tires AUDI A7 2018 Owners Manual

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J ' Energy management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Notice about data recorded by the Event
Data Recorder and vehicle control
modules 127
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Correct passenger seating positions . . . . . 130
Driver's and front passenger 's footwell . . 133
Pedal area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
S to ring cargo co rrect ly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
R epo rting Safety Defe cts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Safety belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Gene ral informa tion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Why use safety belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Safety bel ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 1
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
I mportant information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 6
F ront airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Mon itoring the Advanced Airbag System . 158
Knee airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Side curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Important information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Ch ild safety seats .............. ... .. . 176
Secur ing ch ild safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
L ATCH system ( lowe r anchorages a nd
te thers for chi ld ren) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Ad dit ional informat ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Checking and Filling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Fu el. .. .... .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 189
R efueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Em iss ions cont rol system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
On Board Diagnostic System (OBD) . . . . . 193
Eng ine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Eng ine oi l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Brake flu id . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 1
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 1
Table of content s
Windshie ld washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 03
Service interva l display 203
Wheels .. .. .... .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. 205
Whee ls and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
T ire pressure mon itoring system
Tire pressure monitoring system 222
224
Care and cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Genera l information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Car washes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Cleaning and care i nformat ion . . . . . . . . . 229
Plac ing your vehicle out of serv ice . . . . . . 232
Do It Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Emergency assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 233
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
E q ui pment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
T ire mobility kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Replacing w heels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Spa re tire 241
Fuses .... .. .. .. ............... .. .. 243
Replacing fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Drive r side cockpit fuse assignment
Front passenger side cockpit fuse 2
44
ass ignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Luggage compartment fuse assignment . 245
Emergency situations . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Genera l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Start ing by pus hing or tow ing . . . . . . . . . . 247
Start ing with jumper cables . . . . . . . . . . . 247
U se of jumper cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
T ow ing with a tow t ruck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Raising the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Accessories and Technical Data . 253
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Vehicle s pec if ic at io ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Notes abo ut technic al data . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Dimens ions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
3

a co .... N
" N
-Keep in mind that oncoming vehicles may
create waves that raise the water level and
make it too deep for your vehicle to drive
through safely.
-Avoid driving through salt water, because
this can cause corrosion.
Economical and environmentally-friendly
driving
The amount of fuel consumption, the environ­
mental impact and the wear to the engine,
brakes and tires depends mostly on your driving
style. With an anticipatory and economic driving
style, fuel consumption can be reduced by ap­
proximately 10-15%. The following tips will help
you conserve the environment and your money at the same time.
Anticipatory driving
A vehicle uses the most fuel when accelerating.
When you drive with anticipation, you do not
need to brake as often and so you accelerate less.
When possible, let your vehicle coast with a
gear
engaged, for example, when you notice that the
next traffic light is red. This produces an engine
braking effect, which helps to protect the brakes
and tires and reduces the emissions and fuel con­
sumption to zero (fuel shut-off during decelera­
tion) .
Shift efficiently
Upshifting earlier is an effective way to save fuel.
Staying in a gear too long uses fuel unnecessari­
ly .
Press down on the accelerator pedal slowly and
avoid "kick-down".
Avoid full acceleration
You should rarely travel at the maximum vehicle
speed. High speeds cause a disproportionately
high increase in fuel consumption, emissions and
traffic noise. Slower driving saves fuel.
Reduce idling time
The Start/Stop system* helps to reduce the idling
time automatically. In vehicles without the Start/
8 Stop system*, it is efficient to switch the engine 00 \.J ' Driving
off when stopped at railroad crossings and long
red lights. Stopping the engine for 30-40 sec­
onds already saves more fuel than the amount of
extra fuel needed to restart the engine.
It takes a very long time in idle to warm the en­
gine up to operating temperature. Wear and
emissions are especially high in the warm-up
phase. Therefore, you should begin driving im­
mediately after starting the engine. Avoid high
RPMs while doing this .
Have maintenance performed regularly
By having maintenance performed regularly on
your vehicle, you can help to reduce fuel con­
sumption before you even start to drive. The maintenance condition of your vehicle not only
affects traffic safety and long-term value but al ­
so impacts
fuel consumption . A poorly main­
tained engine can lead to fuel consumption that
is 10% higher than normal.
Avoid short trips
The engine and emissions control system must
reach their optimal operating temperature to ef­
fectively reduce consumption and emissions .
A cold engine uses a disproportionately high amount of fuel. The engine reaches operating
temperature and consumption normalizes only
after approximately
2 .5 miles (4 km) .
Check the tire pressure
To save fuel, make sure the tires are always in­
flated to the correct pressure
Q page 215. The
fuel consumption can increase by S% if the pres­
sure is only 0.5 bar too low . Due to the increased
rolling resistance, low tire pressures will also
lead to greater tire
wear and will affect driving
behavior.
Do not drive on
winter tires year -round, as this
will consume up to 10% more fuel.
Eliminate unnecessary weight
Since every pound of extra weight increases fuel
consumption, a quick inspection of the luggage
compartment may be worth it to avoid unneces -
sary weight.
.,.
65

