Audi Q3: Changing a tire

Preparation

You must complete the preparation before changing a tire.

• Read and follow the important safety precautions.
• Set the parking brake.
• Select the "P" position.
• When towing a trailer: disconnect the trailer from your vehicle.
• Lay out the vehicle tool kit and the spare tire.
• Switch the ignition off.

WARNING

The vehicle must also be secured to prevent it from rolling when using the vehicle jack". Use suitable objects to block the front and back of the wheel that is diagonal from the wheel with the flat tire.

Removing the cover

Fig. 159 Wheel: wheel bolts with caps

• Slide the plastic clip from the vehicle tool kit onto the cap until it engages fig. 159.
• Remove the cap with the plastic clip.

Anti-theft wheel bolts

Applies to: vehicles with anti-theft wheel bolts

Fig. 160 Anti-theft wheel bolt with cap and adapter

You need a special adapter in the vehicle tool kit to remove the anti-theft wheel bolts.

• Remove the cap 2.
• Slide the adapter 3 all the way onto the antitheft wheel bolt 1.
• Slide the wheel wrench from the vehicle tool kit all the way onto the adapter 3.
• Loosen the wheel bolt.

Tips

Note the code number for the wheel bolt adapter and store it in a safe place separate from the vehicle. If you need a replacement adapter, contact an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility and give them the code number.

Loosening the wheel bolts

Fig. 161 Wheel: loosening the wheel bolts

• Slide the wheel wrench from the vehicle tool kit all the way onto the wheel bolt¹⁾.
• Turn the wheel bolt approximately one turn to the left. To achieve the required torque, hold the end of the wheel wrench. If the wheel bolt will not loosen, press carefully on the wheel wrench with your foot. Hold onto the vehicle securely while doing this and make sure your footing is stable.

¹⁾ You need the matching adapter in order to loosen and tighten anti-theft wheel bolts.

WARNING

To reduce the risk of an accident, only loosen the wheel bolts gently one turn before raising the vehicle with the vehicle jack.

Raising the vehicle

Applies to: vehicles with vehicle jack

Fig. 162 Sill panels: markings

Fig. 163 Sill: positioning the vehicle jack

• Place the vehicle jack from the vehicle tool kit on a firm surface. Use a flat, stable support if necessary. On a slippery surface such as tile, you should use a non-slip pad such as a rubber mat.
• Find the marking on the sill that is closest to the tire that will be changed fig. 162. Behind the marking, there is a lifting point on the side sill for the vehicle jack.
• Raise the vehicle jack under the lifting point on the side sill until the bracket on the jack 1 completely covers the notch on the vehicle.
• Align the vehicle jack so the bracket 1 covers the notch and the base 2 is flat on the ground.

  The base 2 must be directly under the mounting point 1.

• Mount the crank on the vehicle jack: insert the crank into the opening on the handwheel. Turn the crank to the left or right to secure it.
• Continue raising the vehicle jack with the crank until the wheel lifts off the ground slightly.

WARNING

• To reduce the risk of injury, make sure no one is in the vehicle before raising it.
• Make sure the vehicle jack is stable. The risk of injury is increased when the ground is slippery or soft, because the vehicle jack could slide or sink.
• Only raise your vehicle with the vehicle jack provided by the factory. If you use a vehicle jack designed for another vehicle, your vehicle could slip and cause injury.
• Position the vehicle jack only at the designated mounting points on the side sill and align the jack. Otherwise, the vehicle jack could slip and cause an injury if it y does not have sufficient hold on the vehicle.
• To reduce the risk of injury, do not raise any other vehicles or other loads using the vehicle jack provided by the factory.
• To reduce the risk of an accident, never start the engine when the vehicle is raised.

  To reduce the risk of injury, no work should be performed under the vehicle while it is raised.

Note

Do not lift the vehicle by the sill. Position the vehicle jack only at the designated mounting points on the side sill. Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.

Removing and installing a wheel

Fig. 164 Wheel: internal hex socket to turn the wheel bolts

Fig. 165 Wheel: alignment pin in the top hole

Removing a wheel

• Remove the top wheel bolt completely using the hex socket in the screwdriver handle from the vehicle tool kit fig. 164 and place it on a clean surface.
• Then install the alignment pin from the vehicle tool kit in the empty wheel bolt hole by hand fig. 165.
• Remove the rest of the wheel bolts.
• Remove the wheel. The alignment pin remains in the hole while doing this.

Installing a wheel

Read the directions when installing unidirectional tires.

• Slide the wheel on over the alignment pin.
• Install the wheel bolts and tighten them gently using the hex socket.
• Remove the alignment pin and tighten the remaining wheel bolt.
• Carefully lower the vehicle using the vehicle jack.
• Tighten the wheel bolts in a diagonal pattern using the wheel wrench.

The wheel bolts must be clean and loosen and tighten easily. Check the contact surfaces for the wheel and hub. Contaminants on these surfaces must be removed before installing the wheel.

WARNING

• Read and follow the important information and notes under.
• Never use the hex socket in the screwdriver handle to tighten the wheel bolts. Using the hex socket will not achieve the required tightening torque, which increases the risk of an accident.

Note

When removing or installing the wheel, the rim could hit the brake rotor and damage the rotor. Work carefully and have a second person help you.

Unidirectional tires

A unidirectional tire profile is identified by arrows on the tire sidewall that point in the running direction.

You must always maintain the specified running direction. This is necessary to ensure the tire's optimal performance in regard to adhesion, running noise, and friction, and to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.

To benefit fully from the advantages of the unidirectional tire design, you should replace faulty tires as soon as possible and restore the correct running direction on all of the tires.

Finishing

• Reinstall any covers on the wheel bolts that were removed.
• Store the vehicle tool kit in its designated place.
• If the removed wheel does not fit in the spare wheel well, store it securely in the luggage compartment.
• Check the tire pressure on the installed wheel as soon as possible.
• Correct the tire pressure and store it.
• The wheel bolts must be tightened to 100 ft lbs (140 Nm). Have them checked as soon as possible with a torque wrench. Drive carefully until then.
• Have the faulty wheel replaced as soon as possible.

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