2010 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 253

251_AKB; 4; 52, en-US d2ureepe, 2009-03-23T09:22:52+01:00 - Seite 251 Version: 2.11.8.1 Winter driving Tread The portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. 251 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! 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 TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) Maximum permissible weight on trailer tongue. 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. 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! 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. i Vehicles with diesel engine: Do not cover the radiator, for example with a winter front. Otherwise the readings of the on-board diagnostic system may be inaccurate. Some of theses readings are required by law and must be accurate at all times. 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 347). Always observe the speed rating of the winter tires installed on your vehicle. Z Operation