2007 Mercedes-benz E Class Wagon Owners Manual

sions. Keep your vehicle in proper operating condition by following our rec- ommended maintenance instructions as outlined in your Maintenance Booklet.

! To prevent damage to the catalytic convert- ers, only use premium unleaded gasoline in this vehicle. Any noticeable irregularities in engine operation should be repaired promptly. Otherwise, exces- sive unburned fuel may reach the catalytic con- verter, causing it to overheat, which could potentially start a fire.

Warning!

Emission control

As with any vehicle, do not idle, park or op- erate this vehicle in areas where combusti- ble materials such as grass, hay or leaves can come into contact with the hot exhaust system, as these materials could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.

Certain parts of the engine and the emission control system serve to keep the toxic components of the exhaust gases within permissible limits required by law. These systems will function properly only when maintained strictly according to factory specifications. Any adjustments on the engine should, therefore, be carried out only by qualified Mercedes-Benz Center authorized technicians. Engine adjustments should not be altered in any way. Moreover, the specified service procedures must be carried out regularly according to Mercedes-Benz servicing requirements. For details refer to the Maintenance Booklet.

Operation Driving instructions

Warning!

Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause un- consciousness and lead to death.

Do not run the engine in confined areas (such as a garage) which are not properly ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes are entering the vehicle while driving, have the cause determined and corrected immediately. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with at least one win- dow fully open at all times.

319

Operation Driving instructions

Coolant temperature

During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem- perature may rise close to approximately 248°F (120°C). The engine should not be operated with the coolant temperature over 248°F (120°C). Doing so may cause serious en- gine damage which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Warning!

앫 Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids, which may have leaked into the engine compartment, to catch fire. You could be seriously burned.

앫 Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns which can occur just by opening the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.

Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.

320

왔 At the gas station Refueling

Warning!

i In case that the central locking system does not release the fuel filler flap, or the opening mechanism is clamping, notify Roadside Assis- tance or an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous. It burns violently and can cause serious injury.

Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate- rials near gasoline!

Turn off the engine before refueling.

Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid in- haling fumes and skin or clothing contact, extinguish all smoking materials.

Direct skin contact with fuels and the inha- lation of fuel vapors can damage your health.

The fuel filler flap is located on the right-hand side of the vehicle towards the rear. Locking/unlocking the vehicle with the remote control automatically locks/unlocks the fuel filler flap.

왘 Turn the engine off

앫 by turning the SmartKey to

position 0.

앫 by pressing the KEYLESS-GO*

start/stop button. Open the driv- er’s door (with the driver’s door open, starter switch is now in position 0, same as SmartKey re- moved from starter switch).

왘 Remove the SmartKey from the starter

switch.

Operation At the gas station

왘 Open the fuel filler flap by pushing at

the point indicated by the arrow. The fuel filler flap springs open.

왘 Turn the fuel cap to the left and hold on to it until possible pressure is released. 왘 Take off the cap and set it in the recess

on the fuel filler flap. To prevent fuel vapors from escaping into open air, fully insert filler nozzle unit.

왘 Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle unit cuts out – do not top off or over- fill.

Warning!

Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres- sure in the system which could cause a gas discharge. This could cause the gas to spray back out when removing the fuel pump noz- zle, which could cause personal injury.

컄컄

321

Operation At the gas station

컄컄

왘 Replace fuel cap by turning it clockwise

Check regularly and before a long trip

until it audibly engages. 왘 Close the fuel filler flap.

i Leaving the engine running and the fuel cap open can cause the yellow fuel tank reserve warning lamp to flash and the malfunction indi- cator lamp ? (USA only) or the malfunction indicator lamp ± (Canada only) to illuminate. For more information, see also “Practical hints” (컄 page 382).

i Only use premium unleaded gasoline with a minimum Posted Octane Rating of 91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON). Information on gasoline quality can normally be found on the fuel pump. For more information on gasoline, see the Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

322

1 Windshield washer system and head-

lamp cleaning system*

2 Brake fluid 3 Coolant level i Opening the hood, see (컄 page 324).

Windshield washer system and headlamp cleaning system* For information on refilling the reservoir, see “Windshield washer system and head- lamp cleaning system*” (컄 page 331).

Brake fluid

! If you find that the brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or below, have the brake system checked for brake pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately. Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the problem. For more information, see “Practical hints” (컄 page 381). For information on brake fluid, see “Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.” (컄 page 489).

Coolant For normal replenishing, use water (pota- ble water quality). For more information on coolant, see “Coolant level” (컄 page 329) and see “Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.” (컄 page 486).

Vehicle lighting Check function and cleanliness. For more information on replacing light bulbs, see “Replacing bulbs” (컄 page 442). For more information, see “Exterior lamp switch” (컄 page 141).

Engine oil level For more information on engine oil level, see “Engine oil” (컄 page 326).

Tire inflation pressure For more information, see “Checking tire inflation pressure” (컄 page 341).

Operation At the gas station

323

Operation Engine compartment

Hood

Warning!

Do not pull the release lever while the vehi- cle is in motion. Otherwise the hood could be forced open by passing air flow.

This could cause the hood to come loose and injure you and/or others.

Opening

Warning!

If you see flames or smoke coming from the engine compartment, or if the coolant tem- perature indicator indicates that the engine is overheated, do not open the hood. Move away from vehicle and do not open the hood until the engine has cooled. If necessary, call the fire department.

