flat tire AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2009 User Guide

Tires and wh eels -
--------------------'
Vehicle capac ity wei ght
means the rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lbs. (68 kilograms)
times the vehicle's tota l seating capacity as listed on the label
located either on the driver's side 8 -pil lar or on the inside of the fuel
filler flap.
V eh ic le max imum load on the tire
means that load on an individual tire that is determined by distrib­
uting to each ax le its sha re of the maximum loaded vehicle weight
and dividing by two.
Vehi cle normal load on th e tire
means that load on an ind ividual tire that is determined by distrib ­
uting to each axle its share of the curb weight, accessory weight,
and normal occupant weight (distributed in accordance with table
below~
page 271) and dividing by two.
O ccup ant loading and di stribution for veh icle normal load for various designated seating capa citi es
Designated seating capa city , num- Vehicle normal load , number of Oc cupant distribution in a normally
loaded vehicle
ber of o
ccup ants occupants
-------------------4 2 2 in fr ont •
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire pressure a ffects the overall handling, perform ance and safety of a vehicle .
Fig. 207 Tire pr essure
l a b el: loca ted e ithe r o n
driver 's side B- pillar or
in side the fuel fill er flap
Tire pressure generally refers to the amount of air in a tire that it
needs it to do its job and safely carry the combined load of the entire
vehicle and its contents. Tire pressure is measured in kilopascals (kPa), the internationa l measuring unit and in pounds per square
inch (PSI!. Tire pressure is based in part on the vehic le's design and
TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION
• (SEATING CAPACITY :rorAI. I :FRONT I :CE NTER I :REAR I l
Thea,mthd""'91"~000,-ond""90shoulcl,-u TIRE SIZE COI.D TIRE PRESSURE
FRONT -KPa, -PSI
REAR -KPa, - PSI
SPARE -KPa, -PSI
MANUAL FOR
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION SEE OWNER'S I
Fig . 2 0 8 Tire press ure
l a b el
load limit -the greatest amount of weight that the vehicle can carry
safe ly and the t ire size. The proper t ire pressure is frequently
referred to as the "recommended cold tire inflation pressure." Air in
the tires expands when the tire heats up because of interna l friction
when it flexes in use. The tire pressure is higher when the tire has ...
Vehicle care irechnical data

-Tires and wheels
P'U:1-------------------
warmed up than when it is "cold." It is the inflation pressure in a
"cold" tire that counts. Therefore, you should never let air out of a
warm tire to match "cold tire inflation pressure" recommendations .
The tires would then be underinflated and could fail suddenly.
Maintaining proper tire pressure is one of the most important
things you can do to help avoid sudden tire failure. Underinflated
tires are a major cause of sudden tire failure. Keeping tires at the
right pressure is also important for safe and responsive vehicle
handling, traction, braking and load carrying.
Tire pressures are
particularly important when the vehicle is being driven at higher
speeds, and then especially when heavily loaded even within the
permissible load-carrying capacities approved for your vehicle .
The recommended tire pressures for your Audi depend on the kind
of tires on your vehicle and the number of passengers and/or
amount of luggage you will be transporting.
On USA vehicles, the tire pressure label is located on the driver's
side B-pillar . On Canada vehicles, the tire pressure label is located
either on the driver's side B-pillar or inside the fuel filler flap. The tire
pressure label lists the recommended cold tire inflation pressures
for the vehicle at its maximum capacity weight and tires that were
on your vehicle at the time it was manufactured.
If you wish to improve comfort when operating the vehicle at
normal load (up to 2 occupants), you can adjust tire pressures to
-
those specified for normal vehicle load. Before operating the vehicle
at maximum load, you must increase the tire pressures to those
specified for maximum vehicle load
=> & .
If your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system *,
bear in mind that the system can only monitor the tire pressures you
have stored. The system does not recognize the load condition of
your vehicle.
The effectiveness of the tire pressure monitoring system will be
impaired if you store normal load pressures but then operate the
vehicle at its maximum load=>&.
See the illustration =>
page 271, fig. 207 for the location of the label
either on driver's side B-pillar or inside the fuel filler flap (color of
the actual label and exact location on the vehicle will vary slightly).
