Emergency
Removing the safetyvest
The safetyvests are located instowage spacesinthe front door.
#Takethe safetyvestbag out ofstowagespace1.
#Openthe safetyvestbag and pull outthesafetyvest.
%Safetyvests can also bestored inthereardoorstowage spaces.
1Maximum number ofwashes
2Maximumwashtemperature
3Do not bleach
4Do not iron
5Do not tumble dry
6Do not dry clean
7This is a class 2vest
Therequirements definedbythe legalstandardare only fulfilled inthefollowing cases:
Rifthe safetyvestisthe correct size
Rthe safetyvestis fully closed whilst beingworn
Replacethe safetyvestinthefollowing cases:
Rthereflectivestrips are damaged or dirt onthereflectivestrips can no longer beremoved
Rthe maximum number ofwashes isexceeded
Rthefluorescence hasfaded
Flat tire
Notes on flat tires
&WARNINGRisk of accident duetoaflattire
Aflat tire severelyaffectsthe drivingcharac‐teristics aswell asthesteering and brakingofthevehicle.
Tires withoutrun-flatcharacteristics:
#Do not drive on with aflat tire.
#Changetheflat tire immediately with anemergency sparewheel or spare wheel.Alternatively,consult aqualified spe‐cialistworkshop.
Breakdown assistance413
The tire pressuretable shows therecommendedtire pressurefor all tires approvedforthisvehi‐cle. Therecommended tire pressures applyforcold tires undervarious operating conditions, i.e.loading and/or speed ofthevehicle.
If one or more tire sizes precede a tire pressure,the tire pressure informationfollowing is onlyvalidforthose tire sizes.
The load conditions "partially laden" and "fullyladen" are defined inthetablefor different num‐bersof passengers and amounts of luggage. Theactual number of seats may differ fromthis.
Some tire pressuretables only showtherimdiameter instead ofthe completetire size, e.g.R18. Therim diameter is part ofthe tire size andcan befound onthe tire sidewall (→page449).
Be suretoalso observethefollowing furtherrelated subjects:
RNotes on tire pressure (→page 435)
RTireand Loading Information placard(→page442)
RMaximum tire pressure (→page448)
Checkingtire pressures manually
#Readthe tire pressureforthe current operat‐ing conditions fromtheTireand LoadingInformation placard orthe tire pressuretable. Observethe notes on tire pressure.
#Removethevalve cap ofthe tiretobechecked.
#Pressthe tire pressuregauge securely ontothevalve.
#Readthe tire pressure.
#Ifthe tire pressure is lowerthantherecom‐mendedvalue, increasethe tire pressuretotherecommendedvalue.
#Ifthe tire pressure is higherthantherecom‐mendedvalue,release air.Todo so, pressdownthe metal pin inthevalve, e.g. usingthe tip of a penforexample. Thencheckthetire pressureagain usingthe tire pressuregauge.
#Screwthevalve cap ontothevalve.
438Wheels and tires
Furtherrelated subjects:
RNotes on tire pressure (→page 435)
RTirepressuretable (→page 437)
RTireand Loading Information placard(→page442)
Tirepressure monitoring system
Function ofthe tire pressure monitoring sys‐tem
&DANGERRisk of accident duetoincor‐rect tire pressure
Every tire, includingthe spare (if provided),should bechecked when cold at least once amonth and inflatedtothe pressurerecom‐mendedbythevehicle manufacturer (seeTireand Loading Information placard ontheB-pillar onthe driver’sside orthe tire pres‐sure label onthe inside ofthe fuelfillerflapofyourvehicle). Ifyourvehicle has tires of adifferent sizethanthe size indicated ontheTireand Loading Information placard orthe
tire pressuretable,you needtodeterminethe proper tire pressureforthose tires.
As an added safetyfeature,yourvehicle hasbeen equipped with a tire pressure monitor‐ing system (TPMS)that illuminates a low tirepressure indicator lamp when one or more ofyour tires are significantly underinflated.Accordingly, ifthe low tire pressure indicatorlamp lights up,you shouldstop andcheckyour tires as soon as possible, and inflatethemtothe proper pressure. Driving on asignificantly underinflated tire causesthe tiretooverheat and can leadtotirefailure.Underinflation also increases fuel consump‐tion andreduces tire tread life, and mayaffectthevehicle's handling and braking abil‐ity. Please notethatthe TPMS is not a substi‐tutefor proper tire maintenance, and it isthedriver'sresponsibilitytomaintain correct tirepressure,even if underinflation has notreachedthe leveltotrigger illumination ofthe TPMS low tire pressure indicator lamp.
