tires AUDI R8 SPYDER 2012 Owner's Guide

220 Consumer Inf ormation
steadi ly reduced the scope of maintenance
and repairs which can be carried out by vehicle
owners.
Als o, sa fe ty a nd en vir onm ent al con­
cerns place very strict limits on the nature of
repairs and adjustments to engine and trans­
miss ion parts which an owner can perform .
Maintenance, adjustments and repa irs usua lly
require special tools, testing devices and oth­
er equipment available to specially trained
workshop personnel in order to assure proper pe rformance, reliab ility and safety of the vehi­
cle and its many systems.
Improper maintenance, adjustments and re­
pa irs can impair the operation and reliab ility
of your vehicle and even void your vehicle war­
ranty. Therefore, proof of servic ing in accord­
ance w ith the ma intenance schedule may be a
condition for upholding a poss ible warranty
claim made within the warranty period.
Above all, operational safety can be adversely
affected, c reating unnecessary risks for you
and your passengers.
If in doubt about any se rv icing, have it done
by your author ized Audi dealer or any other
p roperly equipped and qualified workshop.
We strong ly urge you to give yo ur autho rized
Audi dealer the opportunity to perfo rm all
schedu led maintenance and necessary repairs.
Your dea ler has the facilities, original parts
and trained specialists to keep your vehicle
running properly.
Performing limit ed m aint enance yours elf
The following pages describe a limited num­
ber of proced ures which can be performed on
your vehicle with ordinary too ls, shou ld the
need arise and trained personnel be unavaila­
ble. Before performing any of these proce­
dures, always thoroughly read all of the app li­
cable text and carefully follow the instruc­
tions given . Always rigorously obse rve the
WARNINGS p rovided.
Before you ch eck anything in th e eng ine
co mpartm ent , alway s re ad and h eed all
WA RNINGS
c::> .&. and c::> ..&. in Working in the
engine compartment on page 169.
A WARNING
- Serious personal injury may occur as a re­
sult of improperly performed mainte­
nance, adjustments or repa irs.
- Always be extremely careful when work­
ing on the vehicle. Always follow com­
monly accepted safety pract ices and gen­
eral common sense. Never r is k personal
injury.
- Do not attempt any of the maintenance,
checks or repairs descr ibed on the fol­
lowing pages if you are not fu lly fam iliar
with these or other procedures with re ­
spect to the vehicle, or are uncertain how
to proceed .
- Do not do any work without the proper
too ls and equipment. Have the necessa ry
work done by your author ized A udi deal­
er or another proper ly equipped and
qualified workshop.
- Always remove the ignition key before
anyone gets under the vehicle.
- Always support your veh icle with safety
stands if it is necessary to work under­
neath the vehicle. The jack* is not ade­
quate for this purpose and cou ld collapse
causing ser ious personal inju ry.
- If you must work underneath the vehicle
with the wheels on the ground, a lways
make sure the vehicle is on level ground,
that the wheels a re a lways secure ly
b locked and that t he engine cannot be
s tarted.
- Always make sure the transmission se­
lec to r l ever is in
"N" (Neut ral) (R t ron ic)
or Neutral (manual transmission) and
the hand bra ke is f irmly app lied.
@ For the sake of the environment
- Changing the engine sett ings will ad­
verse ly affect emission leve ls. Th is is det­
r imental to the environment and increas­
es fuel consumpt ion .
- Always observe environmenta l regu la­
tions when disposing of old eng ine oil,
used brake flu id, dirty engine coo lant,
spent batteries or worn out tires.

