2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E WAGON traction control

348 OperationTires and wheelsUniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (U.S. vehicles)
Tire manufacturers are required to grade
tires based on three performance factors:
treadwear, traction and temperature resis-
tance.
1Treadwear
2Traction
3Temperature resistanceQuality grades can be found, where appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
iFor illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from data shown in
above illustration.
Treadwear
Traction
Temperature
200
AA
A

349 Operation
Tires and wheels
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent 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 perfor-
mance.Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.Warning!
G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Warning!
G
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underin-
flation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.

373 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warning
lamp comes on while driving.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road, weather, and traffic conditions.

Switch the ESP
® back on
(
page 96).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ABS, ESP
® or traction control has come
into operation because of detected traction
loss in at least one tire.
Distronic* is deactivated.

When driving off, apply as little
throttle as possible.

While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.

Do not deactivate the ESP
®.
Exceptions: (
page 95)
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.

496 Technical termsTire load rating
(
page 352)
Tire ply composition and material used
(page 352)
Tire speed rating
(page 352)
TPMS
(page 335)
Traction
(page 352)
Tread
(page 352)
Treadwear indicators
(page 352)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
(page 353)
Vehicle capacity weight
(page 353)Vehicle level control*
The ground clearance of the vehicle is
automatically controlled according to a
selected setting and speed.The driver
can set the ground clearance manually
for example on very rough roads.
Vehicles Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. The Vehicle Main-
tenance System in your vehicle tracks
distance driven and the time elapsed
since your last maintenance service,
calculates other maintenance service
work required, and calls for the next
maintenance service accordingly.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
(
page 353)
VIN
(Vehicle I
dentification N
umber)
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the body to uniquely
identify each vehicle produced.Voice control system*
Voice control system for car phones,
portable cell phones and audio sys-
tems (radio, CD, etc.).

502 IndexEngine
Belt layout 469
Block heater* (Canada only) 356
Cleaning 364
Compartment 315
Malfunction indicator lamp 375, 400
Maximum engine speed 471
Message in the display 375, 400
Number 468, 492
Starting 50
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 51
Tachometer 25
Technical data 470
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 61
Turning off with the SmartKey 61
Engine compartment
Hood 315
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 375,
400Engine oil
Adding 319
Additives 485
Changing 319
Checking level (Control system) 317
Checking level (Dipstick) 318
Consumption 316
Filler neck 320
Messages in display 317, 405
Recommended engine oils and oil
filter 485
Viscosity 492
Engine oil level 314
ESP
®
93, 492
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®
99
Messages in display 388
Warning lamp 373
ETD 492
Safety guidelines 70
Exterior rear view mirrors
Parking position 178F
Factory, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 114
Filler neck, Engine oil 320
First aid kit 419
Flat tire 440
Lowering the vehicle 450
Mounting the spare wheel 445, 447
Preparing the vehicle 440
Sealing tires with TIREFIT 440
Spare wheel 445
TIREFIT kit 440
Flexible Service System see FSS
Floormats 280
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 482
Brake fluid 483
Capacities 482
Engine coolant 483
Engine oil 482
Power steering fluid 483
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 484
Fog lamps 146
Messages in display 409
Replacing bulbs 433

513 Index
Tires 324, 472
Air pressure
Care and maintenance 325
Chains 356
Cleaning 326
Direction of rotation, Spinning 327
Driving instructions 305
Important notes, Tire inflation
pressure 334
Inflation pressure 335, 339
Information Placard 328
Inspection 325
Messages in display 413
MOExtended system* 340, 451
Problems under-/overinflation 339
Retreads 324
Rims and tires 472
Rotation 353
Service life 325
Sizes 474
Snow 355
Speed rating 306, 343
Storing 326
Temperature 334, 349
Terminology 350
TPMS malfunction telltale 378Traction 306
Tread depth 326, 355
Wear pattern 353
Winter 355
Tools 419
Top tether see Children in the vehicle
Tow-away alarm 103
Towing eye bolt 461
Towing the vehicle 458
Traction 190, 352
Transmission fluid level 320
Transmission gear slector lever see Gear
selector lever
Traveling abroad 309
Tread 352
Tread depth 326, 355
Treadwear indicators 352
Trip computer 180
Trip odometer 153
Turn signal lamps
Cleaning lenses 365
Messages in display 412
Replacing bulbs 435Turn signals 54
Additional in mirrors 432
Bulbs 432
Cleaning lenses 365
Indicator lamps 25
Turning off engine 61
Twin roller blind 269
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards 353
Units, Settings
Speedometer 168
Temperature 168
Unleaded gasoline, Premium 486
Uphill driving
Cruise control 240
Upholstery
Cleaning 368
Useful features 272