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \.J - Trailer towing Driving with a trailer
General information
Your veh icle is primar ily intended for transport­
ing people and luggage. However, if you dr ive
with a trailer , follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg­
u lations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle 's fuel
consumption, performance and wear. It also re­
quires highe r concentration from the driver.
A WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Certain requirements must be met when towing
a trailer.
Trailer hitch
Only use a trailer hitch with a removab le ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be perm itted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pu lled. Above all, it must be secure ly and safe ly
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. A lways follow the instructions given by
the trai ler hitch manufacturer .
Trailer brakes
If the tra iler has its own brake system, then fol­
l ow the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Trailer towing
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The coo ling sys­
tem must be designed for additiona l load and
contain enough coo lant
i::> @ .
@ Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitab le cooling system, especia lly if t he out­
side temperatures are high . otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
Operating instructions
Several things must be noted when towing a
trailer.
Towing capacity
Your vehicle can only be operated with class 1 or
class 2 trailers.
Load distribution
Poor cargo load and distribut ion can negatively
impact vehicle handling.
- Store objects preferably in the vehicle luggage
compartment . The vehicle should always carry
the heaviest poss ible load and the trailer
should have the lightest possible load.
- Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heavy objects are as close to the axle as poss i­
b le.
- Secure objects from sl iding out of place .
- Ut ilize the maximum permitted tongue weight
if possible .
Tires
Set the tire pressure on your vehicle for a "full
load"; see the tire pressure sticker
c::>page 215.
If necessary, also adjust the tire pressure on the
trailer according to the manufacturer's recom­ mendat ion .
Winter tires should be mounted on the vehicle and on the trailer during winter temperatures.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the tra ffic behind the trailer
with the standard exterior mirrors, then you
81

Ass is tance sy stem s
Assistance systems
Speed warning system
Description
Applies to: veh icles with speed warning system
The speed warning system helps you to stay un­
der a specified maximum speed.
The speed warning system warns you if you are
exceeding the maximum speed that you have set.
A warning tone will sound as soon as your speed
exceeds the sto red value slightly.
The . (USA models) I. (Canada models) indi­
cator light and a message appear in the instru­
ment cluster display at the same time.
The.
• indicator light and the message turn off if the
speed falls back below the stored maximum
speed.
Sett ing a threshold is recommended if you would
like to be reminded when you reach a certa in
maximum speed. S ituations where you may want
to do so i nclude driving in a country wit h a ge ne r­
a l speed limit o r if the re is a specified maximum
speed for winter tires.
Setting the warning threshold
The warning threshold is set in the Infotainment
system.
• Se lect: the ICARI function button> (Car )* Sys­
tems
control button > Driver assistan ce >
Spe ed warning .
(D Tips
Regardless of the speed warning system, you
should always monitor your speed using the
speedometer and make sure you are following
the legal speed limit.
84
Cruise control system
Switching on
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
The cruise control system makes it possible to
drive at a constant speed starting at 20 mph (30
km/h).
0
f
~
0
F ig . 86 Operat ing lever: c ruise control system
• To switch t he cru ise control o n, pull the lever
into position
(D ~ fig. 86 .
• Drive at the speed to be maintained.
• To store the speed, press the button @.
The stored speed and the
( ij;\1)~14 (USA models) /
l'I (Canada models) ind icator lig ht are disp layed
in the instrument cluster.
This information is also shown briefly in the
head -up display* .
The speed is mainta ined by modifying engine
power or through a n active br ake interven tion.
~ WARNING
-Always pay at tentio n to the traffic around
you when the cruise contro l system is in op­
eration . You are always respons ible for your
speed and the distance between your ve hi­
cle and other vehicles.
-For safety reasons, cruise control should not
be used in the city, in stop-and-go traff ic, on
winding roads and when road conditions are poor (such as ice, fog, gravel, heavy rai n and
hyd roplaning), because this inc reases the
r is k of an accident.
-Switch the cr uise control off temporarily
when dr iv ing in turning lanes, highway exits
or in constr uction zones.
-

