2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA tires

Drivin g safet y systems
Overview of drivin g safet y systemsIn this section , you will fin d information about
th e following drivin g safet y systems :R
AB S ( A nti-loc k B rakin g S ystem)
( Y
page 65) R
BA S ( B rake A ssist S ystem) ( Y
page 66 )R
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLU S
( Y
page 66 )R
ES P ®
( E lectronic S t ability P rogram)
( Y
page 69 )R
EB D ( E lectroni c B r ak e forc e D i stribution )
( Y
page 72) R
ADAPTIV E BRAKE ( Y
page 73 )R
STEE R CONTROL ( Y
page 73 )
Important safet y notesIf you fail to adapt your drivin g style or if you
are inattentive , th e drivin g safet y systems can
neither reduce th e ris k of an acciden t no r
override th e laws of physics. Driving safet y
systems are merely aids designed to assist
driving. You are responsible fo r maintainin g
th e distanc e to th e vehicle in front, fo r vehicle
speed, fo r braking in goo d time, and fo r stay-
in g in lane. Always adapt your drivin g style to
suit th e prevailin g road and weather condi-
tion s and maintain a saf e distanc e from th e
vehicle in front. Drive carefully.
The drivin g safet y systems described only
wor k as effectively as possible when there is
adequat e contact between th e tires and th e
road surface. Please pay special attention to
th e note s on tires , recommended minimum
tire tread depths, etc. ( Y
page 340).
In wintr y drivin g conditions, always use winte r
tires (M+ S tires ) and if necessary, snow
chains. Only in this way will th e drivin g safet y
systems described in this section wor k as
effectively as possible. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
General information AB S regulates brake pressure in suc h a way
that th e wheels do no t loc k when you brake .
Thi s allow s you to continue steerin g th e vehi-
cl e when braking .
The % AB S warnin g lamp in th e instrumen t
cluster lights up when th e ignition is switched
on . It goe s out when th e engin e is running .
AB S works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardles s of road-surfac e condi-
tions. AB S works on slipper y surfaces, eve n
when you only brake gently.
Important safet y notes
i Observ e th e "Important safet y notes" sec -
tion ( Y
page 65).
G WARNING
If AB S is faulty, th e wheels could loc k when
braking . The steerability and braking charac -
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition -
ally, further drivin g safet y systems are deac -
tivated. There is an increase d danger of skid-
din g and accidents .
Drive on carefully. Hav e AB S checke d imme-
diately at a qualified specialis t workshop .
Whe n AB S is malfunctioning, other systems ,
includin g drivin g safet y systems , will also
becom e inoperative . Observ e th e information
on th e AB S warnin g lamp ( Y
page 269) and
display message s whic h may be shown in th e
instrumen t cluster ( Y
page 236).
Braking X
If ABS intervenes: continue to depress th e
brake peda l vigorousl y until th e braking sit -
uation is over. X
To make a full brak e application:
depress th e brake peda l wit h full force.
If AB S intervenes when braking , you will feel a
pulsin g in th e brake pedal.Driving safety systems 65
Safety Z

Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit-
uation and be ready to brake.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated but non-critical driving condi-
tions may also cause Brake Assist to inter-
vene.
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to
a malfunction in the radar sensor system, the
brake system remains available with full
brake boosting effect and BAS.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 65).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between the tires and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified to
keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP ®
assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ETS/4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 65).
ETS traction control is part of ESP ®
. On vehi-
cles with 4MATIC, 4ETS 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 trans-
ferred to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP ®
. Off-road 4ETS (Electronic Traction Sys-
tem) A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically once the off-
road program is activated ( Y
page 199).
Important safety notes
i Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion ( Y
page 65).
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Vehicles without 4MATIC: when towing
your vehicle with the front axle raised, it is
important that you observe the notes on ESP ®
( Y
page 335).
If the

