2015 SMART FORTWO COUPE tires

Treadwear indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called “wear
bars” that show across the tread of a tire
when only 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm) of tread remains.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s trac-
tion, temperature and treadwear. Ratings
are determined by tire manufacturers
using U.S. 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 deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two. Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your vehi- cle winterized at an authorized electric
drive smart center.
This service includes:
R Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.
R Addition of washer concentrate to the
water of the windshield/rear window.
Use a windshield washer concentrate
labeled for winter which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(Y page 218).
R 12 V battery test. The capacity of the
12 V battery test drops with decreasing
ambient temperature.
R Tire change. Winter tires
G
WARNING
Winter tires with a tread depth of less than 1 / 6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45 ¦(7¥) and whenever wintry road
conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflake marking ion the tire side-
wall. These tires meet specific snow trac-
tion performance requirements of the Rub- ber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and
the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and
have been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the only way to achieve the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS and ESP ®
in winter opera-
tion.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.
For information on winter tires for your
vehicle model, see the "Technical data"
section (Y page 216).
Always observe the speed rating of the win-
ter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your
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 electric drive
smart center. Snow chains*
! Remember that snow chains must always
be compatible with the tire sizes of a
vehicle. Snow chains that are approved
by smart are only permitted for the fol-
lowing tire size:
175/55 R15 on the rear axle. 146
Winter driving>> Operation.
* optional

Wet road surface
G
WARNING
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through
water deep enough to wet brake components, the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking
effect. Maintain a safe distance from vehi-
cles in front.
To help prevent brake disc corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Limited braking effect on salted roads Remember that the effect of the brakes can
be limited on salted road surfaces. A layer of salt can form on brake discs and brake
pads, considerably reducing the friction
between the brake disc and the brake pad.
The effect is most noticeable after long
trips without braking, e.g. on the highway, and after the vehicle has been parked for
several hours. G
WARNING
The accumulation of salt on brake discs and brake pads reduces braking effectiveness
and increases the distance necessary to
come to a complete standstill. This could
potentially cause an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.
To avoid this risk, you should
R brake carefully every now and then on
salted roads in order to remove any layer
of salt on the brake disc and brake pad, but do so without endangering any other
road users
R keep a good safe distance from the vehi-
cle in front and drive carefully
R press the brake carefully at the end of the
trip and again when beginning the next
trip in order to remove any salt residues
from the brake disc
New brake pads Only install brake pads recommended by
smart. G
WARNING
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired.
This could result in an accident. G
WARNING
New brake pads will not achieve their opti- mal braking effect until after several hun- dred miles (kilometers). This means that
you must compensate for the reduced brak-
ing effect by pressing harder on the brake
pedal and adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. The same applies after brake pads or
brake discs have been changed. Drive sensibly - save energy
Energy consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save energy you should: R Drive carefully and maintain a suitable
distance from the vehicle in front.
R Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
R Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
R Remove carriers* when not in use. Driving instructions
149>> Operation.
* optional Z

R
Remove unnecessary loads.
R Have all maintenance work performed at
the intervals specified in the Mainte-
nance Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance System. Contact an author-
ized electric drive smart center.
Energy consumption is also increased by
driving in stop-and-go traffic, on short
trips, and in hilly areas. Tires
G
WARNING
If you feel a sudden significant vibration
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that
possible damage to your vehicle has occur- red, you should turn on the hazard warning
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive
with caution to an area which is a safe dis-
tance from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to the nearest smart center or tire dealer for
repairs.
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 approx-
imately 1
/ 16 in (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. G
WARNING
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not allow your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches 1
/ 8 in (3 mm), the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced. Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction var- ies widely.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be maintained. This applies particularly if
the tires are subject to high loads (e.g.
high speeds, heavy loads, high ambient
temperatures). G
WARNING
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire will affect your ability to steer or brake and maycause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire or driv-
ing at high speed with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a
fire.
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (Y page 127). Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur
resulting in a loss of control, even at low
speeds and with new tires. Reduce vehicle
speed, avoid track grooves in the road and
apply brakes cautiously when it is raining. 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. G
WARNING
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
smart recommends winter tires (Y page 146)
with a minimum tread depth of approx- 150
Driving instructions>> Operation.

imately
1
/ 6 in (4 mm) on all four wheels for
the winter season to ensure normal bal-
anced handling characteristics. On packed
snow, they can reduce your stopping dis-
tance compared to summer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still con-
siderably greater than when the road is not covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. Otherwise, the
drivetrain could be damaged, which is
not covered by the smart Limited War-
ranty. Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use prudent
driving speeds appropriate to prevailing
conditions. G
WARNING
Even when permitted by law, never operate 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.
Make sure your tires have the required tire speed rating as specified for your vehicle
in the “Technical data section”
(Y page 216), for example when purchasing
new tires.
For information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see “Tire size designation, load and speed rating”
(Y page 140).
If you are uncertain about the correct read-
ing of the information given on a tire’s sidewall, any authorized electric drive
smart center will be glad to assist you.
i For information on speed ratings for
winter tires, see “All-season and winter
tires” (Y page 141). Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers.
For information on driving with snow
chains*, see “Snow chains*” (Y page 146).
Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary to produce the
normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired brak- ing efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking effi-
ciency should be tested as soon as possible after driving is resumed. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers. G
WARNING
The outside temperature display is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and is therefore unsuitable for that pur-
pose. Indicated temperatures just above
the freezing point do not guarantee that the
road surface is free of ice.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(Y page 146). Driving instructions
151>> Operation.
* optional Z