Note that the following table is accurate at the time of going to
press and is subject to change. In the event of discrepancies, the tire
pressure label (either on driver's side B-pillar or inside the fuel filler
flap) always takes precedence .
The table below lists the recommended cold tire inflation pressures
for the Audi model covered by your Owner's Literature at the
vehicle's capacity weight and the tire sizes installed on the respec­
tive models as original equipment, or as a factory option.
Engine
(displace­
ment in liter) Tire designation
Tire pressure front Tire pressure rear
4-cylinder
2.0 215/55 R16 93H All Season
235/45 R17 94H All Season
235/45 R17 94Y High Performance
235/40 R18 95Y XL High Performance
normal load
condition (up to
2 occupants)
PSI
33
33
30
36
kPA
230
230
210
250
full load
condition
PSI
35
35 33
42
II kPA
240
240
230
290
normal load
condition (up
to 2 occupants)
PSI
30
30
30
36
JI kPA
210
210
210
250
11 full load
condition
PSI
38
38
33
42
JI kPA
260
260
230
290
I

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& 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. •
Checking tire pressure
The correct tire pressure for the tires originally installed
on your vehicle is listed on the tire pressure label located
either on driver's side 8-pillar or inside the fuel filler flap.
The recommended tire pressures are on the tire pressure label and
in the table=>
page 271, "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 miles (kilometers) at low
speeds during the previous three hours. Air in the tires expands
when the tire heats up as a result of internal friction as it flexes in
use. The tire pressure 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
should never let air out of a warm tire to match "Cold tire inflation
pressure" recommendations=>
page 271. 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 new, original equipm ent tires that were
on your vehicle at the time it was manufactured. For the location of
the label =>
page 271, fig. 207.
Most tires lose air naturally over time. 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 radial tires used today are underinflated
just by looking at them.
Therefore, be sure to check tire pressures at least once a month and always before going on a long trip. Make sure to take the number of
people and the amount of luggage into account when adjusting tire
pressure for a trip -even one that you would not consider to be
"long." See=>
page 275, "Tires and vehicle load limits" for more
impor tant information .
Always use an accurate tire pressure gauge when checking and
adjusting inflation pressures . Check all of the tires and be sure not
to forget the spare tire. If the pressure in any tire is too high when
the tire is "cold," let air out of the tire slowly with the edge of the tire
gauge and keep checking the pressure until you reach the pressure
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 cold tire and the pressure you need and add the air
that you need to reach the correct pressure for the vehicle load
(passengers and luggage) for the tires on your vehicle as listed on
the on your vehicle and in this manual and the kind of driving you
plan to do.
Never exceed the maximum inflation pressure listed on the tire
sidewall for any reason.
Remember that the vehicle manufacturer, not the tire manufacturer,
determines the correct tire pressure for the tires on your vehicle.
It is important to check the tire pressure when the tires are cold.
• Read the required tire pressure from the tire pressure label. On
USA vehicles, the tire pressure label is located on the driver's side
B-pillar . On Canada vehicles, the tire pressure label is located either
on the driver's side 8 -pillar or inside the fuel filler flap.
• Turn the valve stem cap counter-clockwise to remove it from the
tire valve.
• Place the air pressure gauge on the valve. .,_

Tires and wheels -
----------------
•
• The tire pressures should only be checked and adjusted when
t he t ires are co ld . The s lightly raised press ures of warm tires must
not be reduced .
• Adjust t he tire p re ssure to the load you are carrying.
• Reinstall the va lve stem cap on the valve.
When should I check the tire pressure?
The correc t tire p re ssur e is espec ially i mportant at high speeds. The
pressure should there fore be c hecked at least once a month and
a lways before starting a journey. Do not forget to check the tire pres ­
su re for t he spare whee l::::>
page 291.
When should I adjust the tire pressures?
Adjust the ti re pressur e to the load you are carrying. A fter chang in g
a wheel
or replacing whee ls you have to adj ust t he t ire pressure s on
a ll whee ls. In addition, o n ve hicles w ith t ire pressure monito ring
system * you must then store the new tire pressures in the system
=> page 41.
