Table of Contents
Advertisement
206
Tires and wheels
@
For the sake of the environ ment
Underinflated tires will also increase the
fuel consumption.
Tires and vehicle load limits
There are limits to the amount of load or
weight that any vehicle and any tire can carry.
A vehicle that is overloaded will not handle
well and is more difficult to stop. Overloading
can not only lead to loss ofvehicle control,
but can also damage important parts ofthe
vehicle and can lead to sudden tire failure, in-
cluding a blowout and sudden deflation that
can cause the vehicle to crash.
Your safety and that ofyour passengers also
depends on making sure that load limits are
not exceeded. Vehicle load includes everybody
and everything in and on the vehicle. These
load limits are technically referred to as the
vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic
vehicle, all factory installed accessories, a full
tank offuel, oil, coolant and other fluids plus
maximum load. The maximum load includes
the number of passengers that the vehicle is
intended to carry ("seating capacity") with an
assumed weight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each
passenger at a designated seating position
and the total weight of any luggage in the ve-
hicle.
The Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR") is
the maximum load that can be applied at"each
of the vehicle's two axles.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating are listed on the
safety compliance sticker labellocated on the
driver's side B-pillar. You, Audi has 4 seating
positions, 2 in the front and 2 in the rear for
total seating capacity of 4. Each seating posi-
tion has a safety belt
q
page 103, Safety
belts.
The fact th.at there is an upper limit ta your
vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating means
that the total weight of whatever is being car-
ried in the vehicle is limited. The more passen-
gers in the vehicle or passengers who are
heavier than the standard weights assumed
mean that less weight can be carried as lug-
gage.
The tire pressure label on your Audi also lists
the maximum combined weight of all of the
occupants and luggage or other cargo that
the vehicle can carry. For the location of the
label
q
page 202, fig. 150.
.6.
WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause loss ofve-
hicle control, a crash or other acddent, se-
rious personal injury, and even death.
- Carrying more weight than your vehicle
was designed ta carry will prevent the
vehicle from handling properly and in-
crease the risk of the loss of vehicle con-
trol.
- The brakes on a vehicle that has been
overloaded may not be able ta stop the
vehicle within a safe distance.
- Tires on a vehicle that has been overload-
ed can fail suddenly, including a blowout
and sudden deflation, causing loss of
control and a crash.
"
Determining correct load limit
•
Use the example-.Qelow to cal-
culate the total
wei~ht
of the
passengers and luggage or oth-
er things that you plan to trans-
port
50
that you can make sure
that your vehicle will not be
overloaded.
Steps for Determining
Correct Load Limit
1.
Locate the statement "THE
COMBINED WEIGHT OF OC-
CUPANTS AND CARGO
SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX
KG OR XXX LBS"on your vehi-
cle's placard (tire inflation
pressure label)
0:;>
page 202,
fig. 150.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and pas-
sengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and pas-
sengers fram "XXX" kilo-
grams or "XXX" pounds
shown on the sticker
0:;>
page 202, fig. 150.
4. The resulting figure equals
the available amount of car-
go and luggage load capaci-
ty. For example, if the "XXX"
amount equals 1400 lbs.
and there will be five 150
lbs. passengers in your vehi-
de, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load ca-
pacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750
(5 x 150)
=
650 lbs.)
S. Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehide.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
Tires and wheels
2(
6. If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your trail-
er will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual
to determine how this re-
duces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
~
Check the tire sidewall
(0:;>
page 209, fig.
154)
to de-
termine the designated load
rÇlting for a specifie tire.
Tire service life
The service life of tires depends on a lot of
different things including proper installation
and balancing, correct tire pressure and driv-
ing style.
Fig. 152 Tire tread: tread-wear indicators (TWlr
fT
;;,.c;;r;
'\
~))
~
~\
./;
~
j
\'
Fig. 153 Rotating tires for more even wear
Tread Wear Indicator (TWI)
The original tires on your vehicle have
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) high "wear indicators"
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
