a loss of tire pressure . Incorre ct use of run
flat tires can lead to vehicle damage or accidents . Check with an
authorized Audi dealer o r tire specialist to see if your vehicle can
be equipped with run flat tires .
If run flat tires are used, they must
be installed on all four wheels . Mixing tire types is not permitted. .,
Page 256 of 316
-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band A represent higher leve ls of
performa nce on th e la boratory test w hee l tha n the minim um
requ ired by law .
& WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this t ire is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests , and does not include acceleration ,
cornering , hydroplaning or peak traction characteristi cs.
& WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire th at is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Exces sive speed , underinfla
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination , can
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure. •
Winter tires
Win ter tires can im prove veh icle ha ndl ing on sno w and
i c e. A t te mp eratu res belo w 4 5 °F (7 ° C) w e r eco mme nd
c ha ng in g to winter tir e s.
In some heavy snow areas, local governments may require true
winter o r "snow" tire s, those with ve ry deeply cut tread. These tires
should only be used in pairs and be insta lled on a ll four wheels .
M ake s ure you p urchase snow ti res that are the same s ize and
construct ion type as the other ti res on your vehicle.
If your vehic le is equipped with al l-wheel drive *, this will improve
t rac tion dur ing winter dr iv in g, eve n with the standard tires .
However, we strongly recommend that you a lways equip all four
whee ls on y our vehicle with correc tly fitted winte r tires or all-seas on
tires, when winter road conditions are expected . Th is a lso improves
t he ve hic le 's brak ing perfo rmance an d reduces s top ping distances .
Summer ti res p rovide less grip on ice and snow. Winter tires (snow tires) must always be fitted on all four whee
ls .
Compatible ti re p ressure monit oring senso rs must be instal led on
a ll four w inter tires for the tire pressure monitoring system to func
tion proper ly :::::> page 251.
Ask your aut hori zed Audi deale r or quali fied w orksho p for perm itte d
winter tire size s. Use only radial winter tires.
Wi nter tires lose thei r effec tiveness when the tread is worn down t o
a depth of 0. 157 inch (4 mm).
On ly drive with winter tires under winter conditions. Summer tires
h an dle better when there is no s now or ice on t he roads a nd th e
temperature is above 45 °F (7 °C) .
I f you have a flat tire, see n otes on spare w hee l :::::> page 249.
Please a lways remembe r that w inte r tires may have a lower speed
r ating than the tires original ly instal led on your vehic le at the time
i t was manu fac tured. Please see:::::> page 251, "Speed rating (letter
code)" for a listing of the speed rating letter codes and the
m ax imum speed at which t he ti res ca n be drive n.
T he speed rating letter code(:::::, page 241) is on the side wa ll of the
ti re :::::> page 2 49. & WARNING
Winter tires have maximum speed limits that may be lower than
your veh icle's ma ximum speed . Always know the maximum speed
before driving off . Never drive faster than the speed permitted for
your specific winter tires . This will cause damage to the tires
leading to an accident and serious personal injury to you and your
pa ssengers.
& WARNING
Driving faster than the ma ximum speed for whi ch the winter tires
on your vehicle were designed can cause tire failure including a
blowout and sudden deflation , los s of control , crashes and serious _.,
Page 257 of 316
Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
& WARNING (continu ed )
personal injur ies . Have worn or damaged tires repl aced immed i
ately.
• Winter tires have ma ximu m speed rating th at may be lower
than your vehicle 's maximum speed.
• Never drive faster than the speed for which the winter or other
tire s installed on your vehicle are rated.
& WARNING
Alway s adjust your driving to the road and traffi c cond it ions .
Never let the good acceleration of the winter tires and all -wheel
drive tempt you into tak ing e xtra ri sks . Always remember :
• When braking , an all -wheel drive vehicle h andles in the same
way as a front drive vehicle .
• Drive carefully and reduce your speed on icy and slippery roads ,
even winter tires cannot help under black ice conditions.
c£> For the sake of the environment
Use summer tires when weather conditions permit. They are
quieter, d o not wear as qu ic kly and reduce fue l con sump tion. •
Snow chains
Snow c ha ins may be fitte d only to t he fr ont w heels , and only to
certain t ire sizes. Ask your authorized Audi dea ler on which tire
s izes snow chains ca n be used .
