252 Tires and wheels
Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for various designated seating
capacities
Designated seating capacity, Vehicle normal load, number Occupant distribution in a nor-
number of occupants of occupants mally loaded vehicle
4
2
2 in front
5 3 2 in fro nt, 1 in back seat
Cold tire inflat ion pressure
Tire pressure affects the overall handling, performance and safety of a vehicle.
Fig. 20 8 Tire pressu re label: located on driver's side 8-
pillar
Tire pressure generally refers to the amo unt
of air in a tir e th at it needs it to do its job and
safely carry t he combined load of t he entire
vehicle and its contents . Tire pressure is
measured in kilopasca ls (kPa), the interna -
tional measuring unit and in pounds per
square inch (PSI). Tire pressure is based in
part on the vehicle's design and load limit -
the greatest amount of weight that the vehi-
cle can carry safely and the t ire size. The prop-
er tire pressure is freq uent ly referred to as the
"recommende d cold tire inf lation pressure."
Air in the t ires expands when t he ti re heats up
because of int ernal fri ct ion when it flexes in
use. The tire pressure is higher when the t ire
has warmed up tha n when it is "cold." It is the
inflat ion pressure in a "cold" tire that counts.
Therefore, you should never let air out of a
warm tire to match "cold ti re inflation pres-
sure" recommendations. The t ires would the n
be underinflated and could fail suddenly .
Maintaining proper t ire pressure is one of the
most important things you can do to help
avoid sudden tire failure . Underinflated t ires
are a majo r cause of sudden t ire failure. Keep-
ing tires at the right pressure is also impor-
-
~
-
(• (==. ~r: I := I :... 1)-~--:- i
n. ........... ....,. .................... ,...,,.. ...... . .... . ..
'-- ............................................... ·-..
TN IIZE CO.O TN.,,....
,.,._u OWlHSIONt ......,., DU ,.,._ua .-,--
-
.....
-
-
...........
- KP a PSI
- ICPA. a PSI
- ICPA. a PSI
Fig. 2 09 Tire pressu re labe l
SEEOWHf:ft"S
MA.NUAl FOR
IHFOll:MATION
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tant for safe and responsive vehicle handli ng,
t raction, braking and load carrying .
Tire pres-
sures are particularly important when the
vehicle is being driven at higher speeds, and
then especially when heavily loaded even
within the permissible load-carrying capaci-
ties approved for your vehicle.
The recommende d tire pressures for your Audi
depend on t he kind of tires on your vehicle
and the number of passengers and/or amount
of luggage you will be transporti ng.
The tire pressure label is located on the driv-
er's side B-pillar . The tire pressure label lists
the recommended cold t ire inflat ion pressures
fo r the vehicle at its maxim um capacity
weight and tires t hat were on your vehicle at
t he time it was manufactured.
If you wish to improve comfort when operat-
ing the vehicle at normal load (up to 2* / 3
occupants) , you can adjust t ire pressures to
those specified for normal vehicle load. Be·
fore operating the vehicle at maximum load,
you must increase the tire pressures to those
specified for maximum vehicle load
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