Winter Operation - Mercedes-Benz G-Class Operator's Manual

Winter operation

252
bulges on tires
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deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
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Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of
the tire ( page 252). In order to inspect the
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inner side of the tire surface, turn the steering
wheel to full lock.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect the
valve against dirt and moisture. Do not install
anything onto the valve other than the standard
valve cap or a valve cap approved by Mercedes-
Benz for your vehicle. Do not use any other valve
caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure monitoring
systems.
You should regularly check the pressure of all
your tires including the spare wheel, particularly
prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pressure as
necessary ( page 254).
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The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
Driving style
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Tire pressure
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Distance covered
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Notes on tire tread
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WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
Summer tires: â in (3 mm)
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M+S tires: ã in (4 mm)
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For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached.
Marking : shows where the bar indicator
(arrow) for tread wear is integrated into the tire
tread.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by law.
Six indicators are positioned on the tire tread.
They are visible once a tread depth of approx-
imately á in (1.6 mm) has been reached. If this
is the case, the tire is so worn that it must be
replaced.
Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
Only mount tires and wheels of the same type
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and make.
Only mount tires of the correct size onto the
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wheels.
Break in new tires at moderate speeds for the
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first 60 miles (100 km). The new tires only
reach their full performance after this dis-
tance.
Do not drive with tires which have too little
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tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
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regardless of wear. This also applies to the
spare wheel.
Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winter-proofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( page 269).
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