A
A/C operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Accessories .. ... .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 221
Active ro llover protection system . . . . . . . 99
Retract ing ro llover protection . .. .. .. .. 99
Add ing
Engine coolant . ....... ... .. .. .. ... 177
Engine oi l .. .. ... ..... ... .. .. .. ... 174
Addit io nal accesso ries ...... .. .. .. .. . 22 1
Addit ives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 4
Ad justab le steer ing column . ... .. .. .... 70
Adj usti ng front seats ....... .. .. .. .. .. 59
Advanced Airbag System Ch ildren . .. ............. .... .. .. . 131
Components .. ........... .. .. .. ... 116
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
H ow the components work together . . 117
M oni toring . ................ ... ... 120
Weight-se nsing mat ...... .. .. .. .. . 13 1
Airbag War ning/ indicator lights . .. .. .. .. .. .. 14
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109, 128
Care ... .. .. .. .... .. .... ... .. .. ... 122
Child restra ints ........... .... .. ... 132
Components (front airbags) .. .. .. .. . 116
Danger of fitting a child safety seat on
the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 1
Disposal . ................ ... ... .. 122
Fr ont airbags ............ .... .. ... 1 13
H ow do the front a irbags work? . .. .. . 118
H ow many airbags does my vehicle
have? ... .. .. .... .. .... ... .. .. ... 116
Important safety instructions on the
knee airbag system ....... .. .. .. .. . 126
Important things to know . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Indicator light ........... .. .. .. ... 120
Knee airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Mo nitor ing . ................ ... ... 120
P ASSENGER AIR BAG OFF l ight .. ... .. 120
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 2
Side airbags .. ........... .. .. .. ... 12 7
When mus t the system be inspected? . 120
Ai r cond itioni ng
A/C operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
A ir dist ribution ........... .. .. .. .... 67
A ir r eci rcula tion mode ..... .. .. .. .. .. 68
Automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Inde x 223
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Defrost ... .. .. .... . ... ...... ... .. . 68
Econom ica l use . ... . .. ..... ... .. .. . 69
Fan ........ .. .. .................. 67
Rear window defogger . ............. . 69
Switching on and off ................ 67
T emperature ... .. .. . .. .... .... .. .. . 66
Air distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
A ir recircu lation mode
Air condi tioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
All -wheel drive .. .. .. ..... .......... 147
Winter tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
A lternator
refer to Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Anti-freeze
refer to Engine coolan t sys tem ... .. .. 175
Anti- lock b rake system
Warning/ind icator lights .......... .. . 16
Anti- lock braking system ......... .... 142
Anti -slip reg ulation . .. ... .... ... .. .. 142
Anti-theft ala rm system ......... .... .. 38
Anti-theft whee l bolts ........... .... 206
Ashtray .. .. .. .. .. .... ........... .. . 62
Asterisk ...... .. .... .. ........ ...... . 5
Audi magnet ic r ide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 75
Description . ... .... . ... ...... ... .. . 75
Ind icator light . .. ................. . 19
Audi Se rv ice Repair Manuals and Lit era-
ture .. ... .. .. .... ... .. .. ..... ... .. 219
Automated manual t ransmission
refer to R tronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Automat ic be lt retractor ......... .. .. 104
A utomat ic car wash
refer to Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Automat ic head light . .............. .. 49
Auto Safety Hot line .................. 97
Ave rage fuel mileage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Average speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
B
Battery .... .. .. .. .. .. ........... .. 178
Charg ing .. .... .. ................. 180
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Disconnecting ... .. . .. .... .... .. .. 178
Low .... .. .. .. .. .. ............... 14 7
replacing .. .. .. .. .... ............. 181
•
•

228 ~l :..:.: nd ~e ~x :._ ______________________________ _
Introduction ..... ......... ... .... .. 27
Resuming timing .......... ... .... .. 29
Selecting . ................. ..... .. 27
Starting timing .......... .... ...... 27
Switching to the trip computer .. .... .. 28
L aunch Contro l Program
Manual transmission ....... ... .... . . 77
R tronic . ... ................ ..... .. 80
L eather . ...... ........... .... .... . 160
C leaning . .. ............. .... .. .. . 161
leaving home .............. ... .. .. .. 49
Lifting jack .. ................ ..... . 207
Light coming/ leaving home ....... .. .. .. . . 49
