Owners Manual

Operation
Notes on driving
R
If the vehicle is heavily laden, check the tire
pressures, and correct them, if necessary.
R
When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb
or other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive
over curbs, speed bumps or similar
elevations, try to do so slowly and at an
obtuse angle. Otherwise, the tires,
particularly the sidewalls, can get
damaged.
Notes on regularly inspecting wheels
and tires
G
WARNING
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged 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 worn to minimum tread depth, or if
the tires have sustained damage, replace
them.
R
Damaged wheels can cause a loss of tire
pressure. Check regularly, at least once a
month, for damages, e.g.:
-
cuts, punctures, tears, bulges on tires
-
deformation or severe corrosion on
wheels
Check the wheels and tires, particularly
after driving off-road or on bad roads.
R
Regularly check the tire tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tire (Y page 261). 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 the distributor named on the
inside of the front cover.
R
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
including the spare wheel, particularly prior
to long trips, and correct the pressure
(Y page 263).
Tire tread
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 á inches (1.6 mm), we
recommend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches â inches (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 â in (3mm).
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 á in (1.6mm). 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 â in (3mm). The
recommended tread depth for winter tires is
at least ã in(4mm).
Operation
261
Wheels and tires
Z