324

Warning!

Warning!

The engine is equipped with a transistorized ignition system. Because of the high voltage it is dangerous to touch any components (ig- nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic socket) of the ignition system 앫 with the engine running 앫 while starting the engine 앫 if ignition is “on” and the engine is

turned manually

You could be injured when the hood is open – even when the engine is turned off.

Parts of the engine can become very hot. To prevent burns, let the engine cool off com- pletely before touching any components on the vehicle. Comply with all relevant safety precautions.

Warning!

To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of moving parts when the hood is open and the engine is running.

The radiator fan may continue to run for ap- proximately 30 seconds or even restart af- ter the engine has been turned off. Stay clear of fan blades.

1 Release lever 왘 Pull release lever 1. The hood is unlocked.

2 Handle for opening the hood 왘 Lift the hood slightly.

Handle 2 will extend out of the radia- tor grille.

! To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or hood, never open the hood if the wiper arms are folded forward away from the windshield.

! To avoid damage to handle 2 never pull up the hood on handle 2.

Operation Engine compartment

왘 Pull handle 2 to its stop out of radia-

tor grille.

왘 Lift bottom of hood at edge of radiator

grille. The hood will be automatically held open at shoulder height by gas-filled struts.

325

Operation Engine compartment

Closing

Warning!

When closing the hood, use extreme caution not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that you do not close the hood on anyone.

Make sure that the hood is securely en- gaged before driving off. Do not continue driving if the hood can no longer engage af- ter an accident, for example. The hood could otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in motion and endanger you and others.

왘 Let the hood drop from a height of ap-

proximately 1 ft (30 cm). The hood will lock audibly.

왘 Check to make sure the hood is fully

closed. If you can raise the hood at a point above the headlamps, then it is not properly closed. Open it again and let it drop with somewhat greater force.

326

Checking engine oil level When checking the oil level 앫 the vehicle must be parked on level

ground

앫 with the engine at operating tempera- ture, the vehicle must have been sta- tionary for at least 5 minutes with the engine turned off

앫 with the engine not at operating tem- perature yet, the vehicle must have been stationary for at least 5 minutes with the engine turned off

Engine oil

The amount of oil your engine needs will depend on a number of factors, including driving style. Higher oil consumption can occur when 앫 the vehicle is new 앫 the vehicle is driven frequently at

higher engine speeds

Engine oil consumption checks should only be made after the vehicle break-in period.

i Do not use any special lubricant additives, as these may damage the drive assemblies. Us- ing special additives not approved by Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. More information on this subject is available at any Mercedes-Benz Center.

Operation Engine compartment

왘 Pull out oil dipstick 1 again after

Adding engine oil

approximately 3 seconds to obtain ac- curate reading. The oil level is correct when it is be- tween the lower (min) mark 3 and upper (max) mark 2 of oil dipstick 1.

i All models (except E 63 AMG): The filling quantity between the upper and lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately 2.1 US qt. (2.0 l). E 63 AMG: The filling quantity between the upper and lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately 1.6 US qt. (1.5 l). 왘 If necessary, add engine oil. For adding engine oil, see “Adding engine oil”. For more information on engine oil, see “Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.” (컄 page 486). For more information on messages in the multifunction display concerning engine oil, see the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 416).

! Only use approved engine oils and oil filters required for vehicles with Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles). For a listing of approved engine oils and oil fil- ters, refer to the Factory Approved Service Prod- ucts pamphlet (USA only) in your vehicle literature portfolio, or contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Using engine oils and oil filters of specification other than those expressly required for the Main- tenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles), or changing of oil and oil filter at change intervals longer than those called for by the Maintenance System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada vehicles) will result in engine or emission control system damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

327

1 Oil dipstick 2 Upper (max) mark 3 Lower (min) mark To check the engine oil level with the oil dipstick, do the following: 왘 Open the hood (컄 page 324). 왘 Pull out oil dipstick 1. 왘 Wipe oil dipstick 1 clean. 왘 Fully insert oil dipstick 1 into the

dipstick guide tube.

Transmission fluid level

The transmission fluid level does not need to be checked. If you notice transmission fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions, have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center check the transmission.

왘 Unscrew filler cap 1 from filler neck. 왘 Add engine oil as required. Be careful

not to overfill with oil.

Be careful not to spill any oil when adding. Avoid environmental damage caused by oil entering the ground or water.

! Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off. It could cause damage to the engine and emis- sion control system not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. 왘 Screw filler cap 1 back on filler neck. For more information on engine oil, see the “Technical data” section (컄 page 486) and (컄 page 489).

Operation Engine compartment

E 350

E 63 AMG

328

Coolant level

The engine coolant is a mixture of water and anticorrosion/antifreeze. To check the coolant level, the vehicle must be parked on level ground and the engine must be cool. The coolant expansion tank is located on the driver’s side of the engine compart- ment.

Warning!

In order to avoid any potentially serious burns: 앫 Use extreme caution when opening the hood if there are any signs of steam or coolant leaking from the cooling system, or if the coolant temperature gauge indi- cates that the coolant is overheated.

앫 Do not remove pressure cap on coolant

reservoir if coolant temperature is above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to cool down before removing cap. The coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and is under pressure.

앫 Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine

parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene gly- col which may burn if it comes into con- tact with hot engine parts.

