2016 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG GT ROADSTER traction control

ESP
®
assists the driver when pulling away on
wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise
the vehicle during braking.
ETS (Electronic Traction System) i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active if you deactivate
ESP ®
.
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilise the vehicle. In addition, other driving
safety systems are switched off. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
When ESP ®
is deactivated, the åESP®
OFF
warning lamp lights up continuously.
When SPORT handling mode is activated, the
M warning lamp lights up in the instrument
cluster.
When the åandh warning lamps light up
continuously, ESP ®
is not available due to a mal-
function.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 197) and display messages which may
be shown in the instrument cluster
(Y page 172).
Only use wheels with the recommended tyre
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly. Characteristics of ESP
® General notes
If the ÷ ESP warning lamp goes out before
beginning the journey, ESP ®
is automatically
active.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X when pulling away, only depress the acceler-
ator pedal as far as is necessary.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
ECO start/stop function
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving. When pulling away again, the engine
starts automatically. ESP ®
remains in its previ-
ously selected status. Example:if ESP®
was
deactivated before the engine was switched off,
ESP ®
remains deactivated when the engine is
switched on again.
Deactivating/activating ESP ® Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Y page 54).
You can select between the following ESP ®
sta-
tuses:
R ESP ®
is activated
R SPORT handling mode is activated
R ESP ®
is deactivated
ESP ®
is activated every time the engine is star-
ted, regardless of whether ESP ®
was deactiva-
ted before the engine was switched off. G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilises the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following. 58
Driving safety systemsSafety

G
WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit- uations described in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
:
R when snow chains are used
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
R on closed roads when the vehicle's own over-
steering and understeering characteristics
are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires a highly qualified and experi-
enced driver.
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. ESP ®
will otherwise
not be able to stabilise the vehicle if the vehicle
starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®X
To activate SPORT handling mode: briefly
press button :.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The SPORT SPORThan‐
han‐
dling mode
dling mode message appears in the multi-
function display.
X To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button
:.
The M handling mode warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. ESP ®
is activa-
ted. X
To deactivate ESP ®
:press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The ÷OFF
OFF
message appears in the multifunction display.
X To activate ESP ®
:when SPORT handling
mode is activated or ESP ®
is deactivated,
press button :.
The å ESP®
OFF warning lamp in the
instrument cluster goes out. The ÷ON ON
message appears in the multifunction display.
Characteristics when SPORT handling
mode is activated
If SPORT handling mode is activated and one or
more wheels start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warn-
ing lamp on the instrument cluster flashes. In
such situations, ESP ®
will stabilise the vehicle
only to a limited degree.
When SPORT handling mode is activated:
R ESP ®
improves driving stability only to a limi-
ted degree
R traction control is still activated
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels may start to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
the brakes are firmly applied
Characteristics when ESP ®
is deactivated
If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more wheels
start to spin, the ÷ESP®
warning lamp on
the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehicle.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels may start to spin
The spinning of the wheels results in a cut for
better traction on loose surfaces.
R traction control is still activated
R COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST is no longer
available, nor is it activated if you brake firmly
with assistance from ESP
R PRE-SAFE ®
is no longer available; nor is it
activated if you brake firmly and ESP ®
inter-
venes
R ESP ®
continues to provide assistance when
the brakes are firmly applied Driving safety systems
59Safety Z

Tyres
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Rectify tyre pres‐
Rectify tyre pres‐
sure sure The tyre pressure is too low in at least one of the tyres, or the tyre
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
X Check the tyre pressures at the next opportunity (Y page 265).
X If necessary, correct the tyre pressure.
X Restart the tyre pressure monitor (Y page 267).Check tyre(s)
Check tyre(s) The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped significantly. The
wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
Underinflated tyres pose the following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tyre traction
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may be
greatly impaired
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 119).
X Check the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tyre (Y page 247).
X Check the tyre pressure (Y page 265).
X If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. Warning tyre defect Warning tyre defect The tyre pressure in one or more tyres has dropped suddenly. The
wheel position is displayed in the multifunction display.
G WARNING
If you drive with a flat tyre, there is a risk of the following hazards: R a flat tyre affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle
R you could lose control of the vehicle
R continued driving with a flat tyre will cause excessive heat build-up
and possibly a fire
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 119).
X Check the tyres and, if necessary, follow the instructions for a flat
tyre (Y page 247). Display
messages
189On-board computer and displays Z

Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
M Solutions ÷
N
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
ESP ®
or traction control has intervened due to a risk of skidding or because at least
one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Depress the accelerator pedal only as far as necessary when pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 58) it may be better to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 58). ÷
N
The yellow ESP ®
warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ESP ®
is malfunctioning.
Other driving and driving safety systems may also be malfunctioning.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions listed above.
The braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and/or accident.
X Observe the additional display messages on the multifunction display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. å
N
The yellow ESP ®
OFF warning lamp is lit while the engine is running or the ECO
start/stop function is switched on.
ESP ®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is deactivated, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and/or accident.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases (Y page 58) it may be better to deactivate ESP ®
.
Observe the important safety notes on ESP ®
(Y page 58).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Drive on carefully.
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. 198
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

information regarding tyres at specialist tyre
retailers, at qualified specialist workshops or at any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
R Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type and
make.
Exception: it is permissible to fit a different
type or make in the event of a flat tyre.
R Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R Run in new tyres at moderate speeds for the
first 100 km. They only reach their full per-
formance after this distance.
R Do not drive with tyres which have too little
tread depth. This otherwise significantly
reduces the traction on wet roads (aquaplan-
ing).
R Replace the tyres after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear.
Observe the notes on the emergency spare
wheel (Y page 273). Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 267). Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below +7 †, summer tyres lose
elasticity and therefore traction and braking
power. Change the tyres on your vehicle to
M+S tyres. Using summer tyres at very cold
temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tyres permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility for
this type of damage. G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tyres regularly for signs of damageand replace any damaged tyres immediately. M+S tyres
G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tyre tread depth of less than 4 mm are not suitable for use in winter as they
do not provide sufficient traction. There is a
risk of accident.
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced.
At temperatures below +7 †, use winter tyres or all-season tyres. Both types of tyre are identified
by the M+S marking.
Only winter tyres bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road conditions. Only these tyres will allow driving safety sys-
tems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function opti-
mally in winter. These tyres have been devel-
oped specifically for driving in snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread on all
wheels to maintain safe handling characteris-
tics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have fit-
ted.
If you fit M+S tyre sthat have a lower maximum
permissible speed than that of the vehicle, affix
an appropriate warning label in the driver's field
of vision. This can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum design speed of the vehi- cle using permanent SPEEDTRONIC so that it
does not exceed the maximum permissible
speed for the M+S tyres (Y page 130).
When you have fitted the M+S tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 264).
X Restart the tyre pressure monitor
(Y page 267).
Information on driving with an emergency spare
wheel (Y page 273). Snow chains
G
WARNING
If you have fitted snow chains to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could Winter operation
263Wheels and tyres
Z

cause damage to the vehicle or the tyres.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never fit snow chains on the front wheels
R fit snow chains to the rear wheels in pairs.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that have been specifically approved for your vehicle by
Mercedes-Benz, or that are of a corresponding
standard of quality. For more information,
please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel-tyre
combinations. Permissible wheel-tyre combi-
nations (Y page 272).
R only use snow chains if the road surface is
completely snow-covered. Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you come to
a road that is not snow-covered.
R local regulations may restrict the use of snow
chains. Observe the appropriate regulations if you wish to fit snow chains.
R do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
When pulling away with snow chains fitted, you can deactivate ESP ®
(Y page 58). This way you
can allow the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving increased driving force (cut-
ting action).
Information about driving with an emergency
spare wheel (Y page 273). Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure specifications
G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tyres pose the
following risks:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tyre
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired. There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the recommended tyre pressure and
check the tyre pressure of all the tyres includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R at least every two weeks
R when the load changes
R before embarking on a longer journey
R for changed operating conditions, e.g. off-
road driving
If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tyre
valves, the tyre valves may be overloaded and malfunction, which can cause tyre pressure
loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tyre pres-
sure monitors keep the tyre valve open. This
can also result in tyre pressure loss. There is a risk of accident.
Only screw standard valve caps or valve caps
specifically provided by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle onto the tyre valve. G
WARNING
If the tyre pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tyre may be damaged. Tyre
pressure that is too low may result in a tyre
blow-out. There is a risk of accident.
R Check the tyre for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking.
If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop. H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
The recommended tyre pressures for various
operating conditions can be found in the tyre
pressure table on the fuel filler flap
(Y page 118).
Operation with an emergency spare wheel:
information on operation with an emergency
spare wheel can be found in the general notes in 264
Tyre pressureWheels and tyres