-~_ T_ ir_e_s_ a_ n_d_ w_ h_e_e_l_s _________________________________________________ _
and is more difficult to stop . Overloading can not only lead to loss
of vehic le contro l, but can also damage important parts of the
vehic le and can lead to sudden tire failure, including a blowout and
sudden deflation that can cause the vehicle to crash .
Your safety and that of your passengers also depends on making
sure that load limits are not exceeded . Vehicle load includes every -
body and everything in and on the veh icle . These load lim its are
technically referred to as the vehicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
("GVWR").
The "GVWR" includes the weight of the basic vehic le, all factory
installed accessories, a ful l tank of fuel, 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 we ight of 150 lbs (68 kg) for each passenger at a
designated seating position and the total weight of any luggage in
t he vehicle. If you tow a trai ler, the weight of the trailer hitch and the
tongue weight of the loaded trai ler must be included as part of the
vehic le load .
The
Gross Axle Weight Rating ("GAWR") is the maximum load that
can be applied at each of the vehicle's t wo axles .
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rati ng and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
are listed on the safety compliance sticker labe l located either on
the driver's side B-pillar or on t he inside of the f uel fi ller flap. Your
Audi has 4 seating positions, 2 in the front and 2 in the rear for total
seating capaci ty of 4. Each seating posi t ion has a safety belt
=>
page 159, "Safety belts" .
The fact that there is an upper limit to your vehicle's Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating means that the total weight of whatever is being
carried in the vehicle (including the weight of a trailer hitch and the
tongue weigh t of the loaded trailer) is lim ite d. The more passengers
in the vehicle or passengers who are heavier than the standard
weights assumed mean that less weight can be carried as luggage.
The tire pressure labe l on your Audi also lists the maximum
combined weight of all of the occupants and luggage or othe r cargo
that the vehicle can carry . For the location of the label=>
page 271,
f ig. 207.
& WARNING
Overloading a vehicle can cause loss of vehicle control , a crash or
other accident , serious personal injury, and even death .
• Carrying more w eight th an your vehicle w as designed to carry
will prevent the vehi cle from handling properly and increase the
risk of the loss of vehicle control.
• The brakes on a vehicle th at has been overloaded may not be
able to stop the vehicle within a safe distance .
• Tires on a vehicle that has been overloaded can fail suddenly,
including a blowout and sudden deflati on, causing loss of control
and a crash.
• Alwa ys make sure that the tot al load being tran sported -
including the weight of a trai ler hit ch and the tongue weight of a
loaded trailer - does not make the vehicle heavier than the
vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. •
Determining correct load limit
Use th e exa mpl e below to ca lculat e the
total weight of the passengers and
luggage or other things that you plan to
tran sport so that you can make sure that
your vehi cle will not be ov erlo aded.
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