Audi A7 Sportback 2014 Owner's Manual page 256

254 Tires and wheels
Unbalanced wheels must be rebalanced to
avoid excessive wear on steering, suspension
and tires. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tire is installed .
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment can cause exces-
sive tire wear, impairing the safety of the vehi-
cle. If tires show excessive wear, have the
wheel alignment checked by an authorized
Audi dealer or qualified workshop.
All-wheel drive
Vehicles with quattro must always have tires
of the same size, construction and tread type .
For details see ~ page 201.
A
WARNING
Sudden tire failure can lead to loss of con-
trol, a crash and serious personal injury!
- Never drive a vehicle when the tread on
any tire is worn down to the wear indica-
tors.
- Worn tires are a safety hazard, they do
not grip well on wet roads and increase
your risk of"hydroplaning" and loss of
control.
- Always keep chemicals that can cause
t ire damage, such as grease, oil, gasoline
and brake fluid away from t ires.
- 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 vehicle if
you are not sure of their "previous histo-
ry." Old used tires may have been dam-
aged even though the damage cannot be
seen that can lead to sudden tire failure
and loss of vehicle control.
New tires and replacing tires and wheels
New tires and wheels have to be broken in .
Fig. 204
Tire specificat ion codes on the sidewall of a
tire
No. Description
<D
Passenger car tire (where applicable)
@
Nominal width of tire in millimeters
®
Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
©
Radial
® Rim diameter code
®
Load index and speed rating
(J)
U.S. DOT tire identification number
®
Audi Original tire
®
Sever snow conditions
@
Tire ply composition and materials
used
@
Maximum load rating
@
Treadwear, traction and temperature
grades
@
Maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure
The tires and rims are essential parts of the
vehicle 's design . The tires and rims approved
by Audi are spec ially matched to the charac-
teristics of the vehicle and can make a major .,..