Operation; Tire Tread - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operator's Manual

Operation

Notes on driving
If the vehicle is heavily laden, check the tire
R
pressures, and correct them, if necessary.
When parking your vehicle, make sure that
R
the tires do not get deformed by the curb
or other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive
over curbs, speed humps or similar
elevations, try to do so slowly and at an
obtuse angle. Otherwise, the tires,
particularly the sidewalls, can get
damaged.
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 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
R
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tire ( 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 onto the valve (such as tire
pressure monitoring systems) other than
page 253). If necessary,
the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved for your vehicle.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
R
including the spare wheel, particularly prior
to long trips, and correct the pressure
( Y page 255).

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.
Replace tires before they become excessively
worn, as the tire traction on wet road surfaces
decreases significantly when the tread depth
is less than ⅛ in (3 mm).
Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth
1
is approximately /
16
case, the tire is so worn that it must be
replaced.
The recommended tread depth for summer
tires is at least ⅛ in (3 mm). The
recommended tread depth for winter tires is
1/6
at least in (4 mm).
Operation
1
/ in (1.6 mm), we
16
in (1.6 mm). If this is the
Z
253