2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CL-Class tire type

581 Operation
Tires and wheels
Load identification
1Load identification
In addition to tire load rating, special load
identification1 may be molded into the
tire sidewall following the letter designat-
ing the tire speed rating6 (
page 577).
No specification given: absence of any text
(like in above example) indicates a
standard load (SL) tire.XL (Extra Load): designates an extra load
(or reinforced) tire.
Light Load: designates a light load tire.
C, D, E: designates load range associated
with the maximum load a tire can carry at
a specified pressure.
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
U.S. tire regulations require each new tire
manufacturer or tire retreader to mold a
TIN into or onto a sidewall of each tire
produced.
The TIN is a unique identifier which facili-
tates efforts by tire manufactures to notify
purchasers in recall situations or other
safety matters concerning tires and gives
purchasers the means to easily identify
such tires.
The TIN is comprised of “Manufacturer’s
identification mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type
code” and “Date of manufacture”.1DOT
2Manufacturer’s identification mark
3Tire size
4Tire type code (at the option of the tire
manufacturer)
5Date of manufacture
DOT (D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol1 (
page 581)
which denotes the tire meets require-
ments of the U.S. Department of Transpor-
tation.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.

582 OperationTires and wheelsManufacturer’s identification mark
The manufacturer’s identification mark2
(page 581) denotes the tire
manufacturer.
New tires have a mark with two symbols.
Retreaded tires have a mark with four sym-
bols. For more information on retreaded
tires (
page 561).
Tire size
The code3 (
page 581) indicates the
tire size.
Tire type code
The code4 (page 581) may, at the
option of the manufacturer, be used as a
descriptive code for identifying significant
characteristics of the tire.
Date of manufacture
The date of manufacture5 (
page 581)
identifies the week and year of manufac-
ture. The first two figures identify the week,
starting with “01” to represent the first full
week of the calendar year. The second two
figures represent the year.
For example, “3202” represents the 32nd
week of 2002.
Maximum tire load
1Maximum tire load rating
The maximum tire load is the maximum
weight the tires are designed to support.For more information on tire load rating
(
page 578).
For information on calculating total and
cargo load capacities (
page 566).
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
Warning!
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard located on
the driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the
tires can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also
result in handling or steering problems, or
brake failure.

585 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.
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.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.

588 OperationTires and wheelsTIN (T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
Unique identifier which facilitates efforts
by tire manufacturers to notify purchasers
in recall situations or other safety matters
concerning tires and gives purchases the
means to easily identify such tires. The TIN
is comprised of “Manufacturer’s identifica-
tion mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type code”
and “Date of manufacture”.
Tire load rating
Numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
Tire ply composition and material used
This indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufac-
turers also must indicate the ply materials
in the tire and sidewall, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.
Total load limit
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s
designated seating capacity.
Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the road
via the tires. The amount of grip provided.
Tread
The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called
“wear bars” that show across the tread of
a tire when only
1/16in (1.6 mm) of tread
remains.Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The
ratings are molded into the sidewall of the
tire.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two.

753 Index
Lock button 356
Locking and unlocking 356
Loss of 361
Messages in display 661
Opening button for trunk 356
Panic button 64
Remote control 356
Restoring to factory setting 361
Selective setting 360
Starting the engine 407
Switching on ignition with 367
Turning off engine 415
Unlock button 356
Kickdown 424
Kilopascal 586
Knee bag 46L
Labels 722
Certification 722
Emission control information 723
Tire and Loading Information 565
Vacuum line routing diagram 723
Lamp bulbs, exterior 688
Lamps, exterior
Front 689
Light sensor 664
Rear 689
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 31, 65, 608
Air bag Off 46
Battery check lamp (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 360
Battery check lamp (SmartKey) 355
Brake warning lamp 31
Brakes 609
Combination low tire pressure
malfunction telltale 31, 618
Distance warning lamp* 31, 614
DISTRONIC Plus* 31, 446, 614
Electronic parking brake 31, 610
Engine diagnostics 31, 612Engine malfunction 31, 612
ESP
®
31, 609, 614
Front passenger
front air bag off 51, 620
High beam headlamp 31
Maintenance service indicator 592
Park Assist* 31
Parktronic* 31
Seat belt telltale 31, 615
SRS 31, 617
TPMS malfunction telltale 31, 618
Turn signals 31
Language (COMAND) 258
LATCH-type child seat anchors see
Children in the vehicle
Lever
For automatic transmission
(gear selector lever) 417
For cruise control 438, 449
For DISTRONIC Plus* 449
License plate lamps
Messages in display 666
Replacing bulbs 689
Light alloy wheels, Cleaning 604
Light sensor
Message in display 664