I f you are going to use snow chains, then you must instal l them on
the front whee ls at least.
The snow chains must have low-pro file l inks and must not be thicker
than 0. 53 inch ( 13 .5 mm), including the lock. Remove wheel center covers and
trim discs before putting snow
chains o n yo ur vehicle ~
(D. For safe ty reaso ns cover caps mus t
then be fitted over the whee l bolts. These are available from autho
r iz ed A ud i deale rs.
& WARNING
Using the wrong snow chain s for your vehicle or installing them
inco rrectly can increase the risk of loss of control leading to
serious personal injury.
• Snow chains are ava ila ble in d ifferent si zes . Always make sure
to follow the instructions provided by the snow chain manufac
turer .
• When driving with snow chain s never drive faster than the
speed permitted for your spe cific snow cha ins .
• Always observe local regulations .
0 Note
• Remove snow chai ns before d riving o n roads not cov ered w ith
snow to avoid damaging t ires and wearing the snow chains down
unnecessar ily .
• Snow chains, which come into direct contact with the wheel rim,
can scratch or damage it. Therefore, make sure t hat the s now c hains
are suitably covered.
[ i ] Tips
Where snow chains are mandatory on certain roads, this normally
a lso a ppl ies to veh ic les w it h All Wheel Dr iv e. •
Vehicle care I t •
Page 258 of 316
_L_T~ir ~e :..:s~ a~n~ d~ w~ h ~e~e~ l~ s '.,_ ______________________________________________ _
Wheel bolts
W heel b olts mus t al wa ys be tigh te n ed to t he cor rect
to rqu e.
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the factory instal led rims . If
d ifferen t rims are fitted, the co rrect w heel bo lts wit h th e rig ht length
and correctly shaped bolt heads m ust be used. This ensures that
w hee ls are fitt ed s ecure ly a nd th at t he brake sys te m funct ions
correctly .
I n certain circums tances, yo u may no t use w heel b olts fr om a
differ ent vehicle -even if it is the same model::::;,
page 296.
&_ WARNING
Improperly tightened or maintained wheel bolts can become loose
causing loss of control , a collision and serious personal injury.
• Always keep the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel hubs
clean so the wheel bolts can turn easily and be properly tightened.
• Never grease or oil the wheel bolts and the threads in the wheel
hubs. They can become loose while driving if greased or oiled,
even if tightened to the specified torque .
• Only use wheel bolts that belong to the rim being installed.
• Never use different wheels bolts on your vehicle.
• Always maintain the correct tightening torque for the wheel
bolts to reduce the risk of a wheel loss. If the tightening torque of
the wheel bolts is too low , they can loosen and come out when the
vehicle is moving . If the tightening torque is too high, the wheel
bolts and th reads can be damaged and the wheel can become
loose .
0 Note
The specified torque for the wheel bolts is 90 ft lb (120 Nm) with a
t ole ranc e of ± 7,4 ft lb(± 1 0 Nm). To rque whee l bolts diag onally.
After changing a wheel, the torque must be checked as soon as possible with a to
rque wrench -preferab ly by an authorized Audi
dea ler o r qu alif ied wo rksh op.•
Low aspect ratio tires
Yo ur Audi is fac tory-equip ped wi th l ow asp ect rati o tires. Th ese tires
have been thorough ly tested and been selected specifically for your
mod el for thei r su per b p erfo rma nce, road feel an d handl in g u nder
a variety of driving conditions . Ask your author ized Aud i dea ler for
mo re deta ils.
T he low aspec t ra tio o f th ese t ires is ind icate d by a numera l o f 55 or
less in the t ire's size designation. The numera l represents the ratio
of the ti re's s idewa ll height in re la ti on to its tread w idth e xpress ed
in percentage. Conventiona l tires have a height/width ratio of 60 or
mo re .
The performan ce of low -aspect -ratio t ires is part icularly sensitive to
improper inflation pressure . It is therefore important that low
aspect ratio tires are inflated to the specified pressure and that the
inflation pressure is regularly checked and maintained. Tire pres
sures should be checked at least once a month and alway s before a
long trip::::;,
page 244, "Checking tire p ressure".