Exterior lighting .................... 49
Light/rain sensor Light sensor package .......... .. .... 49
W iper and washer system (intermittent
wiping) .. .. ............. .. .. .. .. .. 53
Light/rain sensor defective ........ .. .. 19
Lights Instrument panel illumination .... .. .. 52
switching on and off ........ .. .... .. 49
L ight sensor package ......... .. .. .. . . 49
Loading the luggage compartment .. .... 96
Locking ..................... ..... .. 35
Power locking system ..... .. .. .. .. . . 35
L uggage compartment ...... .. .. .. .. . . 53
Emergency exit ........... .. .. .... . 203
light . ..... ................ ..... .. 53
Loading .... ................ ..... .. 96
M
Maintenance ................. ..... . 219
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) 17, 22
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever ............. .. .... .. 77
Launch Control Program ... .. .. .... .. 77
Matte finish paint .............. .... . 155
Menu button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Menu display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Mirror Vanity mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Mirrors
Activating the digital compass ........ 57
Adjusting the exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . 5 7
dimming .. .... .. ............. .... . 56
Monitoring the Advanced Airbag System 120
N
Natural leather .. .. ............. .... 160
New tires and wheels ............ .... 193
NHTSA Contacting . ..... ................ .. 97
No reverse gear .. .. .. .. ...... ... .. .. . 19
Number of seats . .. ............. .... 101
0
Octane rating ..... ................ . 164
Odometer .. .... .. ............. .... . 10
Oil
refer to E ngine oil ................ . 172
On-Board Diagnostic System (OBD) Data Link Conn ector (DLC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) .... . 22
Open door or front lid warn ing .... .. .. . 21
Optional equipment Marked with an aster isk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Outside mi rrors
refer to Exterior mirrors .... .... .. .. . 57
Outside temperature disp lay . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Owner's manual How the Owner's Manual is organized . .. 5
p
Paint
Touch-up ...... .. .......... ...... . 157
Paint No .... .. .. .. ... ...... .... .... 215
Parking on a decline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
on an incline ..... .................. 73
R tronic ....... .. ............. ..... 79
Parking brake . .. .. ............. .. .. . 72
Parking b rake warning ........... .. .. . 13
Parking system advanced ......... ..... 82
Adjusting the display .............. .. 86
Adjusting the warning tones .......... 86
Parallel Parking ............... .... . 85

Reverse parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Safety precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Sw itching on and
off ...... .. .. .. .. .. 84
P arts rep lacement ......... .. .. .. .. .
22 1
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF light . .. .. .. . 120
Passive safety system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 1
Peda ls .. .. ... ...... ....... ...... ... 96
P hys ica l pr inc iples of a frontal coll is ion .
103
Polishing .. .. .. ........... .. .. .. ... 1 53
Pollen filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Powe r locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
E mergency locking ........ .. .. .. .. ..
36
Front lid . .. ............. .... .. .. .. 37
Lock ing .. .. ............. .... .. ....
35
Lock ing and unlocking the vehicle from
ins ide ... ... ...... ............. ...
36
Opening/clos ing the w indows . .. .. .. .. 35
Sw itches . .. ............. .... .. .. .. 36
Un loc kin g .. ............. .... .. .... 35
Power seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Powe r stee ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
P owe r windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
Powe r locking system ..... .. .. .. .. .. 35
Reac tiva ting the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Pregnant wome n
Specia l cons iderations when weari ng a
safety be lt . ............. .... .. .. . 106
Prog ramming t he HomeLink ® unive rsal re­
mote cont ro l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88
P roper safety belt position ... .. .. .. .. . 105
Proper seat ing pos ition
Dr iver . .. .. ................. .. ....
9 2
Fr ont p assenge r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Q
Quartz clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
R
Ra in sensor .. .. .............. ... ... . 53
Rain sensor defective .... ... .. .. .. .. .. 19
R ear lig ht
D efective .. .. .. ......... .. .. .. .... 18
Rear spoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Inde x 229
Rear view came ra
Pa ralle l Par king .. .. . ... .... ... .. .. .
