2008 Mercedes CLS-Class Owner's Manual - Page 295

Operation Tires and wheels Tire care and maintenance cord or fabric showing through the tire's rubber Tread depth Do not allow your tires to wear down too far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are sharply reduced at tread depths of less than 1⁄8 in (3 mm). Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by law. These indicators are located in six places on the tread circumference and become visible at a tread depth of approximately 1/16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the tire is considered worn and should be replaced. Recommended minimum tire tread depth: Summer tires 1/8 in (3 mm) Winter tires 1/6 in (4 mm) Warning! Warning! G bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in the tread or side of the tire Replace the tire if you find any of the above conditions. Make sure you also inspect the spare tire periodically for condition and inflation. Spare tires will age and become worn over time even if never used, and thus should be inspected and replaced when necessary. Life of tire The service life of a tire is dependent upon varying factors including but not limited to: Driving style Tire inflation pressure Regularly check the tires for damage. Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pressure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have sustained damage, replace them. Regularly check your tire inflation pressure at least once a month. For more information on checking tire inflation pressure see "Recommended tire inflation pressure" ( page 301). Tire inspection Every time you check your tire inflation pressure, you should also inspect your tires for the following: excessive treadwear ( page 294) G Distance driven Warning! G Tires and spare tire should be replaced after 6 years, regardless of the remaining tread. Although the applicable federal motor safety laws consider a tire to be worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at approximately 1/16 in (1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not allow your tires 294