Exterior Special considera-
tions Lightly soiled
Hand-/Automatic
car washes Heavily soiled
Hand-/Automatic
car washes
Wheels and wheel
covers Two-layer metallic
paint (high-gloss) Car shampoo con-
centrate, rim care Car shampoo con-
centrate, rim care
Retractable soft top PAC fabric Car shampoo con-
centrate, soft top
cleaner, impregna-
tion spray Car shampoo con-
centrate, soft top
cleaner, impregna-
tion spray
Removing insects
Remove insect remains before you start to
wash the vehicle.
X Spray insect remover on.
X Allow insect remover to work in briefly.
X Rub in gently with a soft cloth or sponge.
X Rinse with plenty of water.
X Treat the cleaned surface with hard wax.
Removing tar Remove any tar marks before washing the
vehicle.
X Apply tar remover with a soft cloth.
X Allow tar remover to work in briefly.
X Rub in gently.
X Rinse with plenty of water.
X Treat the cleaned surface with hard wax.
Vehicle washing In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.
Washing your vehicle by hand
X Wash the vehicle using car shampoo con-
centrate and a sponge.
X Rinse with clean water.
X Towel dry the vehicle. !
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-
light. The body panel surfaces and paint finish may be damaged.
Washing your vehicle in an automatic car
wash
i When running your vehicle through an
automatic car wash, water droplets can
run down the inside of the side windows.
Unscrew your vehicle’s antenna before
driving into an automatic car wash. X
Removing: Unscrew antenna :counter-
clockwise.
X Fitting: Screw antenna :in clockwise.
Power washer G
WARNING
Do not use a round nozzle (dirt grinders) to powerwash your vehicle, in particular the
tires. You could otherwise damage the tires
and cause an accident. 156
Vehicle care>> Operation.

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions è
Charge Cable Con‐ Charge Cable Con‐
nected nected The charging cable is inserted in the vehicle power socket. The
vehicle cannot be moved.
In addition, a warning signal sounds.
X To drive off, remove the charging cable from the vehicle
power socket and stow the cable in the vehicle. Ready to Charge Ready to Charge
The vehicle is prepared for the high‑voltage battery to be
charged. It may take 30 seconds for the charging process to
begin.
Malfunction Malfunction
Despite the charging cable being correctly inserted in the
vehicle power socket, the high‑voltage battery does not
charge. There is a malfunction in the on-board charger.
X Contact an authorized electric drive smart center. No Charge No Charge
The voltage on the vehicle power socket is too low.
X Check whether the charging cable is inserted correctly in
the power sockets of both the vehicle and the power source. If necessary, unplug the charging cable from both sockets and
reinsert it.
If, afterwards, the message is still displayed:
X Contact an authorized electric drive smart center. Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions h
Check Check
Tire
TirePressure
Pressure The tire inflation pressure in at least one tire is signifi-
cantly below the reference value.
X Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steer-
ing and braking maneuvers.
X Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required
(Y page 130).
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 195).G
WARNING
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure rec-
ommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the Tire and Loading Information placard. If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the Tire and Loading Infor- mation placard, you should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires is
significantly underinflated. 164
Display messages>> Practical hints.

Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even
if underinflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately 1 minute and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of incom-
patible replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly. Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions Ò
Danger: Ice Danger: Ice
(Canada only) The outside temperature is below 3
¥. The road may be icy.
X Adjust your driving style to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
X Confirming message: Press the OK button on the control lever
briefly (Y page 83). G
WARNING
The display message Danger: Danger:Ice
Iceis not designed as an ice-warning device and is therefore
unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing point do not guarantee that the road surface
is free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. Your
vehicle could start to skid if you do not adjust your driving style accordingly.
Therefore, always adjust your driving style to the prevailing road and weather conditions. Display messages
165>> Practical hints. Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions þ
The yellow
drive diagnos-
tics indicator
lamp comes on
while driving. There may be a malfunction in the drive system.
X Have the vehicle checked at an authorized electric drive
smart center immediately. þ
The red drive
diagnostics
warning lamp
comes on while
driving. There may be a malfunction in the drive system.
X Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Switch off the drive system.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized electric drive
smart center. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)*
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions h
The yellow com-
bination low
tire pressure/
TPMS malfunc-
tion telltale
illuminates
continuously. The TPMS detects a loss of pressure in at least one tire.
X Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steer-
ing and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation
around you.
X Check and correct tire inflation pressure as required
(Y page 129).
If the tire inflation pressure in the respective tire(s) has
(have) been corrected, the combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few minutes of driving.
See also “Restarting the TPMS” (Y page 132).h
The combina-
tion low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction
telltale flashes
60 seconds and
then stays illu-
minated. There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
X Have the TPMS checked at an authorized electric drive smart
center.
After the malfunction has been remedied the combination low
tire pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale goes out after a few
minutes of driving. G
WARNING
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure rec-
ommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the Tire and Loading Information placard. If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the Tire and Loading Infor- mation placard, you should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those tires. What to do if ...
173>> Practical hints.
* optional Z