85
Reve rse par king . ... . .. ..... ... .. .. . 85
Rea r view m irror . .. .... ......... .. .. . 56
Rear window .. .. .. .. . ... ...... ... .. . 42
Rear window defogger . .. ..... ... .. .. . 69
Refuel ing . .. .. .. .... .. .. ...... .... .
166
Remote contro l
refer to Remote master key .......... . 33
Remote control garage door opener
(Homelink®) . ..... ... .. .. ..... ... .. . 88
Remote maste r key . .... ......... .. .. .
32
Ba ttery repla cement . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 33
Check lig ht .... .. .. . ............... 32
Resetting the remote control . . . . . . . . . 33
Unl ocking and locking .. ..... ... .. .. .
35
Repair manu als .. .. .. .. ........... .. 219
Rep lacement parts ..... ............. 221
Rep lacing
B ul bs ... .. .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. 214
Fuses ... .. .. .. .... . ... ...... ... ..
213
Rims ..... .. .. .. ................. 193
Tires and wheels .................. 194
Wheel rims .... ................... 195
Reporting Sa fe ty Defects . . . . . . . . . . 97 , 98
Reset button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Retractor ....... ................... 104
Reve rse gear
R tronic ... .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. . 78
R ims
Replac ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
193, 195
Rollbar
refer to Active ro llover protection sys-
tem .. ....... ... .. ..... ....... .... 99
R tronic . ... .. .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. . 78
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Gearbox ma lf u nction ........... .. .. . 19
K ick-down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Launch Control Program . .......... .. 80
Manua l operation . .. .. .. ...... .... .. 79
Stee ring wheel with sh ift paddl es .... .. 81
s
SAFE 10,33
Safe driving habits ... . .. .. ..... ... .. . 91
•
•

Index 231
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Trip comp ute r . .... .. . .. .. ..... ... .. . 23
Tire mobility system ............. .... 203 Tr ip odomete r .. ... .. ................ 10 •
Tire pressure . ............. .... .. .. . 189 Turn signals . .. .. .. ............... .. . 51 •
Tire pressure monitor ing system .. .. .. . 200 Warning/ind icator lights ........ .... . 20
Sensors .... .... .. .... ... .. .. .. ... 195
Tires and whee ls . ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 195 U
Valves ..... .. .. .. .. .... ... .. .. ... 195
Warn ing/ indicator light .... .. .. .. .. .. 20
T ire repai r kit ............. .... .. .. . 203
Tires ....... ... ................ .... 183
Pressu re ... ... .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 200
Replacing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193, 195
Service life . ............. .. .. .. .. . 19 2
Speed rating let ter code ... .. .. .. .. . 194
Tire manufacturing date ... .. .. .. .. . 194
Tire pressure monitoring system . ... . 200
Tire specifications ..... ... .. .. .. .. . 194
Tread depth .. ........... .. .. .. ... 192
Uniform t ire quality grading .. .. .. .. . 197
W inter t ires ............. .... .. ... 197
Tires/Whee ls
L ow aspect ratio tires ... ... .. .. .. .. .
199
Tires and vehicle load lim its .. .. .. .. .. . 190
Tires and whee ls
Checking tire pressure ..... .. .. .. .. . 189
Cold tire i nflat ion pressure ..... ... .. 187
D . . 1mens1ons
........... ...... .... . . 193
Gener al notes ............ .... .. .. . 183
Glossa ry of t ire and load ing te rm inolo-
gy ...... .. .... ........... .. .. .. .
184
N ew tires and wheels ... ... .. .. .. .. . 193
Replacing .. ... .. ..... ... .. .. .. ... 194
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Tire pressure monitoring system .. .. . 195
Tires and vehicle load lim its .. .. .. .. . 190
Wheel bolts ..... .. ...... .. .. .. .. . 199
W inte r tires .......... ...... .... .. 197
Tire serv ice life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Tool kit ... .. ................. .. ... 203
Touch-up paint ............ .... .. ... 157
Towing
Tow truck procedures ... ... .. .. .. .. .
2 12
Tow ing loop .. ............. .... .. .. . 2 12
Transm ission
Manual transmission ...... .. .. .. .. ..
