2009 Mercedes C-Class Owner's Manual - Page 210

219_AKB; 4; 54, en-US d2ureepe, 2009-05-11T16:21:02+02:00 - Seite 208 Version: 2.11.8.1 208 Winter driving Treadwear indicators Narrow bands, sometimes called "wear bars" that show across the tread of a tire when only 1/ in (1.6 mm) of tread remains. 16 Always use winter tires at temperatures below 45‡ (7†) and whenever wintry road conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires provide special winter performance. Make sure the tires you use show the mountain/ snowflakeimarking on the tire sidewall. These tires meet specific snow traction performance requirements of the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and have been designed specifically for use in snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the only way to achieve the maximum effectiveness of your vehicle's driving safety systems such as the ABS and the ESP® in winter operation. For safe handling, make sure all mounted winter tires are of the same make and have the same tread design. For information on winter tires for your vehicle model, see the "Technical data" section (Y page 291). Always observe the speed rating of the winter tires installed on your vehicle. Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards A tire information system that provides consumers with ratings for a tire's traction, temperature and treadwear. Ratings are determined by tire manufacturers using U.S. government testing procedures. The ratings are molded into the sidewall of the tire. Operation Vehicle maximum load on the tire Load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing it by two. Winter driving General information Have your vehicle winterized at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Snow chains ! When driving with snow chains, always select the raised level of the vehicle level control. Other settings may result in damage to your vehicle. ! Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clearance for snow chains. To help avoid serious damage to your vehicle or tires, make sure the use of snow chains is permissible as specified in the "Technical data" section of this Operator's Manual. Snow chains should only be driven on snowcovered roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains as soon as possible when driving on roads without snow. Winter tires Winter tires with a tread depth of less than 1/ in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no 6 longer suitable for winter operation. G Warning! If you use your spare wheel when winter tires are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that the difference in tire characteristics may very well impair turning stability and that overall driving stability may be reduced. Adapt your driving style accordingly. Have the spare wheel replaced by a regular road wheel with a winter tire at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. G Warning!