What you can do to a void tire and rim damage
L ow a spect ratio tires can be damaged more easi ly by impact with
potho les, curbs, gull ies or ridges on the road, particularly if the t ire
is underinflated.
In orde r to minimi ze the occurrence o f im pact da mage to th e tire s
of your vehicle, we recommend that you observe the fo llowing
p reca utions:
• Always ma intain reco mm ende d inflat io n pressu res . C heck your
tire p ressure every 2, 000 miles (3 ,000 km) and add ai r if neces sary .
• D rive car eful ly on roads with potholes, deep gullies or ridges.
Th e impact from d riving th ro ugh o r ove r such o bstac les can
dama ge you r tires . Impact w ith a curb may also cause da mage to
your tires . .,_
Page 260 of 316
-Tires and wheels
---------------------------------------------
& WARNING
Improper use of run-flat tires can cause vehicle damage that can
lead to loss of vehicle control, a crash and serious personal injury.
• Run-flat tires can only be used with special rims.
• Run -flat tires must always be monitored with a properly
programmed Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
• Always inspect a tire that has lost air to make sure it is safe to
drive with the tire in the run-flat mode .
• Never drive with run-flat tires that have been damaged in a
collision.
• Never drive with run-flat tires if heat build-up causes the tire to
give off smoke.
• Never drive with run-flat tires if the vehicle shakes or vibrates
severely.
• Never drive with a run-flat tire that develops sidewall cracks or
other damage while in use.
0 Note
Run -flat tires have special characteristics and requirements, that are
very different from conventional tires . Run-flat tires require special
rims for run -flat use and cannot be used on conventional wheel
rims .
[ i] Tips
• If you are not able to continue driving with run-flat tires, please
seek professional assistance.
• Please contact your authorized Audi dealer or Audi of America,
Inc. if you have questions about tires and rims. •
Applie s t o vehic le s: wi th Run -flat tires
Driving with run-flat tires
Handling characteristics change when tire pressure is
low.
Driving on tires with low tire pressure changes the way a
vehicle handles, particularl y when cornering and braking.
The handling characteristics of run-flat tires do not seem to
change a lot even when driving on low pressure or in the
run -flat mode . Nevertheless you must still take special
precautions when operating a vehicle on run-flat tires when
tire pressure is low o r the tire(s) is flat:
- The Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) must be
switched on.
- Never drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h)~ &.
- Plan ahead when driving and anticipate what you will
have to do considering traffic and road conditions up
ahead.
- Accelerate carefully.
- Avo id unnecessary and sudden steering and braking
maneuvers .
- Reduce your speed in plenty of time before intersections,
curves and other places where you may have to react
quickly.
P lease see:=:, page 257, "When it is not possible to continue driving,
even with run-flat tires?" ..,_
Page 261 of 316
________________________________________________ T_ i _r_e _s_ a_n_ d_ w_ h_ e_e _ l_s __ lfll
•
Handling characteristi cs change wh en dri ving with
low air pressure or with flat tires even with special run
flat tires
A low pressure or flat front tire affects vehicle hand lin g charac te ri s
t ics by pulling the vehic le slightly to the side where the tire is
mounted and reduces brak ing performance .
A low pressure or flat
rear tire also affec ts driving c haracteristics by
pul ling to the side where th e tire is mounted and also reduces
b raki ng per for mance . T he ef fec t o n ve hic le han dlin g is most n otice
able when driving around curves .
& WARNING
Changed vehicle handling characteristics when driv ing in the run
flat mode can cause lo ss of vehicle control , a crash and serious
personal injury .
• Driving on special run-flat tires in the run -flat mode will change
vehicle handling characterist ics during braki ng , when cornering
and under heavy acceleration .
• Never drive faster than the max imum rated speed of 50 mph
(80 km /h) when driving in the run -flat mode .
• Always adjust vehicle speed to traffic , road and weather condi
tions and drive slower than the maximum rated speed if nece ssary
weather and road conditions are taken into ac count .
• Always obey speed limits and other traffic laws .
