Get Wheels -> Tyres and rims Guide for Audi Rs Q8 SUV First Generation (2020-2026)

Wheels

rolling noise and tyre imbalance may result

from this damage.

Wheels

Tyres and rims

General information

– Machined, polished or chrome-plated rims

must not be used in winter conditions. The

process used to manufacture these types of

wheel rim does not provide adequate sur-

face protection against corrosion, and the

rims can be permanently damaged by road

salt or similar. This does not apply to rims

which are supplied from the factory as com-

plete winter wheels.

In this Owner’s Manual, the term “wheel” refers

to the combination of rim and tyre. If only one of

the above components is meant, the term tyre or

rim is used.

►

Inspect the tyres regularly for damage (cuts,

cracks or blisters, etc.). Remove any foreign

bodies embedded in the treads.

Tyre designations

►

If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obsta-

cle, drive very slowly and as near as possible at

a right angle to the kerb.

Damaged rims or tyres must be replaced imme-

The following example explains certain specifica-

tions on the tyre’s sidewall:

►

205/60 R 16 92 H

diately.

►

Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.

Mark the wheels before taking them off so that

they rotate in the same direction when refitted.

When removed, the wheels should be stored

205 Tyre width in mm

►

60 Height/width ratio in %

R

Code for tyre type: radial

►

16 Rim diameter in inches

92 Load index

flat in a cool, dry and preferably dark place.

H

Speed rating

WARNING

Manufacturing date

– Never exceed the maximum approved speed

for your tyres. This causes the tyres to over-

heat and can even result in a blow-out – risk

of accident!

The manufacturing date may possibly only be in-

dicated on the inner side of the wheel:

DOT ... 2225 ...

– Always adapt your driving style to the pre-

vailing road and traffic conditions. Drive

carefully and reduce your speed on icy or

slippery roads. Even winter tyres lose their

grip on black ice.

means, for example, that the tyre was produced

in the 22nd week of 2025.

AO or R0

Tyres with the marking “AO” or “R0” which are

specially matched to your Audi are supplied with

your vehicle. Provided that they are used proper-

ly, these tyres fulfil very high standards in safety

and handling. Your specialist retailer will be glad

to provide more information.

CAUTION

– Please note that summer and winter tyres

are optimised for the prevailing road condi-

tions at different times of year. Audi recom-

mends that you use winter tyres during the

winter months. At low temperatures, sum-

mer tyres lose their elasticity and grip, and

braking performance also suffers as a re-

sult. Cracks can form in the tread block on

summer tyres if they are used at very cold

temperatures, and this can cause perma-

nent damage to the tyres. An increase in

New wheels or tyres

Audi recommends having all servicing of wheels

and tyres performed by a qualified workshop,

since they have the necessary special tools and

replacement parts in addition to trained person-

nel.



336

Wheels

►

New tyres do not yet give maximum grip. When

driving with new tyres, drive at moderate

speeds and be especially careful during the first

500 km.

WARNING

– Do not use steel wheels which are 17 inches

or larger. Otherwise damage to the vehicle

and an accident could result.

►

All four wheels must be fitted with tyres of the

same type, size (rolling circumference) and

preferably the same tread pattern.

Applies to RS model: All four wheels must be

fitted with tyres of the same type, size (rolling

circumference) and tread pattern.

Tyres should be replaced in pairs and not indi-

vidually (i.e. both front tyres or both rear tyres

together).

Audi recommends the use of Audi Genuine

Tyres. If you wish to use other tyres, please

note that the actual size can differ from the

– Use only tyre/rim combinations and match-

ing wheel bolts approved by Audi. Otherwise

damage to the vehicle and an accident could

result.

– For technical reasons, it is not possible to

use wheels from other vehicles. In certain

cases, it is not even possible to use wheels

from another vehicle of the same model.

– It is very important to ensure that the tyres

you have chosen have adequate clearance.

When selecting replacement tyres, do not

rely entirely on the nominal tyre size marked

on the tyre; with some makes of tyre the ef-

fective tyre size can differ significantly from

the nominal dimensions, even though the

tyres have the same size designation. Inade-

quate tyre clearance can result in damage to

the tyres or the vehicle, causing a serious

safety risk.

nominal size marked on the tyre ð

.

