Tyre pressure confusion (A3 1.5 TFSI 2018)

[Adam Sharif]

Hi all,

I checked the side of my driver's door, and I'm having some difficulty understanding what it all means - is as anyone able to clarify?

Image uploaded - my tyres are "225/400 R18 92Y"

The confusion is, that shows in 2 places (top and bottom), but it's higher pressure for M+L which I can't find any definition for anywhere.
Also, at there are two options for these tyres (mine aren't XL and there's no option for non-XL here), but one has a picture with a book which I'm assuming is the manual, yet the manual doesn't state anything useful here.
And to make it more confusing, Kwik Fit's site for these same tyres and car say something totally different:

Tyre Size Position Pressure (PSI) Pressure (BAR) Load Index
225/40Y18 Front Tyre 35 2.4 92
205/55W16 Front Tyre 32 2.2 91
225/45Y17 Front Tyre 38 2.6 91
225/40Y18 Rear Tyre 30 2.07 92
205/55W16 Rear Tyre 29 2.00 91
225/45Y17 Rear Tyre 32 2.21 91

Anyone able to help me through this madness? What does M+L mean, and what does that little picture of a book signify?!

Thanks in advance

 

[Harvey]

That's a very long label but looking at it I'd be running 35PSI fronts and 32PSI rears as a general everyday pressure. M+S means Mud+Snow so basically Winter tires.

 

[Ice Kay]

35 front
32 rear

 

[S32B]

That's a very long label but looking at it I'd be running 35PSI fronts and 32PSI rears as a general everyday pressure. M+S means Mud+Snow so basically Winter tires.

35 front
32 rear

^^^THIS^^^

And the i in the book means you can set them at 30 and 28 if you drive your car in comfort mode all the time (if your car has the option).

 

[Adam Sharif]

Thanks guys makes a lot more sense now!
Is the comfort mode only if you have the magnetic suspension (which I don't), or is it for comfort mode on drive select?

I went for 35psi front and 32 rear, they were a LOT lower when I checked them today

 

[S32B]

Thanks guys makes a lot more sense now!
Is the comfort mode only if you have the magnetic suspension (which I don't), or is it for comfort mode on drive select?

I went for 35psi front and 32 rear, they were a LOT lower when I checked them today

Comfort mode on drive select...I assume! I ran on those settings for a while with no problems. Since getting the new tyres I've gone between comfort setting and normal setting.

 

[B33r]

Slightly different topic but to save a new thread, on the A3 has anyone really found much difference between the drive modes? I tend to just leave mine in ‘Auto’ all the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Adam Sharif]

Good question - tbh efficiency seems to sometimes use less fuel, sometimes more - seems that actually idling in neutral as opposed to in-gear is less efficient. Dynamic on the 1.5 just seems pointless, changes gear at ridiculous points and feels twitchy - I don't think dynamic mode was designed for that engine. I noticed it would just sit there in a low gear sounding ridiculous. It makes the car feel a little bit faster for this reason, but the reality is you don't actually go any faster.

Used to use efficiency mode but now I just use auto and don't see any real difference - though interestingly it does put the climate control also into eco mode which I guess makes some savings.

As for comfort mode, I don't think this does anything at all without the magnetic suspension, but I may be wrong.

 

[eribaMotters]

I run a 2019 35tfsi manual
As above. I use Efficiency if on a long motorway run, unless the caravan is on the back.
I've also noticed the Eco on the climate control dial comes on.
Difficult to note any real economy difference, but mpg does creep up to high 50's even low 60's if keep to boring mid 50's mph.
All other times I set to Auto.

Colin

 

[S32B]

on the A3 has anyone really found much difference between the drive modes? I tend to just leave mine in ‘Auto’ all the time.

When I bought the S3 the sales guy showed me the different modes, he got to auto and said "Skip that one, it's a waste of time"

As for comfort mode, I don't think this does anything at all without the magnetic suspension, but I may be wrong.

I noticed the difference on the S3 and this A5, going from dynamic to comfort mode does what it says!