Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2011 - Manual (Page 483)

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.
R Regularly check the wheels and tires of
your vehicle for damage (e.g. cuts,
punctures, tears, bulges on tires and
deformation or severe corrosion on
wheels), at least 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.
R Regularly check the tire tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tire (
Y page 481). If necessary,
turn the front wheels to full lock in order to
inspect the inner side of the tire surface.
R
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything onto 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.
R
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
including the emergency spare wheel or the
spare wheel, particularly prior to long trips,
and correct the pressure as necessary
(
Y page 483).
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
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.
Replace tires before they become excessively
worn, as the tire traction on wet road surfaces
decreases significantly when the tread depth
is less than
1 /
8
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
is approximately
1 /
16
in (1.6 mm). If this is the
case, the tire is so worn that it must be
replaced.
The recommended tread depth for summer
tires is at least
1 /
8
in (3 mm). The
recommended tread depth for winter tires is
at least
1 /
6
in (4 mm).
Bar marking : for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Notes on selecting, mounting and
replacing tires
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
R
Only mount tires of the correct size onto
the wheels.
R After installing new tires, run them in at
moderate speeds for the first 60 miles
(100 km) as they only reach their full
performance after this distance.
R Do not use tires until they are excessively
worn as the tire traction on wet road
Mode
481
Tires and wheels
Z