앫 Using a rag, slowly open the cap approx- imately 1/2 turn to relieve excess pres- sure. If opened immediately, scalding hot fluid and steam will be blown out un- der pressure.

1 Marking bar in the expansion tank 2 Cap 3 Coolant expansion tank

Operation Engine compartment

왘 Using a rag, turn the cap 2 slowly ap- proximately one half turn counterclock- wise to release any excess pressure. 왘 Continue turning the cap 2 counter-

clockwise and remove it. The coolant level is correct if the level: 앫 for cold coolant: reaches marking

bar 1 in the expansion tank 3

앫 for warm coolant: is approximately

0.6 in (1.5 cm) higher 왘 Add coolant as required. 왘 Replace and tighten cap 2. For more information on coolant, see the “Technical data” section (컄 page 491).

329

Operation Engine compartment

Battery

Your vehicle’s battery is located in the cargo compartment on the right hand side (컄 page 462). The battery should always be sufficiently charged in order to achieve its rated ser- vice life. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for battery maintenance intervals. If you use your vehicle mostly for short-dis- tance trips, you will need to have the bat- tery charge checked more frequently. When replacing the battery, always use batteries approved by Mercedes-Benz. If you do not intend to operate your vehicle for an extended period of time, consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center about steps you need to observe.

330

Warning!

Observe all safety instructions and precau- tions when handling automotive batteries.

Risk of explosion.

Fire, open flames and smoking are prohibited when handling batteries. Avoid creating sparks.

Battery acid is caustic. Do not allow it to come into contact with skin, eyes or clothing.

Wear suitable protective cloth- ing, especially gloves, apron and faceguard.

Wear eye protection.

Rinse any acid spills immediate- ly with clear water. Contact a physician if necessary.

Keep children away.

Follow the instructions in this Operator’s Manual.

Batteries contain materials that can harm the environment if disposed of improperly. Recycling of batteries is the preferred method of disposal. Many states require sellers of batteries to accept old batteries for recycling.

Operation Engine compartment

Windshield/rear window washer sys- tem and headlamp cleaning system*

The windshield washer reservoir is located in the engine compartment.

During all seasons, add MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” to water. Premix the windshield washer fluid in a suitable container.

! Always use washer solvent/antifreeze where temperatures may fall below freezing point. Failure to do so could result in damage to the washer system/reservoir.

Warning!

! Only use washer fluid which is suitable for plastic lenses. Improper washer fluid can dam- age the plastic lenses of the headlamps.

Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma- ble. Do not spill washer solvent/ antifreeze on hot engine parts, because it may ignite and burn. You could be seriously burned.

For more information, see “Windshield and headlamp washer fluid mixing ratio” (컄 page 494).

왘 Use the tab to pull cap 1 upwards. 왘 Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield

Washer Concentrate and water (or commercially available premixed wind- shield washer solvent/antifreeze, de- pending on ambient temperatures).

1 Cap for windshield washer reservoir Fluid for the windshield washer system and the headlamp cleaning system is supplied from the windshield washer reservoir. It has a capacity of: 앫 4.8 US qt (4.5 l) in vehicles without

headlamp cleaning system

앫 7.4 US qt (7.0 l) in vehicles with head-

lamp cleaning system

331

Operation Tires and wheels

See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for information on tested and recommend- ed rims and tires for summer and winter operation. They can also offer advice con- cerning tire service and purchase.

Warning!

Replace rims or tires with the same designa- tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the original part. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa- tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are mounted: 앫 The wheel brakes or suspension compo-

nents can be damaged

앫 The correct operating clearance of the wheels and the tires are no longer guar- anteed

332

Warning!

Important guidelines

Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have sustained damage, replace them.

When replacing rims, only use Genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the particular rim type. Failure to do so can re- sult in the bolts loosening and possibly an accident.

Retreaded tires are not tested or recom- mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous damage cannot always be recognized on re- treads. The operating safety of the vehicle cannot be assured when such tires are used.

앫 Only use sets of tires and rims of the

same type and make.

앫 Tires must be of the correct size for the

rim.

앫 Break in new tires for approximately

60 miles (100 km) at moderate speeds.

앫 Regularly check the tires and rims for

damage. Dented or bent rims can cause tire inflation pressure loss and damage to the tire beads.

앫 If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire

inflation pressure and correct as required.

앫 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).

앫 When replacing individual tires, you should mount new tires on the front wheels first (on vehicles with same-sized wheels all around).

Operation Tires and wheels

Tire care and maintenance

Warning!

Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam- aged 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 informa- tion on checking tire inflation pressure, see “Recommended tire inflation pres- sure” (컄 page 340).

Tire inspection Every time you check your tire inflation pressure, you should also inspect your tires for the following: 앫 excessive treadwear (컄 page 334) 앫 cord or fabric showing through the

tire’s rubber

Life of tire The service life of a tire is dependent upon varying factors including but not limited to: 앫 Driving style 앫 Tire inflation pressure 앫 Distance driven

앫 bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in

the tread or side of the tire

Warning!

Tires and spare tire should be replaced after 6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.

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.

333

Operation Tires and wheels

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). Treadwear 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 approx- imately 1/16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the tire is considered worn and should be re- placed. Recommended minimum tire tread depth: 앫 Summer tires 1/8 in (3 mm) 앫 Winter tires 1/6 in (4 mm)

Warning!