with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
G WARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment while driving, you will be distracted from
traffic conditions. You could also lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the coun-
try in which you are driving. Some jurisdic-
tions prohibit the driver from using a mobile
phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers
a distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m) per
second.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel: R
The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure. R
Remove unnecessary loads. R
Remove roof racks when they are not nee-
ded. R
Warm up the engine at low engine speeds. R
Avoid frequent acceleration or braking. R
Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in
hilly terrain. Drinking and driving
G WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control
G WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with
the manufacturer's specifications. Always
have work on the engine carried out at a
qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for this purpose. In
particular, work relevant to safety or on
safety-related systems must be carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. Furthermore, all
specific service work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Maintenance Booklet. Driving tips 175
Driving and parking Z

G DANGER
If th e exhaust pipe is blocke d or adequate
ventilation is no t possible, poisonous gase s
suc h as carbon monoxide (CO) may ente r th e
vehicle. This is th e case, e.g. if th e vehicl e
become s trapped in snow. There is a ris k of
fatal injury.
If you leav e th e engin e or th e auxiliary heating
running, mak e sur e th e exhaust pipe and area
around th e vehicl e are clear of snow. To
ensur e an adequate supply of fresh air, open a
window on th e side of th e vehicl e that is no t
facing int o th e wind.
Hav e your vehicl e winter-proofe d at a quali-
fie d specialist workshop at th e onset of win -
ter.
Drive particularly carefully on slipper y road
surfaces. Avoid sudde n acceleration , steering
and brakin g maneuvers . Do no t use th e cruise
control or DISTRONI C PLUS.
If th e vehicl e threaten s to skid or canno t be
stoppe d when moving at low speed:X
Shift th e transmission to position N .X
Try to bring th e vehicl e under control usin g
corrective steering .
The outside temperature indicator is no t
designed to serve as an ice-warnin g device
and is therefor e unsuitable for that purpose .
Changes in th e outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicate d temperatures jus t abov e th e freez -
in g p oin t d o no t guarantee that th e road sur -
fac e is free of ice . The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges .
You should pay special attention to road con-
dition s when temperatures are around freez -
in g point.
Fo r mor e information on drivin g wit h snow
chains, see ( Y
page 343).
Fo r mor e information on drivin g wit h summer
tires , see ( Y
page 342).
Observ e th e note s in th e "Winte r operation "
section ( Y
page 342). Off-road driving
Import ant safety notes
G WARNIN G
If you drive on a steep inclin e at an angle or
tur n when drivin g on an incline, th e vehicl e
could slip sideways, ti p and rollover. There is a
ris k of an accident.
Always drive on a steep inclin e in th e lin e of
fall (straight up or down ) and do no t tur n th e
vehicle.
G WARNIN G
Flammabl e material suc h as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignit e if they come int o contact wit h
hot part s of th e exhaust system. There is a ris k
of fire.
Whe n drivin g off roa d or on unpaved roads,
chec k th e vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove part s of plants or other
flammabl e materials whic h hav e become
trapped . In th e cas e of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop .
! There is a ris k of damag e to th e vehicl e if:R
th e vehicl e become s stuck , e.g. on a high
cur b or an unpaved road R
you drive to o fas t ove r an obstacle, e.g. a
cur b or a hole in th e road R
a heav y objec t strikes th e undercarriage
or part s of th e chassi s
In situation s lik e this, th e body, th e under-
carriage, chassi s parts, wheels or tires
could be damaged without th e damag e
bein g visible. Components damaged in this
way can unexpectedly fail or, in th e cas e of
an accident, no longer withstand th e strain
they are designed to .
If th e underbody panelin g is damaged,
combustible materials suc h as leaves,
gras s or twigs can gather between th e
underbody and th e underbody paneling. If
these materials come in contact wit h hot
part s of th e exhaust system, they can catch
fire.180
Driving tips
Driving and parking

