Audi A4 2013 Owner's Manual page 254

252 T ire s and w heel s
diagonally . After changing a whee l, the
torque must be checked as soon as possi-
ble with a torque wrench - preferably by an
author ized Audi dealer or qualif ied work-
shop.
Low aspect ratio tires
Your Audi is factory-equipped with low aspect
ratio t ires . These t ires have been thoroughly
tested and been selected spec ifica lly for your
model for the ir superb pe rformance, road feel
and handling under a variety of driving condi-
tions . Ask your a utho rized Aud i dea le r for
more detai ls.
The low aspect ratio of these ti res is indicated
by a numeral of 55 or less in the t ire's size
des ignation. The numera l represents the rat io
of the tire's sidewall height in relation to its
tread width expressed in percentage. Conven-
tional tires have a height/width ratio of 60 or
more.
The performance of low-a s pect-ratio tires is
particularly sensi t ive to improper inflation
pressure. It is therefore impo rtant th at low
aspect ratio tire s are inflated to t he specified
pressure and tha t th e inflation pressure is
regularly checked and maintain ed. Tire pres-
sures should be checked at least once a
mo nth and alway s before a long trip
~ page 241, Checking tire pressure.
What you can do to avoid tire and rim
damag e
Low aspect ratio t ires can be damaged more
eas ily by impact with potho les, curbs, gu llies
or ridges on the road, part icu larly if the t ire is
underinflated .
In o rder to m inim ize the occurrence of impact
damage to the tir es of your vehicle, we recom-
mend that you observe the following precau-
tions:
- Always maintai n recommended inflat io n
pressures. Check your tire pressure every
2,000 miles (3,000 km) and add a ir if neces-
sary .
- Drive carefully on roads with potholes, deep
gullies or ridges. The impact from driving
through or over such obstacles can damage
your tires. Impact with a curb may also
cause damage to your tires.
- After any impact, immed iate ly inspect your
tires or have them inspected by the nearest
author ized Audi dealer. Replace a damaged
tire as soon as possible .
- Inspect your tires every 2,000 m iles (3,000
km) for damage and wear. Damage is not al-
ways easy to see . Damage can lead to loss of
air and under inflation, which could eventu-
ally cause tire failure. If you believe t hat a
t ire may have been damaged, rep lace t he
t ire as soon as possible.
- These tires may wear more quickly tha n oth-
ers.
- Please also remember that, while these tires
de liver responsive hand ling, they may ride
less comfo rtably and make more noise than
other choices .
Reduced performance in winter / cold
season conditions
All t ires are designed for certa in purposes.
The low aspect ratio, ult ra high performance
t ires originally insta lled on your vehicle are in-
tended for maximum dry and wet road per-
formance and handling. They are not suitable
for cold, snowy or icy weather conditions. If
you drive under those circumstances, you
shou ld equ ip your vehicle with all-season or
winter tires, which offe r bette r t raction unde r
those conditions. We sugges t you use the rec-
ommended snow or all-se ason t ires specified
for your vehicle , or their equivalent.
Refer to~
page 250
fo r more detailed infor-
mation regard ing winter tires.