2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER height

is case, use a trailer with a height-adjusta-
ble trailer drawbar.
Driving tips The maximum permissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combination depends on the type of
trailer. Before setting off, check the vehicle
documents of the your trailer to find out the
permissible maximum speed. Observe the
legally prescribed maximum speed for vehi-
cle/trailer combinations in the relevant coun-
try, state or Canadian province.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
On long, steep downhill slopes you must
select shift range 3,2or 1in good time.
i This also applies if cruise control is acti-
vated.
This enables you to utilize the engine's brak-
ing effect and you do not need to brake so
heavily to keep the correct speed, which pro-
tects the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need to brake additionally, to
not depress the brake pedal constantly, but
periodically.
Driving tips If the trailer begins to swing from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary.
i You can reduce the risk of the trailer
swinging and rocking by retrofitting anti-
roll bars or trailer stability programs. More information is available from your author-
ized Sprinter Dealer.
R Maintain a greater distance than you would
when driving without towing a trailer.
R Avoid sudden braking. Apply the brakes
gently at first to allow the trailer brake to overrun. Then, increase the brake force
quickly.
R The figures for the gradient climbing capa-
bilities from a standstill refer to sea level.
When driving in mountainous areas, note
that the power output of the engine, and
with it its gradient climbing capability,
decrease with increasing altitude. Coupling up a trailer
! Do not connect the trailer's brake system
(if featured) to the hydraulic brake system
of the towing vehicle, as the latter is equip- ped with an anti-lock brake system. Doing
so will result in a loss of function of the
brake systems of both the vehicle and the
trailer. Trailer coupled ready for use
X Make sure the selector lever of the auto-
matic transmission is in position P.
X Apply the parking brake of the vehicle.
X Close all doors.
X Position the trailer horizontally behind your
vehicle.
i The height of the ball neck changes
according to the load on the vehicle. In this
case, use a trailer with a height-adjustable
trailer drawbar.
X Couple the trailer.
X Establish all electrical and other connec-
tions to the trailer. When doing so, hook the
breakaway cable of the trailer into eye-
let 0043 on the ball coupling. Towing a trailer
175Driving and parking Z

Hood release lever in the driver's footwell
Observe the safety notes when you open the
hood.
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
X Switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Pull release handle 0043on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap and push lever 0044on the
hood catch up. X
Swing the hood upwards until support strut
0087 engages and the hood is supported.
Closing the hood G
WARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it could tip forward
during rapid deceleration of the vehicle and
hit persons or objects within its path. There is
a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, always make sure that the hood is closed and locked completely before driving
off.
If the hood is not locked and you are already
driving at walking pace:
R the yellow 003Eindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster goes on for vehicles
without steering-wheel buttons.
R the 003E Hood open
Hood open display appears for
vehicles with steering-wheel buttons.
! When you press the support strut back,
make sure that you do not press it against
the detent position and cause it to bend.
! Do not use your hands to push the hood
down. You could damage it otherwise.
X Lift the hood slightly.
X Press support strut 0087towards the back.
X Lower the hood and allow it to fall with
momentum from a height of approximately
1 ft (30 cm).
The hood locks audibly.
X Check that the hood is correctly locked.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. If the hood is not cor-
rectly engaged, open the hood again. Let
the hood fall with a little more momentum. Engine compartment
249Maintenance and care Z

0087
Maximum tire pressure (Y page 290)
0085 Manufacturer
0083 Tire material (Y page 302)
0084 Tire size designation, load-bearing capa-
city and speed index (Y page 300)
006B Tire name
The markings described above are on the tire in addition to the tire name (sales designa-
tion) and the manufacturer's name.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example.
Tire size designation, load bearing index and speed index G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle. 0043
Design standard
0044 Tire width
0087 Nominal aspect ratio in %
0085 Tire code
0083 Rim diameter
0084 Load bearing index
006B Speed index
General: depending on the manufacturer's
standards, the size imprinted in the tire wall may not contain any letters or may contain
one letter
0043that precedes the size descrip-
tion
If "LT" precedes the size description (as
shown above): these are light truck tires
according to U.S. manufacturing standards.
If "C" precedes the size description: these are
commercial motor vehicle tires according to
European manufacturing standards.
Tire width: tire width0044shows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Aspect ratio: aspect ratio0087is the size ratio
between the tire height and tire width and is
shown in percent. The aspect ratio is calcu-
lated by dividing the tire width by the tire
height.
Tire code: tire code0085specifies the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires. "D" represents
diagonal tires, "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Rim diameter: rim diameter0083is the diam-
eter of the bead seat, not the diameter of the rim flange. The rim diameter is specified in
inches (in).
Load-bearing index: load-bearing index0084
is a numerical code that specifies the maxi-
mum load-bearing capacity of a tire.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit. The maximum permissi-
ble load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side (Y page 295).
Example:
The load-bearing index 120 indicates a max-
imum load of 3,042 lb (1,380 kg) for the tire.
If two load-bearing capacity indices are speci- fied (as shown above), the first number states
the load-bearing capacity for single tires, the second number the load-bearing capacity for
twin tires. For further information on the max- imum tire load in kilograms and pounds, see
(Y page 301).
For further information on the load-bearing
index, see "Load index" (Y page 301).300
What you should know about wheels and tiresWheels and tires

is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equiva-
lent of 1 bar.
Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, a load
index can be stamped onto the sidewall of the
tire. It specifies the load-bearing capacity of
the tire more precisely.
Curb weight
The weight of a vehicle with standard equip-
ment including the maximum filling capacity
of fuel, oil, and coolant. It also includes the
air-conditioning system and optional equip-
ment if these are installed on the vehicle, but
does not include passengers or luggage.
Maximum tire load
The maximum tire load in kilograms or
pounds is the maximum weight for which a
tire is approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure
Maximum permissible tire pressure for one
tire.
Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle by two.
PSI (Pounds per square inch)
Standard unit of measurement for tire pres-
sure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and width in
percent.
tire pressure
Pressure inside the tire applying an outward
force to every square inch of the tire's sur-
face. Tire pressure is specified in pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar.
Tire pressure should only be corrected when
the tires are cold. Cold tire pressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1 mile (1.6 km)
Tire tread
The part of the tire th at comes into contact
with the road.
Tire bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
tire bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kg (5lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, a roof rack or a high-performance
battery, are not included in the curb weight
and the weight of the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
A unique identification number which can be
used by a tire manufacturer to identify tires,
for example for a product recall, and thus
identify the purchasers. The TIN is composed of the manufacturer identification code, tire
size, tire model code and manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing capacity of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface. 304
What you should know about wheels and tiresWheels and tires