function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the
engine oil level must be sufficiently high to
ensure a correct oil supply in the vehicle. X
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure. X
Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires. X
Replace any missing valve caps. X
Replace dented or damaged wheels. X
Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a
loss of tire pressure and damage the tire
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
! If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop. X
Deactivate off-road program ( Y
page 157).X
Deactivate DSR ( Y
page 197).X
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage. X
Clean the front and rear license plates. X
Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects. X
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for any foreign objects and damage. X
Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts. X
After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes, bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage. X
After driving in sand, mud, gravel, water or
similar dirty conditions, have the following
checked and cleaned: R
brake discs R
wheels R
brake pads R
axle joints X
If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving over poor road surfaces places
greater demands on your vehicle than driving
on normal roads. After driving off-road, check
the vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to
yourself and other road users.
Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand: R
Activate the off-road program
( Y
page 157). R
Avoid high engine speeds. R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate
to the terrain. R
Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels could
become stuck in loose ground. R
Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if pos-
sible. Make sure that: -
the tire ruts are not too deep. -
the sand is sufficiently firm. -
the ground clearance of the vehicle is
sufficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.182
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Activating the HOLD function X
Mak e sur e that th e activation condition s
are met .X
Depress th e brak e pedal .X
Quickl y depress th e brak e pedal further
until C appear s in th e multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release th e brak e pedal .
i If depressing th e brak e pedal th e first
time does no t activat e th e HOLD function ,
wait briefly and then tr y again .
Deactivating the HOLD function
The HOLD function is deactivated automati-
call y if: R
you accelerate . On vehicles wit h automatic
transmission : only when th e transmission
is in position D or R .R
th e transmission is in position P on vehicles
wit h automatic transmission .R
you depress th e brak e pedal again wit h a
certain amoun t of pressur e until C disap -
pear s from th e multifunction display.R
you activat e DISTRONI C PLUS.R
you secure th e vehicl e usin g th e electric
parking brake.
i Afte r a time, th e electric parking brak e
secures th e vehicl e and relieves th e servic e
brake. When th e HO LD function is activated, th e
transmission is shifte d automatically to posi-
tion P if: R
th e driver' s seat belt is no t fastene d and th e
driver' s door is open . R
th e engin e is switched off , unless it is auto -
matically switched off by th e ECO st art /
st op function .
The electric parking brak e secures th e vehicl e
automatically if th e HO LD function is activa-
te d when th e vehicl e is st ationary and :R
a system malfunction occur s.R
th e power suppl y is no t sufficient.
Start-off assist (except Mercedes-
AMG vehicles)
Import ant safety notes
G WARNIN G
If you use start-off assist , individual wheels
may start to spin and th e vehicl e may skid. If
ES P ®
is deactivated, there is a greate r danger
of skiddin g and having an accident. Mak e sur e
that no person s or obstacles are in th e vicinity
of th e vehicle.
Start-off assist enables optimum acceleration
from a st andstill. Fo r this, a suitably high-grip
road surfac e is required, alon g wit h th e tires
and vehicl e bein g in proper operating condi-
tion .
Do no t activat e st art-off assist on public
road s.
Obs erv e th e safet y note s on driving saf et y
systems ( Y
page 65) .
Be sure to read th e saf et y note s and informa-
tion on ES P ®
( Y
page 69).
Acti vating start-off assist X
Deactivat e ES P ®
( Y
page 227). X
Turn th e st eering whee l to th e st raight -
ahead position .194
Driving systems
Driving and parking