Ass is tanc e system s
depending on the situation. The distribution of
power varies from balanced (comfort) to sporty
(dynamic) depending on the selected mode. The
goal is a high leve l of agility and ab ility to accel­
erate on curves. The ve hicle is very respons ive to
steer ing .
Co rne ring light *
The cornering light adapts the high beams to the
direction of the curve depending on the speed.
The pivot ing action and the light ing also adapt to
the mode.
Adapti ve c ruise control *
The behavior when acce lerating can be adjusted
from comfortable to sporty, depending on the
drive select mode. Adaptive cruise control a lso
responds to the driving behavior of the veh icle
ahead in a more conservative or sporty manner.
Engine sound *
The engine sound adapts to the current mode
and can be subtle to sporty .
@ Note
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive air suspension
-Make sure there is enough clearance above
and below t he ve hicle when parking. The
height of the vehicle (ground clearance) can
change once it is parked due to temperature
fl uctuations, changes to t he load condit ions
and c hanges to the d rivi ng modes.
- When transporting the veh icle on a car car­
r ier, tra in, sh ip or by other means, only t ie
the ve hicle dow n at t he ru nning surface of
the tires, w hich is the outer circ umfe rence.
Securing t he vehi cle at t he axle compo ­
nents, suspension struts or towing eyes is
not permitted because the pressu re in t he
a ir s uspension struts can change dur ing
Adjusting the Individual mode
transport . The vehicle may not be secured
sufficiently if this happens.
(D Tips
- In some models, the max imum ve hicle
speed can on ly be reached in t he auto and
dynamic modes.
- Th e S se lector lever position a utomat ica lly
engages if the dynamic mode is selected.
- Applies to: vehicles with dynamic steering:
operating noise is heard when sta rting o r
stopping the engine. This does not indicate
a problem .
Selecting the driving mode
.,. To select the mode, select the follow ing in the
Infotainment:
! CAR ! function button> Comfort ,
Auto , Dynamic or Individual.
.,. Applies to: vehicles with a ti:~ button on the
steering wheel: press the button repeatedly u n­
til the desired mode appea rs in the instrument
cl uste r d isplay.
You
can change the driv ing mode whe n the vehi­
cle is stationary or while d riv in g. If traff ic per­
mits, afte r changing modes, briefly t ake your
foot o ff t he accelerator pedal so t hat the recently
selected mode is also activated for t he engine.
Comfort -provides a comfort-or iented vehicle
setup a nd is s uited fo r long d rives o n highways.
Auto -provides a n overall comfortable yet dy­
nam ic dr iv ing feel and is suited for everyday use .
Dynamic -gives the driver a sporty driving fee l
and is suited to a sporty driving style .
Individu al -¢ page 106 .
A WARNING
Pay attention to traffic when ope rating the
drive select to reduce the r isk of an accident.
-
You can adjust the vehicle settings to your personal preferences .
.,. Select: the !CAR! function button > S et individ­
ual
control b utton . Once you select the men u,
106
you will a utomatica lly drive in the Indi vidual
mode .

a co ,...,
N
" N ,...,
0 00 <..:l ' you into taking risks. This could increase
your risk of a collision.
- Please note the risk of a co llision increases
when driving fast, especially through curves
and on slippery or wet roads, and when driv­
ing too close to objects ahead. The ESC and
its integrated systems cannot always pre­
vent collisions -there is still a risk of acci­
dents!
- Press the accelerator pedal carefully when
accelerating on even, slippery surfaces such
as ice and snow. The drive wheels can spin
Switching on /off
Intelligent Technology
even when these control systems are instal­
led and this can affect driving stability and increase the risk of a collision.
(D Tips
- ABS and ASR only function correctly when
all four wheels are equipped with identical
tires. Different tire sizes can lead to a reduc­ tion in engine power.
- You may hear noises when the systems de­
scribed are working.
ESC turns on automatically when you start the engine.
Fig . 138 Ce nter console: O FF ~ button
The following examples are unusual situations
where it may make sense to switch sport mode
on in order to allow the wheels to spin:
ESC levels
Sport mode on
- Rocking the vehicle to free it when it is stuck
- Driving in deep snow or on loose ground
- Driving with snow chains
Applies to: RS models: the ESC is designed to
function in levels. Depending on the level that is
selected, the stabil izat ion function of the ESC is
limited or switched off. The amount of stabiliza­
tion control will differ depending on the level.
Sport mode off
Behavior
The ESC and ASR stabilization functions Th
e full stabilization function of the ESC
are limited
c:::> &. . and ASR is available again.
Operation Press the I~ OFF I button . Press the I~ OF FI button again .
Indicator .turns on. II turns off.
lights
Me ssa ges Stabilization control (ESC): Sport Warn- Stabilization control (ESC): On
ing! Reduced stability
121

