Mercedes-Benz 1985 380SE, Owner'S Manual

Page: 101 / 109

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
Relevant tire grade information on
tire flanks.
All passenger car tires must
conform to federal safety require­
ments in addition to these grades.
Traction “A” , “ B”, “C”
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are “A”, “ B” and “C” and they
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
braking (straightahead) traction
tests and does not include corner­
ing (turning) traction.
Temperature “A”, “ B”, “C”
The temperature grades of “A” (the
highest). “ B” and “C” representing
the tire’s resistance to the genera­
tion of heat and its ability to dissi­
pate 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 perfor­
mance 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 labora­
tory 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. Exces­
sive speed, underinflation, or exces­
sive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
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