X
Depress the brake pedal firmly with your
left foot and keep the brake pedal
depressed. X
Shift the transmission to position D .X
Use the DYNAMIC SELECT button to select
the S drive program ( Y
page 157).X
Quickly depress the accelerator pedal fully. X
Take your foot off the brake, but keep the
accelerator pedal depressed.
The vehicle pulls away at maximum accel-
eration.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the acceleration
process has ended. ESP ®
will otherwise not
be able to stabilize the vehicle if the vehicle
starts to skid or a wheel starts to spin.
Canceling start-off assist X
Remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal. X
Reactivate ESP.
RACE START (AMG vehicles)
Important safety notes
i RACE START must not be used on normal
roads. RACE START must only be activated
and used on dedicated road circuits, out-
side of public road use.
i RACE START is only available in
Mercedes ‑ AMG vehicles.
G WARNING
If you use RACE START, individual tires may
start to spin and the vehicle could skid.
Depending on the selected ESP ®
mode, there
is an increased risk of skidding and having an
accident. Make sure that no persons, animals
or obstacles are within range of the vehicle.
RACE START enables optimal acceleration
from a standing start. For this, a suitably high-
grip road surface is required, along with the
tires and vehicle being in proper operating
condition. i Observe the safety notes on driving safety
systems ( Y
page 65).
Be sure to read the safety notes and infor-
mation on ESP ®
( Y
page 69).
Conditions for activation You can activate RACE START if: R
the doors, hood and the trunk lid are
closed. R
the engine is running and the transmission,
all-wheel drive clutch and the engine are at
operating temperature. R
the steering wheel is in the straight-ahead
position. R
the vehicle is stationary and the brake
pedal is depressed (left foot). R
the transmission is in position D .R
drive program S , S+ or RACE is selected
( Y
page 158).
Activating RACE START X
Depress the brake pedal with your left foot
and keep it depressed. X
Pull and hold both steering wheel paddle
shifters. X
The RACE START Confirm: Paddle UP
Cancel: Paddle DOWN message appears
in the multifunction display. X
Release both steering wheel paddle shift-
ers.
i If the activation conditions are no longer
fulfilled, RACE START is canceled. The
RACE START Not Possible See Opera‐
tor's Manual message appears in the
multifunction display. X
To cancel: pull the left steering wheel pad-
dle shifter ( Y
page 166).
or X
To confirm: pull the right steering wheel
paddle shifter ( Y
page 166).
The RACE START Available Depress
gas pedal message appears in the multi-
function display. Driving system s 195
Dr ivi ng an d parking Z

X
Press button C again so that indicator
lamp D goes out.
You have selected Comfort mode.
The AMG Suspension System COMFORT
message appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
4MATIC
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the differential.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground or
be fully raised. Observe the instructions for
towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
4MATIC, together with ESP ®
, improves the
traction of your vehicle whenever a drive
wheel spins due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC
can neither reduce the risk of accident nor
override the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot
take account of road, weather and traffic con-
ditions. 4MATIC is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in your lane.
If a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip: R
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away. R
Accelerate less when driving.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires (M +S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
DSR
General notes
i DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) is only
available for vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package. DSR is an aid to assist you when driving down-
hill. It keeps the speed of travel at the speed
selected on the on-board computer. The
steeper the downhill gradient, the greater the
DSR braking effect on the vehicle. When driv-
ing on flat stretches of road or on an uphill
gradient, the DSR braking effect is minimal or
nonexistent.
DSR controls the vehicle’s speed when it is
activated and the transmission is in position
D , R or N . You can drive at a higher or a lower
speed than that set on the on-board computer
at any time by accelerating or braking.
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If the speed driven and the set speed deviate
and you activate DSR on a slippery road sur-
face, the wheels may lose traction. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Before switching DSR on, please take into
consideration the road surface and the differ-
ence between driving speed and the set
speed.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. DSR cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic condi-
tions. DSR is only an aid. You are responsible
for the distance to the vehicle in front, for
vehicle speed, for braking in good time and for
staying in your lane.
You are always responsible for keeping con-
trol of the vehicle and for assessing whether
the downhill gradient can be managed. DSR
may not always be able to keep to the set
speed, depending on road surface and tire
conditions. Select a set speed suitable for the
prevailing conditions and when necessary,
apply the brakes manually.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
( Y
page 180).Driving systems 197
Driving and parking Z