2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA-Class ESP

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards Overview of Tire Quality Grading
Standards
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are
U.S. government specifications. Their pur-
pose is to provide drivers with uniform relia-
ble information on tire performance data. Tire
manufacturers have to grade tires using three
performance factors: tread wear 0043, tire trac-
tion 0044, and heat resistance 0087. These regu-
lations do not apply to Canada. Nevertheless,
all tires sold in North America are provided
with the corresponding quality grading mark- ings on the sidewall of the tire.
All passenger car tires must conform to the
statutory safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Where applicable, the tire grading informa-
tion can be found on the tire sidewall between
the tread shoulder and maximum tire width.
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and may deviate from the values in
the illustration.
For example: Treadwear Traction Temperature
200 AA A
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
U.S. government course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half
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, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm, due to variations in driving habits, ser-
vice practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate conditions. Traction
G
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor- nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction char-
acteristics.
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on a wet surface as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy road is always lower than on dry road surfa-
ces.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around the
freezing point.
Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum
tread depth of 00CFin (4 mm) for all four winter
tires (Y page 316) to maintain normal driving
characteristics in winter. Winter tires can
reduce the braking distance on snow-covered surfaces in comparison with summer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consider-
ably greater than when the road is not cov-
ered with ice or snow. Take appropriate care
when driving.
! Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage
to the drive train. 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading StandardsWheels and tires

Temperature
G
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause excessive heat
build-up and possible tire failure.
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. These represent the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to dis- sipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tempera-
ture 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. Tire labeling
Overview of tire labeling
The following markings are on the tire in addition to
the tire name (sales designation) and the manu-
facturer's name:
0043 Uniform tire Quality Grading Standard
(Ypage 333)
0044 DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 332)
0087 Maximum tire load (Y page 327)
0085 Maximum tire pressure (Y page 320)
0083 Manufacturer
0084 Tire material (Y page 333)
006B Tire size designation, load-bearing capa-
city and speed index (Y page 330)
006C Load index (Y page 332)
006D Tire name
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example. Tire labeling
329Wheels and tires Z

adapt your driving style to the traffic condi-
tions. Summer tires
Index Speed rating
Q up to 100mph (160 km/h)
R up to 106mph (170 km/h)
S up to 112mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118mph (190 km/h)
H up to 130mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149mph (240 km/h)
W up to 168mph (270 km/h)
Y up to 186mph (300 km/h)
ZR...Y up to 186mph (300 km/h)
ZR...(..Y) over 186mph
(300 km/h) ZR over 149mph
(240 km/h) R
Option ally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240km/h) may have "ZR" in the size description, depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).
The service specifications consist of load
bearing index 0083and speed rating 0084.
R If the size description of your tire includes
"ZR" and there are no service specifica-
tions, ask the tire manufacturer in order to
find out the maximum speed.
If a service specification is available, the
maximum speed is limited according to the
speed rating in the service specification.
Example: 245/40 ZR 18 97 Y. In this exam-
ple, "97 Y" is the service specification. The letter "Y" represents the speed rating and
the maximum speed of the tire is limited to
186 mph (300km/h).
R The size description for all tires with maxi-
mum speeds of over 186mph (300km/h)
must include "ZR", andthe service specifi-
cation must be given in brackets. Example: 275/40 ZR 18 (99 Y). The speed rating "(Y)"
indicates that the maximum speed of the
tire is over 186mph (300km/h). Ask the
tire manufacturer about the maximum
speed. All-weather tires and winter tires
Index Speed rating
Q M+S
3 up to 100mph (160 km/h)
T M+S
3 up to 118mph (190 km/h)
H M+S
3 up to 130mph (210 km/h)
V M+S
3 up to 149mph (240 km/h)
i
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide
the driving characteristics of winter tires.
Winter tires have, in addition to the M+S
identification, the 004Dsnow flake symbol
on the tire sidewall. Tires with this marking
fulfill the requirements of the Rubber Man- ufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rub-
ber Association of Canada (RAC) regarding
the tire traction on snow. They have been
especially developed for driving on snow.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 130mph
(210km/h).
The speed rating of tires mounted at the fac- tory may be higher than the maximum speed
that the electronic speed limiter permits.
Make sure that your tires have the required
speed rating, e.g. when buying new tires. The
required speed rating for your vehicle can be
found in the "Tires" section (Y page 340).
Further information about reading tire data
can be obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop.
3 Or M+S 004Dfor winter tires. Tire labeling
331Wheels and tires Z

X
AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment: fold cover0044upwards.
X Take the ratchet wrench out of the tire-
changing tool kit and place it on the hexa-
gon nut of the jack so that the letters AUF
are visible. X
Position jack 0087at jacking point 0044. Example
X Make sure the foot of the jack is directly
beneath the jacking point.
X Turn ratchet wrench 0085until jack 0087sits
completely on jacking point 0044and the
base of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
X Turn ratchet wrench 0085until the tire is
raised a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground.
Removing a wheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bolt and wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when you screw them in. X
Unscrew the wheel bolts.
X Remove the wheel.
Mounting a new wheel G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel bolts to come loose. As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event ofdamage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes in the "Changing a wheel" sec-
tion (Y page 336).
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel.
! To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt. Changing a wheel
339Wheels andtires Z

X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
X Place the new wheel on the wheel hub and
push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed. X
Place the ratchet wrench onto the hexagon
nut of the jack so that the letters ABare
visible.
X Turn the ratchet wrench until the vehicle is
once again standing firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side. X
Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated ( 0043
to 0083). The specified tightening torque is
96 lb-ft (130 Nm ).
X Turn the jack back to its initial position.
X Stow the jack and the rest of the vehicle
tools in the vehicle again.
X AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment: insert the cover into the outer
sill.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly moun-
ted wheel and adjust it if necessary.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
(Y page 317).
i Vehicles with tire pressure monitor: all
wheels mounted must be equipped with
functioning sensors. Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tires and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehi-
cle.
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only cer-
tain AMG tires)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tires
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer-
tain characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle
noise emissions or fuel consumption, may
otherwise be adversely affected. In addi-
tion, when driving with a load, tire dimen-
sion variations could cause the tires to 340
Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and ti
res

come into contact with the bodywork and
axle components. This could result in dam- age to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires,
wheels or accessories other than those tes-
ted and approved.
Information on tires, wheels and approved
combinations can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop.
! Retreaded tires are neither tested nor rec-
ommended by Mercedes-Benz, since pre-
vious damage cannot always be detected
on retreaded tires. As a result, Mercedes-
Benz cannot guarantee vehicle safety if
retreaded tires are mounted. Do not mount used tires if you have no information about
their previous usage.
Overview of abbreviations used in the follow-
ing tire tables:
R BA: both axles
R FA: front axle
R RA: rear axle
The recommended pressures for various
operating conditions can be found:
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures on
the B-pillar on the driver's side
R in the tire pressure table on the inside of the
fuel filler flap
Observe the notes on recommended tire
pressures under various operating conditions (Y page 317).
Check tire pressures regularly, and only when the tires are cold. Comply with the mainte-
nance recommendations of the tire manufac-
turer in the vehicle document wallet.
Notes on the vehicle equipment – always
equip the vehicle with:
R tires of the same size on a given axle (left/
right)
R the same type of tires at a given time (sum-
mer tires, winter tires, MOExtended tires) Exception: it is permissible to install a dif-
ferent type or make in the event of a flat
tire. Observe the "MOExtended tires (tires
with run-flat characteristics" section
(Y
page 297).
i Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the
factory. It is therefore recommended that
you additionally equip your vehicle with a
TIREFIT kit if you mount tires that do not
feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from a quali- fied specialist workshop.
i The following pages contain information
on approved wheel rim and tire sizes for
equipping your vehicle with winter tires.
Winter tires are not available at the factory as standard equipment or optional extras.
If you want to equip your vehicle with
approved winter tires, it may be necessary
to obtain wheel rims in the corresponding
size. The size of the approved winter tires
may differ from the standard tires. This is
dependent on the model and the equip-
ment installed at the factory.
The tires and wheel rims, as well as further
information, can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop.
i Not all wheel and tire combinations are
available at the factory for all countries. Wheel and tire combinations
341Wheels and tires Z

VIN
X
Slide the right-hand front seat to its rear-
most position.
X Fold up floor covering 0043in front of the
right-hand front seat.
You will see VIN 0044.
The VIN can also be found in the following
locations:
R on the lower edge of the windshield
(Y page 347)
R on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 346) Engine number
0043
Emission control information plate,
including the certification of both federal
and Californian emissions standards
0044 VIN (on the lower edge of the windshield)
0087 Engine number (stamped into the crank-
case) Service products and filling capaci-
ties
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the labels of the respective original containers. Always
store service products sealed in their original containers. Always keep service products out
of the reach of children. H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
R Fuels
R Lubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Windshield washer fluid
R Climate control system refrigerant
Components and service products must be
matched. You should therefore only use prod- ucts that have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Information about tested and approved prod- ucts can be obtained from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
You can recognize service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following inscrip-
tion on the containers:
R MB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
R MB Approval (e.g. MB Approval 229.51)
Other designations or recommendations indi- cate a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Sheet number (e.g.
MB 229.5). They have not necessarily been
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Service products and filling capacities
347Technical data Z