►

If you wish to purchase a different combination

of rims and tyres than the ones fitted on the ve-

hicle during production, it is advisable to con-

sult a qualified workshop beforehand ð

.

The specifications for the rim/tyre combinations

approved for your vehicle are listed in the vehi-

cle's documents (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity

or COC document ). The vehicle documents vary

depending on the country in which the vehicle is

registered.

– Avoid running the car on tyres that are more

than 6 years old. If you have no alternative,

you should drive slowly and with extra care

at all times.

1)

– The use of run-flat tyres on your vehicle is

NOT authorised! Unauthorised use can cause

an accident or damage your vehicle.

– If wheel trims are fitted after the car is pur-

chased, ensure that there is an adequate

flow of air for cooling the brakes – risk of ac-

cident!

If the spare wheel* is not the same type as the

tyres fitted on the car (for example if the car has

winter tyres or wide-section tyres) you should on-

ly use the spare wheel* if a puncture occurs, and

then only for a short period of time. In this case,

please drive with extra care. Refit a normal road

wheel as soon as possible.

– If any of the tyres are incorrectly mounted

on the rims, the tyres may be damaged or a

blow-out may occur. The tyres must be

mounted on the rims by trained personnel –

risk of accident!

All four wheels must always be fitted with tyres

of the same type, make and tread pattern, as the

driveline could otherwise be damaged by the dif-

ferences in the wheel speeds. For the same rea-

son, only use a spare wheel* which has the same

rolling circumference as the normal road wheels.

1)

COC = Certificate of conformity

337

Wheels

Changing wheels round

Tyre wear / damage

Wheels should be changed round regularly to en-

sure that the wear is equal on all tyres. Fit the

wheels from the rear axle on the front axle and

vice-versa. All the tyres will then last for about

the same time.

On tyres with a directional tread pattern, note

the direction of rotation indicated on the sidewall

ðpage 358.

Concealed damage

Fig. 207 Tyre tread: Tread wear indicators

Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visi-

ble. If you notice unusual vibrations or the car

pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of

the tyres is damaged. Reduce your speed imme-

diately. Inspect the tyres for damage. If no exter-

nal damage is visible, drive slowly and carefully

to the nearest qualified workshop and have the

car inspected.

Tyre wear

Inspect the tyres regularly for damage.

– The wear on under-inflated or over-inflated

tyres is significantly higher.

– Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard

braking all increase tyre wear. If the vehicle is

driven in this way, check the tread depth every

5,000 km – 10,000 km.

WARNING

– If you notice excessive tyre wear, have the

wheel alignment checked by a qualified work-

shop.

Insufficient tread depth or different tread

depths on different wheels reduce safety. This

is particularly evident in vehicle handling,

when there is a risk of aquaplaning in deep

puddles of water and when driving through

corners. Braking is also adversely affected –

risk of accident!

– Have your tyres rebalanced if steering wheel vi-

brations indicate an imbalance. Otherwise, the

tyres and other parts of the vehicle may wear

faster.

Tread wear indicators

Tyre pressure

The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm

high tread wear indicators ðFig. 207 running

across the tread at regular intervals. The letters

“TWI” or triangles on the sidewall indicate the

positions of the tread wear indicators.

When checking the tread depth, you must check

the tread wear indicators across the entire width

of all four tyres.

1)

The minimum tread depth is reached at the lat-

est when the tread is worn down to the tread

wear indicators. Replace the tyres with new ones

Fig. 208 B-pillar on driver's side: tyre pressure sticker

ð

.

The correct inflation pressures for tyres fitted at

the factory and for the spare wheel* are specified 

1)

Please observe the applicable regulations in the country in

which you are travelling.

338

Wheels

on a sticker. The sticker ðFig. 208 is on the B-pil-

tyre blow-out and you could lose control of

lar (driver's side).

the vehicle – risk of accident!

– Incorrect tyre pressures increase tyre wear

and adversely affect vehicle braking and

handling – risk of accident!

A Tyre size

B Tyre pressure for the front wheels

C

Tyre pressure for the rear wheels

CAUTION

1 Tyre pressure if vehicle is partially loaded

Replace any lost valve caps to prevent dam-

age to the tyre valves.

2 Tyre pressure (comfort setting)* if vehicle is

partially loaded (not available on all vehicles) If a

maximum speed is given, it must not be excee-

ded.

For the sake of the environment

– Under-inflated tyres will increase the fuel

consumption.

3 Tyre pressure if vehicle is fully loaded

4 Tyre pressure for the spare wheel*

– Driving with the tyre pressures adjusted to

the comfort setting* may also result in in-

creased fuel consumption.

If you intend to drive the vehicle with a partial

load, adjust the tyre pressures to the specified

setting 1 . However, if you prefer an extra-

smooth ride you can select the comfort setting*

2 . Should you wish to drive with a full load, you

must increase the tyre pressures to the specified

Note

Audi recommends always using the tyre pres-

sure setting 1 for partial loads and the set-

ting 3 for full loads.

maximum 3 ð

.

Wheel bolts and rims

Checking / adjusting the tyre pressures

►

Check the tyre pressures at least once a month

Wheel bolts

and, in addition, before starting a long journey.

The tyre pressures should only be checked

The wheel bolts should be clean and turn easily.

►

when the tyres are cold. The slightly raised

Rims

pressures of warm tyres must not be reduced.

Refer to the sticker ðFig. 208 for the correct

tyre pressures.

If necessary, adjust the tyre pressures.

Then store the new tyre pressures in the MMI

ðpage 343 or ðpage 344.

Rims with a bolted rim flange* or bolted trim

parts* consist of several components. A special

technique is applied to bolt these components

together. Never attempt to repair or dismantle

►

them ð

.

►

Check the pressure of the spare wheel*. Keep

WARNING

the spare tyre inflated to the highest pressure

approved for the tyre.

If the wheel bolts have not been tightened or

serviced correctly, they can come loose, and

you could lose control of the vehicle – risk of

accident! For the correct tightening torque,

refer to ðpage 359, After changing a wheel.

– Make sure that the wheel bolts and threads

in the wheel hubs are always clean and free

from grease.

WARNING

Always adjust the tyre pressures to match

your driving style and the load the vehicle is

carrying.

– Excessive loads can cause you to lose control

of the vehicle – risk of accident!

– Only use wheel bolts that are designed to

match the rims on your car.

– Under-inflation, high speeds and heavy

loads require the tyres to flex more, which

causes them to overheat. This could cause a



339

Wheels

– Always have damaged rims repaired by a

qualified workshop. Never attempt to repair

or dismantle rims yourself – risk of accident!

– If a driver message is displayed, slow down

immediately and avoid any severe braking or

steering manoeuvres. As soon as you can do

so safely, stop and check the wheel bolts.

– Check your wheels for damage and have any

damaged wheels inspected and/or replaced

by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.

– Under certain conditions (e.g. driving at high

speeds, on ice and snow or on poor road sur-

faces) the driver message may not appear

immediately.

Loose wheel warning

Applies to: vehicles with loose wheel warning

Within the limits of the system, the loose wheel

warning in the instrument cluster warns you if

one or more of the wheels is no longer properly

secured.

– It is the driver's responsibility to ensure that

the wheel bolts are properly secured.

The loose wheel warning makes use of the ABS

sensors to compare the vibration of the individual

wheels. If the system detects one or more loose

wheels, the driver is alerted by a warning lamp

 and a message in the instrument cluster dis-

play. If only one wheel is affected, the display will

indicate its position.

Note

– If a malfunction occurs in the ESC system,

the loose wheel warning may also be out of

action.

– When driving with snow chains, a system

malfunction may occur.

Driver messages

 Wheel bolts loose. Please stop vehicle safely

and check all wheel bolts.

Winter tyres

Loose wheel warning for at least one of the

wheels ð . Use the box spanner from the vehi-

cle toolkit to check the wheel bolts of all the

wheels right away. Have the tightening torques

checked as soon as possible with a torque

wrench. Until then, drive with caution. For the

correct tightening torque, refer to ðpage 359,

After changing a wheel.

