Mercedes-Benz 2009 C-Class Operator's Manual page 278

Operation
Tires and wheels
245/40 ZR18 97Y. In this example, "97Y"
is the service description. The letter "Y"
designates the speed rating and the speed
capability of the tire is limited to 186 mph
(300 km/h).
Any tire with a speed capability above
R
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 parenthesis 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
Index Speed rating
16 up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
Q M+S
16 up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
T M+S
16 up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
H M+S
up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
16
V M+S
i Not all M+S rated tires provide special
winter performance. Make sure the tires
16 or M+S.for winter tires
276
you use show M+S and the mountain/
snowflake.marking on the tire
sidewall. These tires meet specific snow
traction performance requirements of the
Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA)
and the Rubber Association of Canada
(RAC) and have been designed specifically
for use in snow conditions.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of:
All models except C 63 AMG:
R
130 mph (210 km/h)
C 63 AMG:
R
155 mph (250 km/h)
C 63 AMG with increased top speed:
R
174 mph (280 km/h)
The factory equipped tires on your vehicle
may have a tire speed rating above the
maximum speed permitted by the electronic
speed limiter.
Make sure your tires have the required tire
speed rating as specified for your vehicle in
the "Technical data" section (
for example when purchasing new tires.
If you are uncertain about the correct reading
of the information given on a tire's sidewall,
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to assist you.
Load identification
Load identification
1
i For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and
may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
In addition to tire load rating, special load
identification
Y page 382), sidewall following the letter designating the
tire speed rating
may be molded into the tire
1
( Y page 274).
6