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 recom- mend that you do not allow your tires

334

to wear down to that level. As tread depth approaches 1/8 in (3 mm), the adhesion properties on a wet road are sharply re- duced.

Depending upon the weather and/or road surface (conditions), the tire traction varies widely.

Storing tires

! Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place with as little exposure to light as possible. Pro- tect tires from contact with oil, grease and gaso- line.

Cleaning tires

! Never use a round nozzle to power wash tires. The intense jet of water can result in dam- age to the tire. Always replace a damaged tire.

1 TWI (Tread Wear Indicator) The treadwear indicator appears as a solid band across the tread.

Direction of rotation

Loading the vehicle

Unidirectional tires offer added advan- tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor- mance. To benefit, however, you must make sure the tires rotate in the direction specified. An arrow on the sidewall indicates the intended direction of rotation (spinning) of the tire.

i Spare wheels may be mounted against the direction of rotation (spinning) even with a unidi- rectional tire for temporary use only until the reg- ular drive wheel has been repaired or replaced. Always observe and follow applicable temporary use restrictions and speed limitations indicated on the spare wheel.

Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly carry. 1) The Tire and Loading Information

placard can be found on the driver’s door B-pillar. This placard tells you im- portant information about the number of people that can be in the vehicle and the total weight that can be carried in the vehicle. It also contains information on the proper size and recommended tire inflation pressures for the original equipment tires on your vehicle.

2) The certification label, also found on

the driver’s door B-pillar tells you about the gross weight capacity of your vehi- cle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. The certification label also tells you about the front and rear axle weight capacity, called the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).

Operation Tires and wheels

The GAWR is the total allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear). Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for either the front axle or rear axle.

1 Driver’s door B-pillar Following is a discussion on how to work with the information contained on the two placards with regards to loading your vehi- cle.

335

Operation Tires and wheels

Tire and Loading Information

Tire and Loading Information placard

Warning!

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified load limit as indicated on the plac- ard on the driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can overheat them, possibly caus- ing a blowout. Overloading the tires can also result in handling or steering problems, or brake failure.

i Data shown on placard examples are for il- lustration purposes only. Load limit data are spe- cific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in the illustrations below. Refer to placard on vehicle for actual data specific to your vehi- cle.

336

1 Load limit information on the Tire and

Loading Information placard

The placard showing the load limit informa- tion is located on the driver’s door B-pillar. 왘 Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kilograms or XXX lbs.” on this placard.

The combined weight of all occupants, car- go/luggage and trailer tongue load (if ap- plicable) should never exceed the weight referenced in that statement.

Seating capacity The seating capacity gives you important information on the number of occupants that can be in the vehicle. Observe front and rear seating capacity. The Tire and Loading Information placard showing the seating capacity information is located on the driver’s door B-pillar (컄 page 335).

i Data shown on placard examples are for il- lustration purposes only. Seating data are specif- ic to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in the illustrations below. Refer to placard on ve- hicle for actual data specific to your vehicle.

1 Seating capacity information on the Tire and Loading Information placard

Operation Tires and wheels

Step 4
왘 The resulting figure equals the avail-

Step 6 (if applicable) 왘 If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,

able amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lbs. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.).

Step 5
왘 Determine the combined weight of

luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in step 4.

load from your trailer will be trans- ferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle (컄 page 339).

The following table shows examples on how to calculate total and cargo load capacities with varying seating configura- tions and number and size of occupants. The following examples use a load limit of 1500 lbs. This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you are using the actual load limit for your vehicle stated on the vehicle’s placard (컄 page 336).

Steps for determining correct load limit The following steps have been developed as required of all manufacturers under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”. Step 1
왘 Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.

Step 2
왘 Determine the combined weight of the

driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.

Step 3
왘 Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kilo- grams or XXX lbs.

337

Operation Tires and wheels

Example Combined

weight limit of occu- pants and cargo from placard 1500 lbs

1500 lbs

1500 lbs

Number of occupants (driver and passengers)

Seating configura- tion

Occupants weight

Combined weight of all occupants

Available cargo/luggage and trailer tongue weight (total load limit from placard minus combined weight of all occupants)

front: 2

rear: 3

front: 1
rear: 2

front:1

Occupant 1: 150 lbs Occupant 2: 180 lbs Occupant 3: 160 lbs Occupant 4: 140 lbs Occupant 5: 120 lbs Occupant 1: 200 lbs Occupant 2: 190 lbs Occupant 3: 150 lbs Occupant 1: 150 lbs

750 lbs

1500 lbs - 750 lbs = 750 lbs

540 lbs

1500 lbs - 540 lbs = 960 lbs

150 lbs

1500 lbs - 150 lbs = 1350 lbs

The higher the weight of all occupants, the less cargo and luggage load capacity is available. For more information, see “Trailer tongue load” (컄 page 339).

338

Operation Tires and wheels

Certification label Even after careful determination of the combined weight of all occupants, cargo and the trailer tongue load (if applicable) (컄 page 339) as to not exceed the permis- sible load limit, you must make sure that your vehicle never exceeds the Gross Vehi- cle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle. You can obtain the GVWR and GAWR from the certification la- bel. The certification label can be found on the driver’s door B-pillar, see “Technical data” (컄 page 476).

