2011 Mercedes R-Class Owner's Manual - Page 342

340 Definitions for tires and loading Tire type code: tire type code ? can be used by the manufacturer as a code to describe specific characteristics of the tire. Date of manufacture: date of manufacture A provides information about the age of a tire. The first and second positions represent the week of manufacture, starting with "01" for the first calendar week. Positions three and four represent the year of manufacture. For example, a tire that is marked with "3208", was manufactured in week 32 in 2008. DOT (Department of Transportation) DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of the United States Department of Transportation. Average weight of the vehicle occupants The number of occupants for which the vehicle is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms (150 lb). Characteristics of the tire Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards A uniform standard to grade the quality of tires with regards to tread quality, tire traction and temperature characteristics. The quality grading assessment is made by the manufacturer following specifications from the U.S. government. The quality grade of a tire is imprinted on the sidewall of the tire. Tires and wheels Recommended tire pressure i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate from the data in the example. This information describes the tire cord and the number of layers in sidewall : and under tire tread ;. Definitions for tires and loading Structure and condition of the tire Describes the number of layers or the number of rubber-coated belts in the tire tread and the tire wall. These are made of steel, nylon, polyester and other materials. The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle under normal driving conditions. You will find the recommendation on the Tire and Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side of your vehicle. The recommended tire pressure provides the best balance between handling characteristics, ride comfort and wear. Additional information on particular driving conditions is located on the tire pressure table on the inside of the fuel filler flap. Increased vehicle weight due to optional equipment The combined weight of all standard and optional equipment available for the vehicle, regardless of whether it is actually installed on the vehicle or not. Bar Metric unit for tire pressure. 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi) and 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equivalent of 1 bar.