2011 Mercedes C-Class Owner's Manual - Page 156

154 Driving tips Driving on wet roads Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth on the road surface, there is a danger of hydroplaning occurring, even if: Ryou Rthe Driving and parking drive at low speeds tires have adequate tread depth For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in conditions in which hydroplaning can occur you must drive in the following manner: RLower RAvoid provide the best possible grip in wintry road conditions. Only these tires will allow driving safety systems such as ABS and ESP® to function optimally in winter, as these tires have been designed specifically for driving on snow. Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on all wheels to maintain safe handling characteristics. G Warning your speed ruts RBrake carefully M+S tires with a tread depth of less than 1/6 inch (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no longer suitable for winter operation. Driving on flooded roads ! Do not drive through flooded areas. Check the depth of any water before driving through it. Drive slowly through standing water. Otherwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or the engine compartment. This can damage the electronic components in the engine or the automatic transmission. Water can also be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles and this can cause engine damage. Winter driving General information Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of winter. Observe the notes in the "Winter operation" section (Y page 155). Always observe the maximum permissible speed specified for the M+S tires you have mounted. Once you have installed the winter tires: X Check the tire pressures (Y page 275). X Restart the tire pressure monitor (Y page 277). G Warning If you use your spare wheel when M+S 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 an M+S tire at the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Snow chains For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use snow chains which have been specially approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding standard of quality. Winter tires At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), use winter tires or all-season tires. Both types of tire are identified by the M+S marking. Only winter tires also bearing the i snowflake symbol next to the M+S marking ! There is not enough space for snow chains on some wheel sizes. Observe the information under "Tires and wheels" in the "Technical Data" section to avoid damage to the vehicle or the wheels.