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo, and the trailer tongue load (컄 page 339) must never exceed the GVWR. Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): The to- tal allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear). To assure that your vehicle does not ex- ceed the maximum permissible weight limits (GVWR and GAWR for front and rear axle), have the loaded vehicle (including driver, passengers and all cargo and, if ap- plicable, trailer fully loaded) weighed on a suitable commercial scale.

Trailer tongue load The tongue load of any trailer is an impor- tant weight to measure because it affects the load you can carry in your vehicle. If a trailer is towed, the tongue load must be added to the weight of all occupants riding and any cargo you are carrying in the vehicle. The tongue load typically is 10 percent of the trailer weight and every- thing loaded in it. Your Mercedes-Benz has been designed primarily to carry passengers and their cargo. Mercedes-Benz does not recom- mend trailer towing with your vehicle.

339

Operation Tires and wheels

Recommended tire inflation pressure

Warning!

Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.

Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being over- heated.

Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc.

Your vehicle is equipped with the Tire and Loading Information placard located on the driver’s door B-pillar (컄 page 335).

The tire inflation pressure should be checked regularly and should only be ad- justed on cold tires. The tires can be con- sidered cold if the vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). Follow recommended cold tire inflation pressures listed on placard. Keeping the tires properly inflated provides the best handling, tread life and riding comfort. In addition to the tire placard on the driver’s door B-pillar, also consult the fuel filler flap for any additional information pertaining to special driving situations. For more information, see “Important notes on tire inflation pressure” (컄 page 341).

i Data shown on placard examples are for il- lustration purposes only. Tire data are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in the illustrations below. Refer to placard on vehi- cle for actual data specific to your vehicle.

340

1 Tire and Loading Information placard with recommended cold tire inflation pressures

The Tire and Loading Information placard lists the recommended cold tire inflation pressures for maximum loaded vehicle weight. The tire inflation pressures listed apply to the tires installed as original equipment.

Important notes on tire inflation pressure

Warning!

If the tire inflation pressure repeatedly drops: 앫 Check the tires for punctures from

foreign objects.

앫 Check to see whether air is leaking from

the valves or from around the rim.

Tire temperature and tire inflation pressure are also increased while driving, depending on the driving speed and the tire load. If you will be driving your vehicle at high speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) or higher, where it is legal and conditions allow, consult the placard on the inside of the fuel filler flap on how to adjust the cold tire in- flation pressure. If you do not adjust the tire inflation pressure, excessive heat can build up and result in sudden tire failure.

i Driving comfort may be reduced when the tire inflation pressure is adjusted to the value for speeds above 100 mph (160 km/h) as specified on the placard located on the inside of the fuel filler flap.

Be sure to readjust the tire inflation pressure for normal driving speeds. You should wait until the tires are cold before adjusting the tire inflation pressure. Some vehicles may have supplemental tire inflation pressure information for vehicle loads less than the maximum loaded vehi- cle condition. If such information is provid- ed, it can be found on the placard located on the inside of the fuel filler flap (컄 page 321). Tire inflation pressure changes by approxi- mately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18°F (10°C) of air temperature change. Keep this in mind when checking tire inflation pressure where the temperature is different from the outside temperature.

Operation Tires and wheels

Checking tire inflation pressure

Regularly check your tire inflation pressure at least once a month. Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure when the tires are cold. The tires can be considered cold if the vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If you check the tire inflation pressure when the tires are warm (the vehicle has been driven for several miles or sitting less than 3 hours), the reading will be approximately 4 psi (0.3 bar) higher than the cold reading. This is normal. Do not let air out to match the specified cold tire in- flation pressure. Otherwise, the tire will be underinflated.

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Operation Tires and wheels

Warning!

Follow recommend tire inflation pressures.

Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.

Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc.

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified load limit or vehicle capacity weight as indicated on the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.

Checking tire inflation pressure manually Follow the steps below to achieve correct tire inflation pressure: 왘 Remove the cap from the valve on one

tire.

왘 Firmly press a tire gauge onto the

valve.

왘 Read tire inflation pressure on tire gauge and check against the recom- mended tire inflation pressure on the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar (컄 page 335). If necessary, add air to achieve the recommended tire inflation pressure.

i If you have overfilled the tire, release tire in- flation pressure by pushing the metal stem of the valve with e.g. a tip of a pen. Then recheck the tire inflation pressure with the tire gauge. 왘 Install the valve cap. 왘 Repeat this procedure for each tire.

Run Flat Indicator (Canada only) While the vehicle is being driven, the Run Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota- tional speed. This allows the system to de- tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire. If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due to falling tire inflation pressure, you will see a corresponding warning message in the multifunction display. The Run Flat Indicator may function in a restricted manner or with a delay 앫 if snow chains are mounted to the

vehicle

앫 in winter road conditions prevail in

presence of ice and snow

앫 if you are driving on a loose surface

(e.g. sand or gravel)

앫 if you are driving in a very sporty man- ner (involving rapid acceleration or high speeds in curves)

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Warning!

Warning!

The Run Flat Indicator does not provide a warning for wrongly selected tire inflation pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres- sure according to the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar or fuel filler flap.

The Run Flat Indicator does not replace reg- ular checks of the tire inflation pressures since a gradual pressure loss in more than one tire cannot be detected by the Run Flat Indicator.

The Run Flat Indicator is not able to issue a warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In this case bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply- ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering maneuvers.