a co ,...,
N
" N ,...,
0 00 <..:l ' Winter tires
By using all wheel d rive, yo ur vehicle has good
forward motion with standard t ires in winter con­
ditions. However, in winter we recommend using
wint er or all season t ires on all four wheels, be­
cause this will improve the braking effect.
Snow chains
If
t h ere are snow cha in laws, snow chains must
a lso be used on vehicles with a ll wheel drive
¢ page 221, Snow chains.
Replacing tires
For vehi cles w ith all whee l dr ive , only whee ls w ith
the same rolling circumferen ce s hou ld be used .
Avoid using tires with different tread depths
¢ page 212, New tires or wheels .
Offroad vehicle?
Your Audi is not an offroad vehicle -there is not
enough g round clearance. For this reason, avo id
d ifficult terrain .
_& WARNING
-Also, in vehicles with a ll wheel drive, adapt
yo ur dr iv ing style to the cu rrent road and
traff ic conditions . Do not let the increased
sa fety provided tempt you into taking risks ,
because th is increases the r isk of an acci­
dent .
- The braking ability of your veh icle is limited
to the tract ion of t he wheels . In this way, it
is not diffe rent from a two whee l dr ive vehi ­
cle. Do not be tempted to accelerate to a
hig h speed when t he road is slippe ry, be­
ca use this increases the risk of a n accide nt .
- Note that on wet streets , the fro nt wheels
can "hyd roplan e" if d riving at speeds that
are too hig h. Unlike front whee l drive
vehicles, t he eng ine does not rev highe r su d­
den ly when the vehicle begins hydroplaning .
For this reason, adapt your speed to the
road conditions to reduce the risk of an acc i­
dent.
Intelligent Technology
Rear spoiler
T he extendable rear spoiler increases driving sta­
bilit y.
Fig. 1 39 Cen ter conso le : b utton for t he rea r spo iler
T he rear spo iler retracts and extends. Var ious op­
erating modes (automatic o r manua l mode) can
be a ctivated .
Automatic mode (normal op eration)
- Extends automatically: when the vehicle speed
exceeds approx imately 80 mph ( 130 km/h) .
- Retracts automat ica lly: when the veh icle speed
drops be low approx ima tely SO mph (80 km/h) .
Manual mode
- Extend ing manua lly: br iefly tap the button to
fully extend the rear spo iler.
- Retracting manually: when dr iving at speeds
be low approximately 10 mph (20 km/h), press
and hold the button to retract the rear spoiler.
When at speeds between 10 mph (20 km/h)
and 80 mph (130 km/ h), the rea r spo ile r will
comp letely retract whe n you tap the butto n.
Indicator lights
,A I. Rear spoiler: System f ault!
The rear spoiler may not have extended due to a
malfunction . This cou ld change the vehicle 's driv ­
i ng character istics at high speeds. Do not dr ive
faster than 85 mp h (140 km/h) . Drive to an au­
thorized Audi dea ler or authori zed Audi Service
Facility immed iate ly to have the malfu nction cor ­
rected . T he color of the indicato r light depends
o n the vehicle speed .
125