In winter road conditions, winter tyres will con-

siderably improve the car's handling. Due to their

type of construction (width, rubber compound,

tread pattern), summer tyres give less grip on ice

and snow.

►

Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.

►

Only use winter tyres of the correct type ap-

proved for your vehicle.

Please note that the maximum permissible

 Wheel check active. Please drive on carefully

►

After a driver message has been displayed and

you have checked the wheel bolts, the system

will check the wheels as you drive. This may take

a few minutes.

speed for winter tyres may be lower than for

summer tyres ð

in General information on

page 336. Your specialist retailer can advise

you of the maximum speed for your tyres.

After fitting the wheels you must always check

the tyre pressures ðpage 338.

►

 Loose wheel warning: fault. See owner's

manual

Winter tyres lose their effectiveness when the

tread is worn down to a depth of 4 mm. The per-

formance of winter tyres is also severely impaired

by ageing, even if the tread is still much deeper

than 4 mm.

A system fault has occurred. Drive to a qualified

workshop soon and have the fault rectified.

WARNING

If the wheel bolts have not been tightened

correctly, they can come loose, and you could

lose control of the vehicle – risk of accident!

For the sake of the environment

Summer tyres should be fitted again as soon

as possible; they give better handling on



340

Wheels

roads which are free of snow and ice. They are

quieter, do not wear so quickly and reduce

fuel consumption.

CAUTION

– Snow chains can damage the rim/hubcap* if

they make direct contact with it. Remove

the hubcaps* beforehand. Use snow chains

which have a protective coating.

Note

All-weather tyres can also be used instead of

winter tyres. Please note that winter tyres

with the  symbol are required by law during

the winter season in some countries.

– If the air suspension* is defective you must

NOT drive with snow chains as the vehicle is

extremely low on the road. Driving with

snow chains could cause severe damage to

the wheel housings and other parts of the

vehicle.

Snow chains

Snow chains will improve braking ability as well

as traction in winter conditions (snow and ice).

Note

When driving with snow chains, it may help to

restrict the ESC ðpage 137.

►

Snow chains can be used on the rear wheels on-

ly.

►

Check that the snow chains are correctly seated

Low-profile tyres

Applies to: vehicles with low-profile tyres

after driving for a few yards; follow the instruc-

tions given by the manufacturer.

►

Keep your speed below 50 km/h. Please ob-

serve the applicable local regulations.

Low-profile tyres have a lower sidewall and pro-

vide a wider tread surface and rim diameter than

other wheel and tyre combinations. This makes

the car's handling more agile. However, the ride

may be less comfortable on poor-quality roads

and tracks, and rolling noise may be louder.

For technical reasons, snow chains may only be

used on tyres with certain wheel rim/tyre combi-

nations (depending on model version):

Rim size

8.5Jx19

8.5Jx20

Rim offset

20 mm

Tyre size

265/55

265/50

Low-profile tyres can be damaged more quickly

than standard tyres, for example by heavy jolts,

potholes, manhole covers and kerbs. It is there-

fore particularly important to ensure that they

are inflated to the correct pressure ðpage 338.

20 mm

Applies to: RS model

Rim size

Rim offset

Tyre size

Drive with particular care on poor-quality roads

to ensure that you do not damage the rims and

tyres.

10Jx22

18 mm

275/40

Only use snow chains with fine-pitch links. The

links must not protrude more than 10.5 mm

from the tyres (including tensioner).

Make sure to check your wheels regularly (every

3,000 km) for damage such as blisters/tears on

the tyre sidewalls or deformations/cracks on the

rims.

You must remove the snow chains on roads which

are free of snow; otherwise the vehicle’s handling

may be impaired and the tyres may be damaged.

After a heavy jolt, or if any damage occurs, you

should have the rims and tyres checked and if

necessary replaced by a qualified workshop.

WARNING

Unsuitable or incorrectly mounted snow

chains can cause you to lose control of the ve-

hicle – risk of accident!

Tyre wear occurs more quickly on low-profile

tyres than on standard tyres.

341

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