Mercedes-Benz 2009 R-Class, Operator'S Manual

Page: 279 / 412

Winter driving
277
Winter driving
General information
Have your vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Winter tires
G
Warning!
Winter tires with a tread depth of less than
1
/
6
in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are
no longer suitable for winter operation.
G
Warning!
If you use your spare wheel when winter
tires are fitted on the other wheels, be
aware that the difference in tire
characteristics may very well impair turning
stability and that overall driving stability
may be reduced. Adapt your driving style
accordingly.
Have the spare wheel replaced by regular
road wheel with a winter tire at the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45‡ (7†) and whenever wintry road
conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires
provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflake
.
marking on the tire sidewall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and
have been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the
only way to achieve the maximum
effectiveness of your vehicle’s driving safety
systems such as the ABS and the ESP
®
in
winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.
For information on winter tires for your
vehicle model, see the “Technical data”
section (
Y
page 394).
Always observe the speed rating of the winter
tires installed on your vehicle. If the maximum
speed for which your tires are rated is below
the speed rating of your vehicle, you must
place a notice to this effect where it will be
seen by the driver. Such notices are available
at your tire dealer or any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Snow chains
! Vehicles with Adaptive Damping System
(ADS):
When driving with snow chains, do not
select
SPORT mode as this may result in
damage to your vehicle.
! Some tire sizes do not leave adequate
clearance for snow chains. To help avoid
serious damage to your vehicle or tires,
make sure the use of snow chains is
permissible as specified in the “Technical
data” section of this Operator’s Manual.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow-
covered roads at speeds not to exceed
30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains as soon
as possible when driving on roads without
snow.
Observe the following guidelines when using
snow chains:
R
Use of snow chains is not permissible with
all wheel/tire combinations (
Y
page 394).
R
Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.
!
If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body
Operation
Z