& WARNING
Incorrect tire pres sures and /or underinflation can lead sudden tire
failure, loss of control , collision, serious personal injury or even
death .
• When the warning symbol ( appears in the instrument
cluster , stop and inspect the tires .
• Incorrect tire pressure and /or underinflation can cause
increased tire wear and can affe ct the handling of the vehicle and
stopping ability .
• Incorre ct tire pressures and /or underinflat ion can also lead to
sudden tire failure, including a blowout and sudden deflation,
causing loss of vehi cle control.
• The driver is responsible for the correct tire pressures for all
tires on the vehicle . The appli cable pre ssure values are located on
a sticker on the driver 's side 8-pillar or on the inside of the fuel
filler flap .
& WARNING (continued )
• Only when all tires on the veh icle are filled to the correct pres­
s ure, the tire pressure monitoring system * can work correctly .
• The use of incorrect tire pressure values can lead to accidents
or other damage . Therefore it is essential that the driver observe
the specified tire pressure values for the tires and the correct pres­
sures for the function of the tire pressure monitoring system*.
• Alway s inflate tires to the recommended and corre ct tire pres ­
sure 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 /overloading can cause he at 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 che ck the tire pressure and add air as required .
0 Note
Driving without valve stem caps can cause damage to the tire
valves. To p revent this, a lways make sure tha t factory installe d va lve
stem caps on al l wheels are securely mounted on the va lve .
<£> For the sake of the environment
Underinflated tires wi ll a lso increase the fue l consumption. •
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of load or weight that any vehic le and
any tire can carry. A vehicle that is overloa ded wil l n o t handle well _,.
Vehic le care

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and is more difficult to stop. Overloading can not only lead to loss
of vehic le contro l, but can also damage important parts of the
vehic le 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 passengers also depends on making sure that load limits are not exceeded . Vehicle load includes every ­
body and everything in and on the veh icle . These load lim its are
technically referred to as the vehicle's
G ross Vehicle Weight R ating
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehic le, all factory
installed accessories, a ful l tank of fuel, oil, coolant and other fluids
p lus maximum load. The maximum load includes the number of
passengers that the vehicle is intended to carry ("seating capacity")
with an assumed we ight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each passenger at a
designated seating position and the total weight of any luggage in
t he vehicle. If you tow a trai ler, the weight of the trailer hitch and the
tongue weight of the loaded trai ler must be included as part of the
vehic le load .
T he
G ros s Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR") is the maximum load that
can be applied at each of the vehicle's two axles .
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rat ing and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compliance sticker labe l located either on
the d river's side B -pillar o r on t he inside of the f ue l fi ller flap. Yo ur
Audi has 4 seating positions, 2 in the front and 2 in the rear for total
seating capaci ty of 4. Each seating posi tion has a safety belt
=>
page 159, "Safety be lts" .
T he fact that there is an upper limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehicle
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 weigh t of the loaded trailer) is lim ite d. The more passengers
in the vehicle or passengers who are heavier than the standard
weights assumed mean that less weight can be carried as luggage.
The tire pressure labe l on your Audi also lists the maximum
combined weight of a ll of the occupants and luggage or othe r cargo that the vehicle can carry
. For the location of the label=>
page 271,
f ig. 207 .
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cau se lo ss of vehicle control , a cra sh or
other a ccident , seriou s personal injury , and even de ath .
• Carrying more weight th an your vehi cle w as designed to ca rry
will prevent the vehi cle from handling properly and in cre ase the
ri sk of the lo ss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a veh icle th at ha s been overloaded ma y not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance .
• Tire s on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly,
i ncluding a blowout and sudden defla tion , cau sin g los s of control
and a crash .
• Alwa ys make sure that the tot al l oad be ing tran sported -
including the weight of a trai ler hit ch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer -does not m ake the vehicle heavie r than the
v ehicle 's Gro ss Vehicle Weight Rat ing .•
Determining correct load limit
U se th e exa mple below to calculat e the
total weight of the passengers and luggage or other things that you plan to
tran sport so that you can make sure that
your vehi cle will n ot be ov erlo ad ed.
