Wet Road Surface; Tire Tread - Mercedes-Benz Coupe Operator's Manual

Notes on high performance tires
G
WARNING
Due to the special tire tread in combination
with the optimized rubber compound, there is
an increased risk of hydroplaning and
skidding on a damp or wet road surface. tire
grip is also noticeably reduced at low outside
temperatures and low tire operating
temperatures. There is a risk of an accident.
Turn on ESP ® and adapt your driving style
accordingly. When the outside temperature
falls below 10 †, use M+S tires.
i
Different driving styles may lead to high
tire wear and the tires may reach the
minimum tire tread depth after only a short
time.
Notes on regularly inspecting wheels
and tires
G
WARNING
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged 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 worn to minimum tread depth, or if
the tires have sustained damage, replace
them.
Regularly check the wheels and tires of
R
your vehicle for damage (e.g. cuts,
punctures, tears, bulges on tires and
deformation or cracks or severe corrosion
on wheels) at least once a month, as well
as after driving off-road or on rough roads.
Damaged wheels can cause a loss of tire
pressure.
Regularly check the tire tread depth and
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the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tire ( page 249). If necessary,
Y
turn the 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
R
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything on the valve (such as tire
pressure monitoring systems) other than
the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
R
including the emergency spare wheel or the
spare wheel, particularly prior to long trips,
and correct the pressure as necessary
( page 251).
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Tire tread

G
WARNING
Although the applicable federal motor vehicle
safety laws consider a tire to be worn when
the tread wear indicators (TWI) become
visible at approximately
recommend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
1
approaches / in (3 mm), the adhesion
8
properties on a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Do not use tires until they are excessively
worn as the tire traction on wet road surfaces
decreases significantly when the tread depth
1
is less than / in (3 mm).
8
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned on the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth
1
is approximately / in (1.6 mm). If this is the
16
case, the tire is so worn that it must be
replaced.
The recommended tread depth for summer
1
tires is at least / in (3 mm). The
8
recommended tread depth for winter tires is
1
at least / in (4 mm).
6
Operation
1
/ in (1.6 mm), we
16
Z
249