a co .... N
" N .... 0 00 \,;J ' ~ Secure luggage using the tie-downs provided
~ page 54.
~ Make sure that the rear seatback is securely
latched in place.
A WARNING
Improperly stored luggage or other items can
fly through the vehicle causing serious per ­
sonal injury in the event of hard b raking or an
accident . To help reduce the risk of serious
personal in jury:
- Always put objects, fo r example, luggage o r
other heavy items in the luggage compart­
ment.
- Always sec ure objects in the luggage com­
partmen t using the tie-down hooks an d
s u itable straps.
A WARNING
Heavy loads wi ll influence the way yo ur vehi­
cle handles. To he lp reduce the ris k of a loss
of contro l leading to serio us pe rsonal injury:
- Always keep in mind when transporting
heavy objects, that a change in the center of
gravity can also cause changes in vehicle
handling:
- Always d istribute the load as evenly as
possible.
- Place heavy objects as far forward in the
luggage compartment as poss ible .
- Never exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rat ing specified
on the safety compliance sticker on the driv­
er's side B-p illar. Exceeding permissible
we ight s tanda rds can cause the vehicle to
slide and handle differently .
- Please obse rve information on safe driving
~page 1 2 9.
A WARNING
To help prevent poisonous exhaust gas from
being drawn into the vehicle, always keep the
rear lid closed wh ile driving.
- Never transport objects larger than those
fitt ing completely into the luggage area be­
cause the rear lid can not be fully closed.
-
Dri ving saf ety
- If you absolutely m ust dr ive with the rear lid
open, observe the following notes to reduce
the risk of poisoning:
- Close all windows,
- Close the power roof*,
- Open all a ir outlets in the instrument pan-
el,
- Switch
off the air rec irculat ion,
- Set the fresh air fan to the highest speed.
A WARNING
=
A lways make su re that the doo rs, all win-
dows, the powe r roof* and the rea r lid are se­
curely closed and locked to reduce the r isk of
i njury when the veh icle is not being used .
- After closing the rear lid , always make sure
that it is properly closed and locked .
- Never leave your veh icle unattended espe­
cially with the rear lid left open . A child
could crawl in to the vehicle th rough the lug­
gage compartment and close the rea r lid be­
coming trapped and unab le to get o ut. Be­
ing trapped in a vehicle c an le ad to ser ious
pe rsonal injury.
- Never let children play in o r around the vehi­
cle .
- Never let passengers ride in the luggage
compa rtment. Vehicle occupants mus t al­
ways be p roperly restrained in one of the ve­
h icle's seat ing pos itions.
(D Tips
- Air circulation helps to reduce w indow fog­
ging. Stale air esc apes to the outs ide
t hrough vents in the tr im panel. Be sure to
keep these slots free and open.
- The tire p ressure m ust co rres pond to the
load. The t ire pressure is shown on the tire
pressure label. The t ire pressure label is lo ­
cated on the dr iver's side B-pillar . The tire
pressure label lists the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures fo r the veh icle at its
maximum capac ity weight and the tires that
we re on your vehicle at the time it was man ­
ufac tured . For recommended t ire pressures
for normal load condi tions, p lease see chap­
t er
~page 217.
135

0 0)
-N ,.... N
-0 0) \.) ..
Wheels
Wheels and Ti re s
General information
.,,.Check your tires regularly for
damage (punctures, cuts , cracks
and bulges). Remove foreign ob­
jects from the tire tread .
.,,. If driving over curbs or similar
obstacles, drive slowly and ap ­
proach the curb at an angle.
.,,. Have faulty tires or rims re­
placed immediately .
.,,.Protect your tires from oil ,
grease and fuel.
.,,. Mark tires before removing
them so that the same running
direction can be maintained if
they are reinstalled .
.,,.Lay tires flat when storing and
store them in a cool, dry locat ion
with as litt le exposure to light as
possible .
&_ WARNING -
-Never drive faster than the
maximum permitted speed
for your tires. This could cause the tires to heat up too much .
This increases the risk of an
acc ident because it can cause
the tire to burst.
-Always adapt your driving to the road and traffic condi-
Wheels
tions. Drive carefully and re ­
duce your speed on icy or slip­
pery roads . Even winter tires
can lose traction on black ice .
@ N ot e
-Please note that summer and
winter tires are designed for
the condit ions that are typical
in those seasons. Audi recom­
mends using winter ti res dur ­
ing the winter months. Low
temperatures significantly de­ crease the e lasticity of summ­
er tires , which affects traction
and braking ab ility . If summer
tires are used in very cold
temperatures, cracks can form on the tread bars, resulting in
permanent tire damage that
can cause loud driving noise
and unbalanced tires.
-Burnished, polished or chromed rims must not be
used in winter driving condi­
tions . The surface of the rims
does not have sufficient corro­
sion protect ion for this and
could be permanently dam­
aged by road salt or similar
substances.
205

Wheels
Tire designations
Fig. 187 Tire designations on the side­
wall
(D Tires for passenger vehicles
(if applicable)
"P" indicates a tire for a passenger
vehicle. "T" indicates a tire desig­
nated for temporary use.
@ Nominal width
Nominal width of the tire be­
tween the sidewalls in millime­
ters. In general: the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
@ Aspect ratio
Height/width ratio expressed as a
percentage.
206
@ Tire construction
R indicates a radial tire.
® Rim diameter
Size of the rim diameter in inches.
® Load index and speed rating
The load index indicates the tire's
load-carrying capacity.
The speed rating indicates the maximum permitted speed. Also
see
¢ A in General information
on page 205.
"EXTRA LOAD", "xl" or "RF" indi­
cates that the tire is reinforced or
is an Extra Load tire.
Speed rat-
Maximum permitted speed
ing
p
up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 99 mph (160 km/h)
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
5 up to 1 1 0 mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
u up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)al
z abov e 149 mph (240 km/h) al
w up to 168 mph (270 km/h)al
y up to 186 mph (300 km/h) al
a) For tires above 149 mph (240 km/h),
tire manufacturers sometimes use the
code "ZR".