Consumer Information - Mercedes-Benz Light Truck ML 320 Operator's Manual

Consumer Information

This has been prepared as required of
all manufacturers of passenger cars
under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal
Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the
"National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act of 1966".
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Refer to the tire sidewall for the
specific tire grades for the tires with
which this vehicle is equipped.
All vehicle tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition
to these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
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wear one and one-half (1 /
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
from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction "A", "B", "C"
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent 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 performance.
Warning!
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on braking (straight
ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the
) times as highest), B, and C, representing the
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tire's resistance 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 temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all vehicle
tires other than passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No.119. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination,
can cause excessive heat build up
and possible tire failure.
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