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Operation, Tires and wheels – Mercedes-Benz 2011 SL-Class User Manual

Page 200

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Tire inspection

Every time you check the tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your tires
for the following:

R

excessive treadwear (

Y

page 198)

R

cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber

R

bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in the
tread or side of the tire

Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation. Spare
tires will age and become worn over time even
if never used, and thus should be inspected
and replaced when necessary.

Life of tire

G

Warning!

Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.

The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:

R

Driving style

R

Tire inflation pressure

R

Distance driven

Tread depth

G

Warning!

Although the applicable federal motor vehicle
safety laws consider a tire to be worn when
the treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible
at approximately

1

/

16

in (1.6 mm), we

recommend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches

1

/

8

in (3 mm), the adhesion

properties on a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.

Do not allow your tires to wear down too far.
Adhesion properties on wet roads are sharply
reduced at tread depths of less than

1

/

8

in

(3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six places
on the tread circumference and become
visible at a tread depth of approximately

1

/

16

in (1.6 mm), at which point the tire is

considered worn and should be replaced.
The recommended minimum tire tread depth
for summer tires is

1

/

8

in (3 mm). The

recommended minimum tire tread depth for
winter tires is

1

/

6

in (4 mm).

Treadwear indicator : appears as a solid
band across the tread.

Storing tires

!

Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place

with as little exposure to light as possible.
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease
and fuels.

Cleaning tires

!

Never use a round nozzle to power wash

tires. The intense jet of water can result in
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.

198

Tires and wheels

Operation

230_AKB; 6; 22, en-US
d2ureepe,

Version: 2.11.8.1

2009-07-28T18:49:58+02:00 - Seite 198