~

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
0
©
@
U.S. DOT tire identification number
Sever snow conditions
Tire ply composition and materials used
Maximum load rating
Treadwear, traction and temperature grades Maximum permissible inflation 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 handl ing when in good condition and prop ­
erly inflated =>& .
We recommend that al l work on tires and wheels be performed by
an authorized Audi dealer . They are familiar with recommended
procedures and have the necessary special too ls and spare parts as
we ll as the proper facilities for disposing of the o ld tires .
Authorized Audi dealers have the necessary information about tech ­
n ical requirements for insta lling o r changing tires and rims .
Repl ac ing t ires and wheels
Tires should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (for
example both front tires or both rear tires together).
On vehicles with tire pressure moni toring system*, be sure to read
and heed the information=>
page 287.
Always buy replace ment radia l tires tha t 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
=>
page 271.
A udi -appr oved specificat ion tires a re specially matched t o your
vehic le and its load limits, and can contribute to the important road- holding, driving characteristics, and safety of the vehicle
. T he tab le
( =>
page 271) lists specifications of the tires approved for the Audi
models covered by your Owner's Literature.
The tire pressure label located either on driver's side B -pi llar or
insi de the fuel filler flap(=>
page 271, fig. 208) lists the specifica ­
tions of the original equipment tires installed on your vehicle at the
time it was manufactured.
Federa l law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized infor ­
mation on the sidewa ll of all tires=>
page 279, fig. 211. This informa ­
tion identifies and descr ibes the fundamenta l characteristics, the
quality grade of the tire and a lso prov ides a tire identification
number for safety standa rd certif ication and in case o f a recall.
Tire sp ecifi cations
Knowledge of tire specifications makes it easier to choose the
correct t ires. Rad ial tires have the tire specifications mar ked on the
sidewal l, for example:
P235 / 45 R 18 95 Y
This c onta ins the fo llowing informatio n:
P Indicates the tire is fo r passenger cars (where appl icab le)
2 3 5 Nominal tire width in mm of the tire from sidewall edge to s ide -
wa ll edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire
45 Height/width ratio in percent (aspect ratio)
R Tire construction: Radial
18 Rim d iameter c ode (in inches)
95 Load rat ing code
V Speed rating letter code
X L (or "xi", "EXTRA LOAD" or "RF") indicates that the tire is a "Rein ­
forced" or an "Ex tra Load" ti re
M +S (or "M/S") Indicates that the tire has some mud and snow capa ­
bility
The ti res cou ld also have the information of direction of rotation
=>
page 267 .

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•
Tire manufacturing date
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tire sidewall
(possibly on ly on the
inner side of the wheell:
"DOT ... 2209 ... " means, for example, that the tire was produced in
the 22th week of 2009.
Speed rating (letter code)
The speed rating letter code on the wheels indicates the maximum
permissible road speeds =:,
& in "Winter tires" on page 284.
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (158 km/h)
R upto 106mph(170km /h)
S upto110mph(180km/h)
T upto118mph(190km/h)
U up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H upto130mph(210km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
31
Z over 149 mph (240 km/h)3
l
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)31
Y up to 186 mph (298 km/h)3
l
Your vehicle is normally factory equipped with tires, which possess
excel lent driving characteristics and give your Audi opt imum
driving comfort. An electronic speed limiter=:,
page 28will normal ly
prevent your vehicle from going faster than the tire speed ratin g
=:>& .
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN ) and tire
manufacture date
This is the tire's "serial number". It begins with the le tters "DOT"
and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards. The next two
numbers or letters indicate the plant where it was manufactured,
and the last four numbers represent the week and year of manufac-
31 For tires with a maximum speed capability over 149 mph (240 km/h), tire
m anufacturers so metimes use the letters "ZR."
ture. For example, the numbers 2209 mean that the tire was
produced in the 22th week of 2009. The other numbers are
marketing codes that may or may not be used by the tire manufac­
turer . This information is used to contact consumers if a tire defect
requires a recall.