When the multifunction display shows the message Tire pressure Check tires, one or more of your tires is significantly un- derinflated. You should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper tire inflation pressure as indicat- ed on the vehicle’s tire information placard. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability. Each tire, including the spare, should be checked monthly when cold and set to the recommended tire inflation pressure as specified in the vehicle placard and owner’s manual.

i The recommended tire inflation pressures for your vehicle can be found on the tire placard located on the driver’s door B-pillar (컄 page 335). The tire inflation pressures are not listed in the owner’s manual.

Operation Tires and wheels

Reactivating the Run Flat Indicator The tire inflation pressure monitor must be reactivated in the following situations: 앫 If you have changed the tire inflation

pressure

앫 If you have replaced the wheels or tires 앫 If you have installed new wheels or

tires

왘 Using the tire placard on the driver’s door B-pillar or, if available, the inside of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire inflation pressure of all four tires is cor- rect.

Warning!

The Run Flat Indicator can only warn you in a reliable manner if you have set the correct tire inflation pressures for each tire.

If an incorrect tire inflation pressure was set, the system will monitor the pressure ac- cording to the incorrect value.

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Operation Tires and wheels

왘 Switch on the ignition (컄 page 37).

Make sure the standard display menu appears in the multifunction display (컄 page 155).

왘 Press button k or j repeatedly until the following message appears in the multifunction display: Run Flat Indicator active Menu: R-Button

왘 Press reset button (컄 page 27).

The following message will appear in the multifunction display: Restart Run Flat Indicator? Cancel Yes

344

If you wish to confirm activation: 왘 Press button æ.

The following message will appear in the multifunction display: Run Flat Indicator restarted

After a certain “learning phase”, the Run Flat Indicator checks the set pressure val- ues for all four tires. If you wish to cancel activation: 왘 Press button ç. or 왘 Wait until the message

Checking tire inflation pressure elec- tronically with the Advanced Tire Pres- sure Monitoring System (Advanced TPMS)*, (Canada only) The TPMS only functions on wheels that are equipped with the proper electronic sensors. It monitors the tire inflation pres- sure, as selected by the driver, in all four tires. A warning is issued to alert you to a decrease in pressure in one or more of the tires. Tire pressure inquiries are made using the multifunction display. The present inflation pressures are displayed only after a few minutes’ travel time.

Restart Run Flat Indicator? Cancel Yes disappears.

i USA only: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interfer-

ence, and

(2) this device must accept any interference re-

ceived, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

i Canada only: This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference re-

ceived, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Any unauthorized modification to this device could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

i Possible differences between the readings of a tire pressure gauge of an air hose, e.g. gas station equipment, and the vehicle’s control system can occur. Usually the readings issued by the control system are more precise. 왘 Switch on the ignition (컄 page 37). 왘 Press the j or k button until

the current inflation pressures for each tire appear in the multifunction display.

i When the message Tire pressure is only displayed after driving for a few minutes appears in the multifunction display, the individual inflation pressure values are matched with the tires. The individual values are displayed after a few minutes driving.

Operation Tires and wheels

Warning!

It is the driver’s responsibility to calibrate the TPMS on the recommended cold infla- tion pressure. Underinflated tires affect the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You might lose control over the vehicle.

i With a spare wheel mounted, the system may still indicate the tire inflation pressure of the removed road wheel for some minutes. If this happens, keep in mind that the indicated value where the spare wheel is mounted does not re- flect the actual spare tire inflation pressure.

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Operation Tires and wheels

Warning!

Warning!

The TPMS does not indicate a warning for wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pressure according to the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar or, if available, the supplemental tire pressure in- formation on the inside of the fuel filler flap.

The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g. tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In this case bring the vehicle to a halt by care- fully applying the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering maneuvers.

Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recom- mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure label, you should determine the proper tire infla- tion pressure for those tires). As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitor- ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires are significantly underinflated. Accord- ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu- minates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible. Driving on a signif- icantly underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.

346

Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may effect the vehi- cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv- er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if underinflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.

i Operating radio transmission equipment (e.g. wireless headsets, two-way radios) in or near the vehicle could cause the TPMS to mal- function.

Reactivating Advanced TPMS* The TPMS must be reactivated when you have adjusted the tire inflation pressure to a new level (e.g. because of different load or driving conditions). The TPMS is then recalibrated to the current tire inflation pressures.

Warning!

It is the driver’s responsibility to calibrate the TPMS on the recommended cold infla- tion pressure. Underinflated tires affect the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You might lose control over the vehicle.

왘 Using the tire placard on the driver’s door B-pillar (컄 page 335) or, if avail- able, the supplemental tire pressure information on the inside of the fuel filler flap (컄 page 321), make sure the tire inflation pressure of all four tires is correct.

i Reactivate the TPMS after adjusting the tire inflation pressure to the inflation pressure rec- ommended for the vehicle operating condition. Tire pressure should only be adjusted on cold tires. Observe the recommended tire inflation pressure on the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar (컄 page 335). Some vehicles may have supplemental tire pressure information for driv- ing at high speeds (컄 page 341) or for vehicle loads less than the maximum loaded vehicle con- dition (컄 page 341). If such information is pro- vided, it can be found on the inside of the fuel filler flap (컄 page 321). 왘 Press button è or ÿ on the mul-

tifunction steering wheel repeatedly until the standard display menu appears in the multifunction display (컄 page 155).

