Whe el sa nd tire s, All about wheels and tires – Mercedes-Benz SLS-Class 2015 Owners Manual User Manual

Page 270

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Tire characteristics

i

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-

ate from the data in the example.

This information describes the tire cord and

the number of layers in sidewall : and under

tire tread ;.

Definition of terms for tires and loading

Tire ply composition and material used
Describes the number of plies or the number

of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire

tread and sidewall. These are made of steel,

nylon, polyester and other materials.
Bar
Metric unit for tire pressure. There are

14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi) to

1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa) to 1 bar.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT-marked tires fulfill the requirements of

the U S Department of Transportation.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is

designed to seat, multiplied by 68 kilograms

(150 lbs).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A uniform standard to grade the quality of

tires with regards to tread quality, tire traction

and temperature characteristics. The quality

grading assessment is made by the manufac-

turer following specifications from the U.S.

government. The ratings are molded into the

sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressures
The recommended tire pressure for your vehi-

cle under normal driving conditions. You will

find the recommendation on the Tire and

Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on

the driver's side of your vehicle. The recom-

mended tire pressure provides the best bal-

ance between handling characteristics, ride

comfort and wear. Supplemental information

pertaining to special driving situations can be

found on the tire inflation pressure label on

the inside of the fuel filler flap.
Increased vehicle weight due to optional

equipment
The combined weight of all standard and

optional equipment available for the vehicle,

regardless of whether it is actually installed

on the vehicle or not.
Rim
This is the part of the wheel on which the tire

is mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible axle

weight. The actual load on an axle must never

exceed the gross axle weight rating. The

gross axle weight rating can be found on the

vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on

the driver's side.
Speed rating
The speed rating is part of the tire identifica-

tion. It specifies the speed range for which the

tire is approved.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight

of the vehicle including fuel, tools, the spare

wheel, accessories installed, occupants, lug-

gage and the drawbar noseweight, if applica-

ble. The gross vehicle weight must not exceed

the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) as

specified on the vehicle identification plate on

the B-pillar on the driver's side.

268

All about wheels and tires

Whe

el

sa

nd

tire

s

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