Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 2008 Owners Manual - Manual (Page 295)

294
Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure see
“Recommended tire inflation pressure”
(
୴ page 301).
Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:
ț excessive treadwear ( ୴ page 294)
ț cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber
ț 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
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:
ț Driving style
ț Tire inflation pressure
ț Distance driven
Tread depth
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).
Tread wear 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 approx-
imately
1 /
16
in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
ț Summer tires 1 /
8
in (3 mm)
ț Winter tires 1 /
6
in (4 mm)
Warning!
G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged 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 badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!
G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately 1 /
16
in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires