Tire Tread - Mercedes-Benz 2016 Sprinter Operator's Manual

Operation
248
Regular wheel and tire checks
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WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check the wheels and tires of your vehicle for
damage regularly, i.e. at least every two weeks,
as well as after driving off-road or on rough
roads. Damaged wheels can cause a loss of tire
pressure. Pay particular attention to damage
such as:
cuts in the tires
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punctures
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tears in the tires
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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 248). If necessary, turn the
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front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
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 other valve caps approved for your
vehicle by dealers listed on the inside of the
front cover. Do not install any other valve caps
or systems, e.g. tire pressure monitor systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure if necessary (
The service life of tires depends on various fac-
tors, including the following:
driving style
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tire pressure
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mileage
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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
page 250).
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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.
Bar marking : for tread wear is integrated into
the tire tread.
Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth is
approximately á in (1.6 mm). If this is the case,
the tire is so worn that it must be replaced.
Selecting, mounting and renewing
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 65 miles (100 km).