2006 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR ESP

280 OperationTires and wheelsTraction
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
Motor 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
established for a tire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.

287 Operation
Winter driving
Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. This service
includes:

Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.


Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“S” to a premixed windshield washer
solvent/antifreeze which is formulated
for below freezing temperatures
(page 383).


Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to make
sure that the engine can be started,
even at low ambient temperatures.


Tire change. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the
winter season.
Winter tires*
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) 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 Can-
ada (RAC) and have been designed specif-
ically for use in snow conditions. Use of
winter tires is the only way to achieve the
maximum effectiveness of the ABS and
ESP
® in winter operation.For safe handling, make sure that all
mounted winter tires are of the same make
and have the same tread design.
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 from your tire
dealer or from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.!A wheel change should only be carried
out at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Otherwise there is a danger of
damaging the vehicle by jacking it up
incorrectly.
Warning!
G
Winter tires with a tread depth under
1/6in
(4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.

288 OperationWinter drivingSnow chains
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.Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:


Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations.


Snow chains should only be used on
the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer’s mounting instructions.


Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
be glad to advise you on this subject.


Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
®
(
page 83) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
!Use of snow chains is not permissible
with tire sizes:

255/35 ZR19 (96Y) XL


295/30 ZR19 (100Y) XL


295/35 ZR18 (99Y)

298 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-check when switching on the igni-
tion, have the respective bulb checked and
replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solutions
v
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warn-
ing lamp comes on while driv-
ing.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.

Switch the ESP
® back on (
page 83).
If the ESP
® cannot be switched back on, have
the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
v
The yellow ABS/ESP
® warn-
ing lamp flashes while driv-
ing.
The ESP
®, ABS, or traction control has
come into operation because of detected
traction loss in at least one tire.

When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelerator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate ESP
®. Exceptions:
(
page 83).
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

299 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solutions
-
The yellow ABS indicator
lamp comes on while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS and the ESP
®
are also switched off (see messages in dis-
play).
The electrohydraulic brake system is still
functioning normally but without ABS
available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning
the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the multi-
function display (
page 307).

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS was switched off.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again.
If necessary, have the generator and battery
checked.

309 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP
® and
the BAS are also deactivated.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Cruise control
– – –
You attempted to resume a stored
speed, but nothing is stored.

Store a speed (
page 198).
You attempted to set a speed below
20 mph (30 km/h).

Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and set
the speed (
page 198).

310 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Cruise control
Drive to
workshop
Cruise control is malfunctioning.

Have the cruise control checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
ESP
Malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ESP
® has detected a malfunc-
tion and switched off. The electrohy-
draulic brake system is still
functioning normally. The ABS may
not be operational.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

311 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
The ESP
® is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ESP® available.

Synchronize the ESP
®. With the vehicle sta-
tionary, turn the steering wheel completely
to the left and then to the right.
Ensure that you can turn the steering wheel
to the stop without the wheels touching an
object (e.g. the road curb).
If the ESP
® message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP
®, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheels hitting any objects, e.g.
a road curb.