왘 Press the j or k button repeat- edly until you see the current inflation pressures for each tire appear in the display or the following message ap- pears in the display Tire pressure displayed after driving for a few minutes

Operation Tires and wheels

왘 Press the reset button (컄 page 27).

The following message will appear in the multifunction display: Restart tire pressure monitor?

왘 Press the æ button.

The following message will appear in the multifunction display: Tire pressure monitor restarted After a few minutes driving, the current tire inflation pressure values are ac- cepted as reference values and then monitored.

If you wish to cancel activation: 왘 Press the ç button.

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Overinflated tires Overinflated tires can: 앫 adversely affect handling

characteristics

앫 cause uneven tire wear 앫 be more prone to damage from road

hazards

앫 adversely affect ride comfort 앫 increase stopping distance

Warning!

Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.

Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are more likely to become punctured or damaged by road debris, potholes etc.

Operation Tires and wheels

Potential problems associated with underinflated and overinflated tires

Underinflated tires Underinflated tires can: 앫 cause excessive and uneven tire wear 앫 adversely affect fuel economy 앫 lead to tire failure from being

overheated

앫 adversely affect handling

characteristics

Warning!

Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.

Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.

348

Tire labeling

Besides tire name (sales designation) and manufacturer name, a number of markings can be found on a tire. Following are some explanations for the markings on your vehicle’s tires:

Operation Tires and wheels

1 Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards

(컄 page 356)

Tire size designation, load and speed rating

2 DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)

(컄 page 353)

3 Maximum tire load (컄 page 355) 4 Maximum tire inflation pressure

(컄 page 355) 5 Manufacturer 6 Tire ply material (컄 page 358) 7 Tire size designation, load and speed

rating (컄 page 349)

8 Load identification (컄 page 353) 9 Tire name

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration. For more information, see “Rims and tires” (컄 page 480).

1 Tire width 2 Aspect ratio in % 3 Radial tire code 4 Rim diameter 5 Tire load rating 6 Tire speed rating

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration.

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Operation Tires and wheels

General: Depending on the design standards used, the tire size molded into the sidewall may have no letter or a letter preceding the tire size designation. No letter preceding the size designation (as illustrated above): Passenger car tire based on European design standards. Letter “P” preceding the size designation: Passenger car tire based on U.S. design standards. Letter “LT” preceding the size designation: Light Truck tire based on U.S. design standards. Letter “T” preceding the size designation: Temporary spare tires which are high pressure compact spares designed for temporary emergency use only.

350

Rim diameter The rim diameter 4 (컄 page 349) is the diameter of the bead seat, not the diameter of the rim edge. Rim diameter is indicated in inches (in).

Tire load rating The tire load rating 5 (컄 page 349) is a numerical code associated with the maximum load a tire can support. For example, a load rating of 91 corre- sponds to a maximum load of 1356 lb (615 kg) the tire is designed to support. See also “Maximum tire load” (컄 page 355) where the maximum load as- sociated with the load index is indicated in kilograms and lb.

Tire width The tire width 1 (컄 page 349) indicates the nominal tire width in mm.

Aspect ratio The aspect ratio 2 (컄 page 349) is the dimensional relationship between tire section height and section width and is expressed in percentage. The aspect ratio is arrived at by dividing section height by section width.

Tire code The tire code 3 (컄 page 349) indicates the tire construction type. The “R” stands for radial tire type. Letter “D” means diagonal or bias ply construction; letter “B” means belted-bias ply construction. At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire with a speed capability above 149 mph (240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size designation (for example: 245/40 ZR 18). For additional information, see “Tire speed rating” (컄 page 351).

Warning!

i Tire load rating 5 (컄 page 349) and Tire speed rating 6 (컄 page 349) are also referred to as “service description”.

The tire load rating must always be at least half of the GAWR (컄 page 359) of your vehi- cle. Otherwise, tire failure may be the result which may cause an accident and/or serious injury to you or others.

Always replace rims and tires with the same designation, manufacturer and type as shown on the original part.

Tire speed rating The tire speed rating 6 (컄 page 349) indicates the approved maximum speed for the tire.

Warning!

Warning!

Even when permitted by law, never operate a vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed rating of the tires.

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified load limit as indicated on the plac- ard located on the driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can overheat them, possibly causing a blowout. Overloading the tires can also result in handling or steering problems, or brake failure.

For additional information on tire load rating, see “Load identification” (컄 page 353).

Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are rated can lead to sudden tire failure, causing loss of vehicle control and possibly resulting in an accident and/or serious injury and possible death, for you and for others.

i Tire load rating 5 (컄 page 349) and Tire speed rating 6 (컄 page 349) are also referred to as “service description”.

Operation Tires and wheels

Summer tires

Index (Y) ZR

Speed rating up to 100 mph (160 km/h) up to 106 mph (170 km/h) up to 112 mph (180 km/h) up to 118 mph (190 km/h) up to 130 mph (210 km/h) up to 149 mph (240 km/h) up to 168 mph (270 km/h) up to 186 mph (300 km/h) above 186 mph (300 km/h) above 149 mph (240 km/h)

앫 At the tire manufacturer’s option, any

tire with a speed capability above 149 mph (240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size designation (for exam- ple: 245/40 ZR18). To determine the maximum speed capability of the tire, the service description for the tire must be referred to. The service description

351

앫 Any tire with a speed capability above 186 mph (300 km/h) must include a “ZR” in the size designation AND the service description must be placed in parenthesis. Example: 275/40 ZR 18 (99Y). The “(Y)” speed rating in paren- thesis designates the maximum speed capability of the tire as being above 186 mph (300 km/h). Consult the tire manufacturer for the actual maximum permissible speed of the tire.

