Page 353 of 521

352 OperationTires and wheelsQuality 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.
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.
Treadwear
Traction
Temperature
200
AA
A
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.
Page 376 of 521
375 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 97).
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 97).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
Page 499 of 521

498 Technical termsTele Aid System
(T
elematic A
larm I
dentification on D
e-
mand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three
types of response: automatic and man-
ual emergency, roadside assistance
and information. Tele Aid is initially ac-
tivated by completing a subscriber
agreement and placing an acquain-
tance call.
The Tele Aid system is operational pro-
vided that the vehicle’s battery is
charged, properly connected, not dam-
aged and cellular and GPS coverage is
available.
Telematics*
A combination of the terms “telecom-
munications” and “informatics”.
Tightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.TIN
(T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
(
page 355)
Tire load rating
(page 355)
Tire ply composition and material used
(page 355)
Tire speed rating
(page 356)
TPMS
(page 339)
Traction
(page 356)
Tread
(page 356)
Treadwear indicators
(page 356)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
(page 356)Vehicle capacity weight
(
page 356)
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 356)
Page 507 of 521

506 IndexEngine
Belt layout 469
Block heater* (Canada only) 359
Cleaning 366
Compartment 319
Malfunction indicator lamp 377, 378,
403
Maximum engine speed 471
Message in the display 377, 378,
403
Number 468, 494
Starting 50
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 51
Starting with the SmartKey 51
Tachometer 25
Technical data 471
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 62
Turning off with the SmartKey 62
Engine compartment
Hood 319
Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 377,
378, 403Engine oil
Adding 323
Additives 487
Changing 323
Checking level (Control system) 321
Checking level (Dipstick) 322
Consumption 320
Filler neck 324
Messages in display 321, 408
Recommended engine oils and oil
filter 487
Viscosity 494
Engine oil level 318
ESP
®
94, 494
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®
100
Messages in display 391
Warning lamp 375
ETD 494
Safety guidelines 70
Exterior rear view mirrors
Parking position 176
F
Factory, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 114
Filler neck, Engine oil 324First aid kit 422
Flat tire 441
Lowering the vehicle 447
Mounting the spare wheel 441, 444
Preparing the vehicle 441
Spare wheel 441
Flexible Service System see FSS
Floormats 284
Fluids
Automatic transmission fluid 484
Brake fluid 485
Capacities 484
Engine coolant 485
Engine oil 484
Power steering fluid 485
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 486
Fog lamps 144
Messages in display 412
Replacing bulbs 435
Four wheel electronic traction system with
ESP
® see 4MATIC
4MATIC 100
Front air bags 71
Front lamps see Headlamps