77
Transport Canada ... .... ... .. .. .. .... 98
Tread Wear Indicato r (TWI) .. .. .. .. .. . 19 2
Unfastening safety belts 106
Uni directional tires . .. ........... .. .. 183
Uni form tire quality grading ...... .. .. 197
U niversa l Radio-Frequency Remo te Control
(Homelink ®) . ... .. .. . ... ...... ... .. .
88
Unl ocking .. .. .. .. ................. . 35
Power locking system .......... .. .. . 35
V
Vanity mir ro r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Vehicle-care products ............ .. .. 153
Vehicle electri ca l sys tem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Vehicle Identificat ion Number (VIN) .... 215
Vehicle jack ... .. .... . ... ...... ... .. 207
Vehicle lite ratu re .. ................. .. 4
Vehicle tool kit .. .. ............. ....
203
Ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Voltmete r display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
w
Warning/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
Anti- lock b rake system (ABS) ....... .. 16
B ra ke system .. .. ................. . 13
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Elec tronic power con trol . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ... .. . 16
Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Malfunction Ind icator Lamp (MIL) .. .. . 17
Parking brake .. .. ................. . 13
Safety belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Safety systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Tire pressure mon itoring system . . . . . . 20
Turn signals . .. .. .. ... ....... ...... 20
Warning/Indicator lights
Rear spo iler . .. .. ................. .
19
Warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Red symbo ls in the center display ... .. . 11
Ye llow symbo ls in the center display ... 12

232 Index
Warranty coverages ..... ... .. .. .... . 219
Washing .. .. ................ ... ... 153
F o ld in g top cleaning ...... .. .. .... . 156
M atte fin is h pa int ...... .. .. .. .. .. . 155
Wax ing . .. .. ... . ...... ... .. .. .. .. . 153
Wear ind icator .. .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 192
Weights ..... .. ........ ...... ... .. . 215
What happens if you wear yo ur safety belt
too loose? . .... ............. ...... . 105
Wha t happens to unbelted occupants? .. 104
What impairs driving safety? . . . . . . . . . . . 92
What should I do after chang ing a
wheel? .. .. .. ............. .. .. .. ... 189
Wheel bo lts
Torq ue ... .. .. . .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 199
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158, 183
Che ckin g tire pressu re ... ...... .. .. . 189
Cold t ire in fla tion pressu re . .. .. .. .. . 187
General notes ... ...... ... .. .. .... . 183
Glossary of tire and load ing termino lo -
gy . ... .... ... . ...... ... .. .. .... . 184
N ew tires and wheels ...... .. .. .... . 193
Tires and vehicle load lim its .. .. ..... 190
When mus t the airbag system be inspect -
ed? ... .. .... .. .. ...... ... .. .. .... . 120
When shou ld I ad just the tire p ressu res? 189
When sho uld I check the tire pressures? . 189
Where can I find the ti re pressu res for my
car? . .. ... ... .. .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 189
Why safety belts? .... ...... .. .. .. .. . 102
W ind deflector ............ .. .. .. .. .. 42
C leaning . .. .. . .......... .. .. .... . 156
W indows
C leaning ... ... .. ..... ... .. .. .... . 157
Defrost .... .. . .. ..... ... .. .. .... .. 68
De icing ...... ........... .... .... . 157
W indshield was her fl uid .... .. .. .. .. . . 18
W indshield w ipers .... ..... .. .. .. .. . 182
Install ing new w iper blades .. .. .. .... 55
Service pos it io n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
W inter operation
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178, 179
Coolant system . ...... ... .... .. .. . 175
Defrosting windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
H eated seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
W indows .. ... .......... .. .. .. .. . 157
W indshie ld w ipers ........ .... .... . 18 2 Winter tires
..... .. ... .. ..... .... . .. 197
All-wheel drive ... .. ... ..... ... .. .. 197
Wiper and washer system ........ .... . 53
Wiper b lades
refer to W indshield wipers ...... .. .. . 55