2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 traction control

249
Operation
Driving instructions
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which
point the tire is considered worn and
should be replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread. Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subjected to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 277).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadw
ear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not
allow your tires to wear down to that level.
As tread depth approaches
1/8in (3.0 mm),
the adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on th e road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
W463.boo Seite 249 Montag, 19 . November 2007 8:41 08

302 Operation
Tires and wheels
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
(U.S. vehicles)
Tire manufacturers are required to grade
tires based on three performance
factors: treadwear, traction and
temperature resistance.1 Treadwear
2 Traction
3 Temperature resistance Quality grades can be found, where
applicable, 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
example, 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 condit ions 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 vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
TreadwearTractionTemperature
200AAA
W463.boo Seite 302 Montag, 19 . November 2007 8:41 08

303
Operation
Tires and wheels
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades
represent 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
excessive 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-ahe
ad 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.
W463.boo Seite 303 Montag, 19 . November 2007 8:41 08

435
Index
Driving on sand 259
Driving systems 197
Cruise control 197
Driving safety systems 87
Rear Parking Assist 200
Rear view camera 203
Rear view camera* 203
Driving through water 257
E
Easy-entry/exit feature Activating 156
EBB 87, 91
Electrical fuses 403
Electrical outlet 223 In cargo compartment 224
In front passenger footwell 223
In rear passenger footwell 224
Electrical system Technical data 417
Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) 91
Electronic Stability Program see ESP
®
Electronic systems Message in display 363
Electronic Traction System (ETS) 90
Emergency calls Tele Aid 230 Emergency, In case of
Roadside Assistance 232
Emergency operation Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 235
Emergency operation (Limp Home Mode) 169
Emergency operations Closing tilt/sliding sunroof 372
Locking the vehicle 369
Opening tilt/sliding sunroof 372
Unlocking the tailgate 369
Unlocking the vehicle 368
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emission control 263
Emission control information label 411
Ending A call (telephone) 160
Engine Compartment 267
Starting with SmartKey 54
Technical data 413
Turning off with SmartKey 64
Engine cleaning 316
Engine compartment 267 Hood 267 Engine malfunction indicator lamp 27,
328–329
Engine oil 269, 423 Adding 273
Additives 423
Checking level 269
Consumption 269
Messages in display 271, 349–350
Oil dipstick 272
Engine oil level see Oil level
ESP
®27, 87, 91
Messages in display 339
Switching off 93
Switching on 94
Warning lamp 330–331
ETD 68, 77 Safety guidelines 72
Expanding cargo compartment 206
Extending gear range 168
Exterior lamp switch 117
Exterior lamps Delayed shut-off 153
Exterior rear view mirrors Adjusting 46
Exterior view 22
W463.boo Seite 435 Montag, 19 . November 2007 8:41 08