Tire ply composition and materials used
The number of plies indicates the number of layers of rubber-coated
fabric in the tire. In general, the greater the number of plies, the
more weight a tire can support. Tire manufacturers also must indi ­
cate the materials in the tire, which include steel, nylon, polyester,
and others.
Maximum Load Rating
This number indicates the maximum load in kilograms and pounds
that can be carr ied by the tire .
Tire quality grading for treadwear, traction, and
temperature resistance
Tread wear, traction and temperature grades=:, page 283.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever
be put in the tire under normal driving conditions.
Replacing tires or rims on vehicles equipped with tire
pressure monitoring system*
The wheels on your vehicle are equipped with a sensor which
constantly monitors the air pressure inside the tire, and then trans ­
mits this information to the tire pressure monitoring system*. If you
are going to replace the wheel rims on your vehicle, make sure the
new rims also have these sensors . The sensors must be compatible
with the tire pressure monitoring system* on your vehic le .
If you install rims, which do not have the sensors, or have sensors
which are not compatible, then the tire pressure monitoring
system* wil l not work properly. In this case, the tire pressure moni -.,_
Ve hic le care

-~_T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_e _l_s _________________________________________________ _
toring system* would not be able to monitor the tire pressure or
warn you if it is necessa ry.
• T he battery inside of the tire pressure sensor has a limited
service life.
• Always drive with the valve stem caps securely mounted. We
r ecommend us ing facto ry insta lled va lve stem caps. Ask you r autho ­
rized Audi dealer to replace lost va lve stem caps.
T he installation of rep lacement tires with steel cord body p lies in
t he tire sidewall may cause mal functi on of the tir e pressure mo ni­
toring system , and is not recommended (cord material information
in mo lded o n th e ti re sid ewa ll) .
Always check your tire pressure monitoring system * indicator after
r eplacing one or mo re ti res on your veh ic le . I f the ti re p ress ure
m onito ring syste m* ind icator flashes, or is o n, your s ystem is not
wo rking properly . Your replacement t ire might be incompatible with
yo ur tir e pressure mon ito ring system* , o r so me compo nen t of th e
tire p ressure monitoring system * may be damaged .
& WARNING
• Using incorrect or unmatched tires and I or wheels or improper
tire and wheel combinations can lead to loss of control , collision
and serious personal injury .
• Always use t ires , rims and wheel bolts that meet the specifica­
tions of original factory-installed tires or other combinations that
have been specifically approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Tires age even if they are not being used and can fa il suddenly,
espe cially 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 speed s.
• Never mount used tire s on your vehicle if you are not sure of
their "previous history ." Old used tire s may have been damaged
even though the damage cannot be seen that can lead to sudden
tire f ailure and loss of vehicle control.
& W ARNING (continued )
• All four wheels mu st be fitted with radial tires of the same type,
size (rolling circumference ) and the same tread pattern. Driv ing
with different tires redu ces vehicle h andling 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 tire s - only u se 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 faster than
the ir 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 vehicle s -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 tire s may only be used on vehicle s that were equipped
with them at the fa ctory . The vehicle must have a cha ssis designed
for run flat tires and a factory -installed tire pressure monitoring
s ystem that indicate s a loss of tire pressure . Incorre ct use of run
flat tires can lead to vehicle damage or accidents . Check with an
autho rized Audi dealer or t ire specialist to see if your vehicle can
be equipped with run flat tires .
If run flat tires are used , they mu st
be installed on all four wheels . Mixing tire types is not permitted. .,

__________________________________________________ T_ ir_e_ s_ a_ n_d _ w_ h_ e_ e_l_s _ ...... fflll
•
0 Not e
• For technical reasons, it is not genera lly possible to use the
wheel rims from other vehic les. This can hold true for wheels of the
same vehicle type.
• If the spare tire is different from the tires that you have mounted
on your vehicle (for example winter tires or wide profile t ires), then
use the spare tire for a short period of time only and drive with extra
care. Rep lace the flat tire with the tire matching the others on your
vehic le as soon as possible.