All-season and winter tires

Speed rating Index Q M+S1
up to 100 mph (160 km/h) T M+S1 up to 118 mph (190 km/h) H M+S1 up to 130 mph (210 km/h) V M+S1 up to 149 mph (240 km/h) 1 or M+S.for winter tires

i Not all M+S rated tires provide special win- ter performance. Make sure the tires you use show M+S and the mountain/snow- flake.marking on the tire sidewall. These tires meet specific snow traction performance requirements of the Rubber Manufacturers As- sociation (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and have been designed specifi- cally for use in snow conditions.

Operation Tires and wheels

is comprised of the tire load rating 5 (컄 page 349) and the tire speed rating 6 (컄 page 349). If your tire includes “ZR” in the size designation and no service description 5 and 6 (컄 page 349) is given, the tire manufacturer must be consulted for the maximum speed ca- pability. If a service description 5 and 6 (컄 page 349) is given, the speed capa- bility is limited by the speed symbol in the service description. Example: 245/40 ZR18 97Y. In this example, “97Y” is the service description. The letter “Y” designates the speed rating and the speed capabil- ity of the tire is limited to 186 mph (300 km/h).

352

Load identification

1 Load identification

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration.

Operation Tires and wheels

In addition to tire load rating, special load identification 1 may be molded into the tire sidewall following the letter designat- ing the tire speed rating 6 (컄 page 349). No specification given: absence of any text (like in above example) indicates a standard load (SL) tire. XL or Extra Load: designates an extra load (or reinforced) tire. Light Load: designates a light load tire. C, D, E: designates load range associated with the maximum load a tire can carry at a specified pressure.

DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)

U.S. tire regulations require each new tire manufacturer or tire retreader to mold a TIN into or onto a sidewall of each tire produced. The TIN is a unique identifier which facili- tates efforts by tire manufactures to notify purchasers in recall situations or other safety matters concerning tires and gives purchasers the means to easily identify such tires. The TIN is comprised of “Manufacturer’s identification mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type code” and “Date of manufacture”.

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Operation Tires and wheels

1 DOT 2 Manufacturer’s identification mark 3 Tire size 4 Tire type code (at the option of the tire

manufacturer)

5 Date of manufacture

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration.

354

DOT (Department of Transportation) A tire branding symbol 1 (컄 page 354) which denotes the tire meets require- ments of the U.S. Department of Transpor- tation.

Tire type code The code 4 (컄 page 354) may, at the option of the manufacturer, be used as a descriptive code for identifying significant characteristics of the tire.

Manufacturer’s identification mark The manufacturer’s identification mark 2 (컄 page 354) denotes the tire manufacturer. New tires have a mark with two symbols. Retreaded tires have a mark with four sym- bols. For more information on retreaded tires, see (컄 page 332).

Tire size The code 3 (컄 page 354) indicates the tire size.

Date of manufacture The date of manufacture 5 (컄 page 354) identifies the week and year of manufac- ture. The first two figures identify the week, starting with “01” to represent the first full week of the calendar year. The second two figures represent the year. For example, “3202” represents the 32nd week of 2002.

Maximum tire load

Warning!

Maximum tire inflation pressure

Operation Tires and wheels

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified load limit as indicated on the plac- ard located on the driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can overheat them, possibly causing a blowout. Overloading the tires can also result in handling or steering problems, or brake failure.

For more information on tire load rating (컄 page 350). For information on calculating total and cargo load capacities (컄 page 337).

1 Maximum tire load rating

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration.

The maximum tire load is the maximum weight the tires are designed to support.

1 Maximum permissible tire inflation

pressure

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration.

This is the maximum permissible tire inflation pressure for the tire.

355

Operation Tires and wheels

Always follow the recommended tire inflation pressure (컄 page 340) for proper tire inflation.

Warning!

Never exceed the max. tire inflation pressure. Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.

Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, adverse- ly affect handling and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail from being overheated.

Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can adversely affect handling and ride com- fort, wear unevenly, increase stopping dis- tance, and result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are more likely to become punctured or damaged by road de- bris, potholes etc.

356

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (U.S. vehicles)

Tire manufacturers are required to grade tires based on three performance factors: treadwear, traction and temperature resis- tance.

Quality grades can be found, where appli- cable, on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example:

Treadwear Traction Temperature 200

AA

All passenger car tires must conform to federal safety requirements in addition to these grades.

Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rat- ing based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For ex- ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly

1 Treadwear 2 Traction 3 Temperature resistance

i For illustration purposes only. Actual data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above illustration.

from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction The traction grades, from highest to low- est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep- resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor- mance.

Warning!

The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.

Temperature The temperature grades are A (the high- est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis- tance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem- perature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex- cessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Mo- tor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

Operation Tires and wheels

Warning!

The temperature grade for this tire is estab- lished for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underin- flation, or excessive loading, either sepa- rately or in combination, can cause excessive heat build-up and possible tire failure.

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Operation Tires and wheels

Tire ply material