0 Note
We always recommend driv ing with even more care when using
these special tires in the run -flat mode. A lways avoid sudden
m aneuvers. •
Applies to vehic les: with Run-f lat tires
Replacing run -flat tires and rims
Y our vehicle was especi ally des igned to use special run
fl at t ires.
You may use and c ombi ne o nly approved run -flat t ires a nd specia l
matching rims that have been designed for run -flat tires. Mounting
special run -fla t tires o n stan dard wheels w ill not work and wi ll not
provide the advantages fo the run -falt feature. Never us e special
run-flat tir es o n standard whee l rims.
After driving with a tire in the run -f lat mode, always have the vehicle
and affected tire(s) and rim(s) inspected by an a uthorized Audi
dea ler. T ires tha t have been driven i n the run -fla t mode mus t be
replaced.
& WARNING
Use of damaged run-flat tires and rims c an cause vehicle damage
that can lead to loss of vehicle control , a crash and serious
personal injury.
• Always have the vehi cle and affected tire (sl and rim(s )
inspe cted by an authorized Audi dealer after driving a tire in the
run -flat mode .
• Tires that have been driven in the run -flat mode must be
repla ced .•
Vehicle care
I t •
Page 264 of 316
11111...__W_ h_ a _ t_d_ o_ l _d _o_ n_ o_ vv_ ? ______________________________________________ _
What do I do now?
Trunk escape handle
In case of an emergency, the rear lid can be opened from
the inside using the trunk escape handle.
F ig . 165 Lug gag e
co mp artm ent: T runk
escape handl e
- To open the trunk lid pull the hand le down as indicated
by t h e -arrow -~ fig. 165.
The trunk escape handle inside the storage compartment is made
of fluorescent materia l to glow in the dark.
& WARNING
The tr un k es cap e handl e is to b e use d onl y in an em ergen cy. •
Vehicle tool kit
The tools are st ored underneath the floor panel in the
luggage c ompartment.
Fi g. 16 6 Lugga ge
co mpa rtm ent : ve hic le
t o ol kit
- Sw ing the luggage compartment floo r upwards .
- Remove the ve hicle tool kit .
The onboard tool ki t includes:
• Hook for removing wheel covers *
• Plastic clip to remove wheel bolt covers*
• Wheel bolt wrench
• Alignment pin for changing wheels
• Screwdriver wi th reversible blade
• Replacement bit (r eve rsible Torx bit for changing lamps)
• Open ended wrench 10 x 13
• Towing eye
Note: some of the on board items listed above are prov ided on
certain models only or a re optional extras.
Page 265 of 316
_____________________________________________ W_ h_ a_t _d.....;. o_ l _d _o :....:.. n:..o:.. w.:....... ?:....:..--Jffllll
& WARNING
• Using a bumper jac k to raise the vehicle will damage the
bumper system . The jack may slip , causing injury .
• Never support your veh icle on cinder blocks , bri cks or other
obje cts. The se may not be able to support the load and could
c ause injury when they fail.
• Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is supported by
the jack .
• If you mu st work under the vehicle, always use safety stands
specifically des igned for this purpose .
• Never use the he xagonal socket in the handle of the screw
driver to loo sen or tighten the wheel bolts . •
Tire repair
App lies to vehicles: with Tire Mob ility System
General and safety pointers
Tire repair is in tended only for te m porary, shor t- te rm use.
®
Fig . 16 7 Tire damage
for which the Tire Mobility Sy stem is not
suited
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire repai r kit, the Tire Mobil ity
System (TMS) *. I
n the event of a tire fai lure, the TMS is in the luggage compartment
u nde r th e floo r. It cons ists of the tir e sealan t and an el ectric a ir
pump .
U sing TMS, tire damage caused by foreign bodies up to about
0 .16 inch (4 mm ) in diam eter can be seale d relia bly.
T he foreign object can stay in the tire .
The tire sealant must not be used:
• for cuts or punctures in the tire which are large r than
0.16 inch (4 mm)~ fig . 167
G)
• for damage to the rim 0
• if you have been driving with very low tire pressures or tires w ith
n o air G)
Using the TMS is described in the section~ page
264, "Preliminary
steps" .
TMS can be used a t te m peratures down to -4 °F ( -20 °C).