• If you should put different wheels and tires on your vehic le (e.g.
winter wheels and tires), you must be certain that the wheels and
tires are compatib le with the tire pressure monitoring system.
Otherwise the system will register a malfunction and a fault
message will be displayed . For more information, contact your Aud i
dea ler.
0 Note
• When insta lling new tires, be carefu l not to damage the valves or
t ire pressure monitoring system* senso rs.
• Never drive without the va lve stem cap. The va lves could get
damaged.
• If the sensors must be replaced, then the valve must also be
replaced at the same t ime.
Dispose of old tires in accordance with the local requirements .•
Uniform tire quality grading
• Tread wear
• Traction AA A B C
• Temperature A B C Qua
lity grades can be found where applicable on the tire side wall
be tween tread shoulder and maximum section widt h =>
page 279,
fig. 21 1.
For example : Tread wear 200, Traction AA , Temperature A.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federa l Safety Require­
ments in addition to these grades.
Tre ad w ear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate
of the tire when tested under con trol led conditions on a specified
government test course.
F o r exam ple, a tire g raded 150 would wear one and one half (1 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100 .
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual condi ­
tions of the ir use, however, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differ ­
ences in road cha racteristics and c limate .
Tra ction
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
measu red under contro lled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance =>
/.1.
Temperatur e
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing
the tire 's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissi ­
pate heat when tested under contro lled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sus tained high temperature can cause the material of the ti re to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure=>
/.1.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Vehic le care

-~_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
p er forma nce on th e laboratory test w hee l tha n the minim um
required by law .
& WARNING
The traction grade ass igned to this t ire is based on straight-ahead
braking traction tests , and does not include a cceleration ,
c ornering , hydroplaning or peak tra ction characterist ics .
& WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is established fo r a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed , underinfla­
tion, or exces sive loading , either separately or in combination , can
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure . •
Winter tires
Winter tires can improve veh icle ha ndl ing on sno w and
ic e. A t tem peratures belo w 45 °F (7
°C ) w e rec omm end
c ha ng ing to wint er tir e s.
In some heavy snow areas, local governments may require true
winte r or "snow" tire s, those wi th ve ry deeply cut tread. These tires
should only be used in pairs and be instal led on a ll four wheels .
M ake s ure you p urchase snow ti res that are the same size and
cons truct ion type as the o the r ti res on your v ehicle.
I f your vehic le is equipped with al l-wheel drive*, this will improve
t raction during w inter dr iving, even with the s tandard tires .
H owever, we strongly recommend that you a lways equ ip all four
whee ls on y our vehic le wi th correc tly fitted winte r tires or all-seas on
tires, when winter road conditions are expected. This also improves
th e ve hic le 's brak ing performance and red uces s to ppi ng d ista nce s.
Summer t ires p rov ide less gr ip o n ice and s now. Winter tires (snow tires) must a
lways be fitted on all four whee ls .
I f your veh icle is equipped with a ti re pre ssure monitoring system*,
compatible t ire pressure mon itoring sensors must be installed on
a ll four winte r tires for the system to function properly ~
page 281.
Ask your aut hori zed Audi dealer or quali fied wo rksho p for perm itte d
winter tire sizes . Use only radial winter tires.
Winter tires lose thei r effec tive nes s when the tread is wo rn down t o
a depth of 0.157 inch (4 mm).
On ly drive with winter tires unde r winter conditions. Summer tires
h andle be tter w hen th ere is no s now o r ice on t he roads a nd the
temperature is above 45 °F (7 °C) .
I f you have a flat tire, see n otes on s pa re whee l~
page 279.
Please a lways remember that w inte r tires may h ave a lowe r speed
rating than the tires original ly instal led on yo ur vehic le at the time
i t was manu fac tured. Please see~
page 281, "Speed rating (letter
code)" for a listing of the speed rating letter codes and the
m ax imum speed at wh ic h th e tir es ca n be d riven .
The speed rating letter code(~
page 270) is on the side wa ll of the
ti re ~
page 279.
& WARNING
Winter tires have maximum speed limits that may be lower than
your vehicle's maximum 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 maximum 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 seriou s
~