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Mercedes-Benz E-class 1999 Control Switch User Manual

Page 62

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162

Consumer Information

This has been prepared as required of

all manufacturers of passenger cars

under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal

Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the

"National Traffic and Motor Vehicle

Safety Act of 1966".

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

Refer to the tire sidewall for the

specific tire grades for the tires with

which this vehicle is equipped.

All passenger car tires must conform to

federal safety requirements in addition

to these grades.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative

rating based on the wear rate of the tire

when tested under controlled conditions

on a specified government test course.

For example, a tire graded 150 would

wear one and one-half (1

1

/

2

) times as

well on the government course as a tire

graded 100. The relative performance

of tires depends upon the actual

conditions of their use, however, and

may depart significantly

from the norm due to variations in

driving habits, service practices and

differences in road characteristics and

climate.

Traction

The traction grades, from highest to

lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those

grades represent the tire's ability to stop

on wet pavement as measured under

controlled conditions on specified

government test surfaces of asphalt and

concrete. A tire marked C may have

poor traction performance.

Warning!

The traction grade assigned to this

tire is based on straight-ahead

braking traction tests, and does not

include acceleration, cornering,

hydroplaning, or peak traction

characteristics.

Temperature

The temperature grades are A (the

highest), B, and C, representing the

tire's resistance to the generation of

heat and its ability to dissipate heat

when tested under

controlled conditions on a specified

indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained

high temperature can cause the material

of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire

life, and excessive temperature can

lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C

corresponds to a level of performance

which all passenger car tires must meet

under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety

Standard No.109. Grades B and A

represent higher levels of performance

on the laboratory test wheel than the

minimum required by law.

Warning!

The temperature grade for this tire

is established for a tire that is

properly inflated and not

overloaded. Excessive speed,

underinflation, or excessive loading,

either separately or in combination,

can cause excessive heat build up

and possible tire failure.