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Tires and wheels
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1. Safety 2. Economy
Improper inflation pressures can cause
uneven wear patterns to develop across
the tire tread. These abnormal wear pat-
terns will reduce tread life resulting in a
need for earlier tire replacement. Under-
inflation also increases tire rolling resis-
tance and results in higher fuel
consumption.
Warning
G
Follow recommended tire inflation pres-
sures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly, ad-
versely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride com-
fort, wear unevenly, increase stopping dis-
tance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road de-
bris, potholes etc.
Warning
G
Improperly inflated tires are dangerous
and can cause accidents.
Unequal tire inflation pressures can
cause steering problems. You could lose
control of your vehicle.
Unequal tire inflation pressures from one
side of the vehicle to the other can cause
the vehicle to drift to the right or left. Al-
ways drive with each tire inflated to the
recommended cold tire inflation pres-
sure.
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382 OperationTires and wheels
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3. Ride comfort and vehicle stabilityProper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Overinflation produces
a jarring and uncomfortable ride.
Besides the tire name (sales designa-
tion) and manufacturer's name, a num-
ber of markings can be found on a tire.
Below are some explanations regarding
the markings on your vehicle’s tires:
1DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
(\2page 397)
2Maximum tire load (\2page 390)
3Maximum tire inflation pressure
(\2page 396)
4Manufacturer
5Tire ply material (\2page 393)
6Tire size designation, load and speed rat-
ing (\2page 383)
7Tire name
Tire labelingiFor illustrative purposes only. The ac-
tual data on tires is specific to each
vehicle and may vary from the data
shown in the above illustration.
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Page 385 of 666
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Tires and wheels
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Tire size designation, load and speed
rating1Design standard
2Tire width
3Aspect ratio in %
4Radial tire code
5Rim diameter
6Tire load rating
7Tire speed rating
Tire sizes for Sprinter vehiclesDesign standard
Depending on the design standards
used, the tire size molded into the side
wall may have no letter or a letter
1
preceding the tire width or the tire load
rating designation.
Letter “LT” preceding the size designa-
tion:
Light Truck tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “C” preceding the tire load desig-
nation:
Commercial vehicle tire based on Euro-
pean design standards.
iFor illustrative purposes only. The ac-
tual data on tires is specific to each
vehicle and may vary from the data
shown in the above illustration.
Sprinter Vehicle type
2500
LT 245/75 R 16 120/116 N
3500
LT 215/85 R 16 115/112 NLT 215/85 R 16 115/112 Q
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Tire widthThe tire width
2
indicates the nominal
tire width in mm.
Aspect ratioThe aspect ratio
3
is the dimensional
relationship between tire section height
and section width and is expressed in
percentage. The aspect ratio is arrived
at by dividing section height by section
width.
Tire codeThe tire code
4
indicates the tire con-
struction type. The “R” stands for radial
tire type. Letter “D” means diagonal or
bias ply construction; letter “B” means
belted-bias ply construction.
Rim diameterThe rim diameter
5
is the diameter of
the bead seat, not the diameter of the
rim edge. Rim diameter is indicated in
inches (in).
Tire load ratingThe tire load rating
6
is a numerical
code associated with the maximum load
a tire can support.
For example, a load rating of 120 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 3042 lbs
(1380 kg) the tire is designed to sup-
port.
If two values are given (as illustrated),
the first value, preceding the slash "/",
applies to single tires (rear axle). The
second value, succeeding the slash "/",
applies to twin tires (dual wheel rear ax-
le).
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Page 387 of 666
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Tires and wheels
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The commercial vehicle tires based on
European standards may have an addi-
tional value in the parentheses (as illus-
trated). In such cases, the value
preceding the parentheses is valid for
European countries and the parenthe-
sized for the USA and Canada.
Refer also to "Maximum tire load"
(\2
page 390) where the maximum load
associated with the load index is indicat-
ed in kg and lbs.
Warning
G
The tire load rating must always be at
least half of the GAWR of your vehicle.
Otherwise, tire failure may be the result
which may cause an accident and/or se-
rious personal injury to you or others.
Always replace rims and tires with the
same designation, manufacturer and type
as shown on the original part.
Warning
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the
placard located on the driver’s door B-pil-
lar. Overloading the tires can overheat
them, possibly causing a blowout. Over-
loading the tires can also result in han-
dling or steering problems, or brake
failure.iTire load rating
6
and tire speed
rating
7
are also referred to as “ser-
vice description”.
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Tire speed ratingThe tire speed rating
6
indicates the
approved maximum speed for the tire.
The commercial vehicle tires based on
European standards may have an addi-
tional index in the parentheses. In such
cases, the index preceding the paren-
theses is valid for European countries
and the parenthesized for the USA and
Canada.
Warning
G
Even when permitted by law, never oper-
ate a vehicle at speeds greater than the
maximum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury and possible death, for
you and for others.
iAlways observe the speed rating of
the winter tires installed on your
Sprinter vehicle. If the maximum
speed for which your tires are rated
is below the speed rating of your
Sprinter 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 Sprinter
Dealer.
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Page 389 of 666
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U.S. tire regulations require each new
tire manufacturer or tire retreader to
mold a TIN into or onto a side wall of
each tire produced.The TIN is a unique identifier which facil-
itates efforts by tire manufactures to no-
tify purchasers in recall situations or
other safety matters concerning tires
and gives purchasers the means to easi-
ly identify such tires.
The TIN is comprised of the “manufac-
turer’s identification mark”, “tire size”,
“tire type code” and “date of manufac-
ture”.
Index
Speed rating
F
up to 50 mph (80 km/h)
G
up to 56 mph (90 km/h)
J
up to 62 mph (100 km/h)
K
up to 68 mph (110 km/h)
L
up to 74 mph (120 km/h)
M
up to 80 mph (130 km/h)
N
up to 87 mph (140 km/h)
P
up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q
up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
R
up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
iTire load rating
5
and tire speed
rating
6
are also referred to as “ser-
vice description”.
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
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1DOT
2Manufacturer’s identification mark
3Tire size
4Tire type code (tire manufacturer's op-
tion)
5Date of manufacture
The TIN may be found on one or both
sides of the tire; however, the date code
may only be on one side. Tires with white
side walls will have the full TIN including
date code located on the white side wall
side of the tire. Look for the TIN on the
outboard side of black side wall tires as
mounted on the vehicle.If the TIN is not found on the outboard
side then you will find it on the inboard
side of the tire. In this case, the tire must
be remounted. Make sure the TIN is vis-
ible on the outboard side of the tire and
if applicable that the direction of rota-
tion is correct when remounting the tire.
Rotation (spinning) direction, see "Direc-
tion of Rotation" (
\2
page 351).
iFor illustrative purposes only. The ac-
tual data on tires is specific to each
vehicle and may vary from the data
shown in the above illustration.
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