& WARNING
Take the following precautions after repairing the tire :
• Do not drive faster than 50 mph (80 km /hi!
• Avoid full -throttle acceleration , heavy braking and fast
cornering .
• The vehicle's road behavior can be affe cted .
• Tires sealed with TMS are intended only for temporary , short
term use .
• After using the tire sealant the tire pressure monitoring system
m ay no longer work properly . Drive carefully to the next profes
s ional repair facility.
• TMS must NOT be used ,
- for cuts or punctures in the tire whi ch are larger than
0 .16 inch (4 mm )
- for damage to the rim
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service irechnical data
Page 266 of 316
1111...__W_ h_ a _ t_d_ o_ l _d _o_ n_ o_ vv_ ? ______________________________________________ _
& WARNING (continued)
-if you have been driving with very low tire pressures or tires
with no air
• Seek professional assistance if it is not possible to repair the
tire with the tire sealant.
& WARNING
The tire sealant must not come into contact with skin, eyes or
clothing.
• If you get any tire sealant
in your eyes or come into contact
with it, rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean water. Find a physician immediately!
• Change any clothing contaminated with tire sealant immedi
ately.
• Do not inhale the vapor!
• If you have swallowed tire sealant, rinse your mouth thor
oughly right away and drink plenty of water .
- Do not induce vomiting! Find a physician immediately!
• If you have allergic reactions, find a physician immediately .
• Keep the tire sealant away from children .
0 Note
Do not use commercially available tire sealants. The electrical
components of the tire pressure monitoring system will no longer
work properly.
'i> For the sake of the environment
Used sealant bottles can be dropped off at a recycling facility.
[ i] Tips
• If sealant has run out, allow it to dry. Then you can peel it off.
• Have the tire sealant replaced every 4 years at a dealership. •
Applies to vehic les: with T ire Mob ility System
Preliminary steps
Some preliminary steps are necessary for tire repair .
Fig. 168 Tire Mobility
System under luggage
compartment floor
- If you have a flat tire, park the vehicle as far as possible
from moving traffic.
- Apply the
parking brake firmly.
- On vehicles with manual transmission, engage
1st gear,
or move the selector lever to the P position on vehicles
w ith automatic transmission.
- Check whether a repair using the Tire Mobility System is
possible~
page 263, "General and safety pointers".
Have all passengers
leave the vehicle and stay away from
the danger zone~&.
- Take the
sealant bottle and the electric air pump from the
luggage compartment under the floor ~ fig. 168. .,_
Page 267 of 316
_______________________________________________ W_ h_ a _ t_d_ o_ l _d _o_ n_ o_ w_ ? _ __.1111
- Remove the "max. 50 mph" (80 km/h) sticker from the
sealant bottle and affix it to the instrument cluster in the
driver's view.
& WARNING
• Turn the hazard flashers on and set up the warning triangle if
you have a flat tire in moving traffic . In this way you protect your
self and other road users.
• Make sure that all passengers are in a safe place, out of the
danger zone (for example, behind a guard rail).
0 Note
Particular care is necessary if you are making a tire repair on a steep
incline.
[ i] Tips
Obey all laws. •
Applies to vehicles: with T ire Mobil ity System
Making a tire repair
Tire repair consists of the following sections.
Fig. 169 Parts of the
Tire Mobility System Fig
. 170 Connector for
the Tire Mobility System
Assembling Tire Mobility System
- Open the lid 0 of the electric air pump~ fig. 169.
- Pull the plug© and the pressure hose G)with the gauge
out of the housing.
- Screw the pressure hose© of the electric air pump onto
the flange © of the sealant bottle
G).
- Push the sealant bottle with the flange down into the
recess
G) on the lid of the electric air pump.
- Remove the dust cap from the valve of the defective tire.
- Screw the hose @) onto the valve
G) ~ fig. 170.
- Insert the plug©~ fig. 169 into the socket for the ciga-
rette lighter.
Inflating tire
- Move the switch®~ fig. 170 on the electric air pump 31
to position I. After 5 minutes, tire pressure must have
reached at least 1.8 bar.
~
3> The e lectric air pump should never run for longer than 8 minutes.
Vehicle care Do-it-yourself service irechnical data