Yourvehicle has also been equipped with aTPMS malfunction indicatortoindicate when
the system is not operating properly. TheTPMS malfunction indicator is combined withthe low tire pressure indicator lamp. Whenthe system detects a malfunction,the indica‐tor lamp willflashfor approximatelya minuteandthenremain continuously illuminated.This sequence will continue upon subsequentvehiclestart-ups as long asthe malfunctionexists.
Whenthe malfunction indicator is illumina‐ted,the system may not be abletodetect orsignal low tire pressure as intended. TPMSmalfunctions may occurfor avariety ofrea‐sons, includingthe installation of incompati‐blereplacement or alternate tires or wheelsonthevehiclethat preventthe TPMS fromfunctioning properly.
Alwayscheckthe TPMS malfunctionwarninglamp afterreplacing one or more tires orwheels onyourvehicletoensurethatthereplacement or alternate tires and wheelsallowthe TPMStocontinuetofunction prop‐erly.
Wheels and tires439
Even ifyou havecalculatedthetotal load care‐fully,you shouldstill make surethatthe maxi‐mum permissible gross mass andthe maximumpermissible axle load ofyourvehicle are notexceeded. Details can befound onthevehicleidentification plate.
#Haveyour loadedvehicle – including driver,occupants and load –weighed on avehicleweighbridge.The measuredvalues may notexceedthemaximum permissiblevaluesstated onthevehicle identification plate.
Furtherrelated subjects:
RCalculationexamplefor determiningthe max‐imum load (→page444)
RTireand Loading Information placard(→page442)
RTirepressuretable (→page 437)
RVehicle identification plate
Calculationexamplefor determiningthemaximum load
Thefollowingtable showsexamples of howtocalculatetotal and load capacities withvarying
seating configurations and different numbersand sizes of occupants. Thefollowingexamplesuse a maximum load of1500 lbs (680kg).Thisisfor illustration purposes only.Make sureyou are usingthe actual load limitforyourvehi‐clestated onyourvehicle'sTireand LoadingInformation placard (→page442).
The highertheweight of allthe occupants,thesmallerthe maximum loadfor luggage.
Step 1
Example1Example 2
Combined maximumweight of occupants andload (data fromtheTireand Loading Informationplacard)
1500 lbs (680kg)1500 lbs (680kg)
444Wheels and tires
Tirelabeling
Overview of tire labeling
1Uniform TireQuality GradingStandard(→page446)
2DOT,TireIdentificationNumber(→page447)
3Maximum tire load (→page448)
4Maximum tire pressure (→page448)
5Manufacturer
6Characteristics ofthe tire (→page449)
7Tiresize designation, load-bearing capacity,speedrating and load index (→page449)
8Tirename
%The datashown inthe image isexampledata.
TireQuality Grading
In accordance withthe US Department ofTrans‐portation's "Uniform TireQuality GradingStand‐ards", tire manufacturers arerequiredtogradetheir tires onthe basis ofthefollowingthree per‐formancefactors:
1Treadweargrade
2Tractiongrade
3Temperature grade
%The data shown inthe image isexampledata.
%The classification is not legallystipulatedforCanada, but it isgenerallystated.
TreadweargradeThe treadwear grade is a comparativeratingbased onthewearrateofthe tire whentestedunder controlled conditions on a specifiedtesttrack ofthe US Department ofTransportation.Forexample, a tiregraded150wouldwear one
446Wheels and tires
%The data shown inthe image isexampledata.
The TIN is a unique identification numbertoidentify tires and comprisesthefollowing:
RDOT (Department ofTransportation):tiresymbol marks1indicatingthatthe tirecomplies withtherequirements ofthe USDepartment ofTransportation.
RManufacturer identification code:manu‐facturer identification code2containsdetails ofthe tire manufacturer. New tireshavea code with two symbols.Retreadedtires havea code withfour symbols.Furtherinformation onretreaded tires (→page454).
RTiresize:identifier3describesthe tiresize.
RTiretype code:tire type code4can beusedbythe manufacturer as a codetodescribe specificcharacteristics ofthe tire.
RManufacturing date:manufacturing date5provides information aboutthe age of atire. The 1st and 2nd positionsrepresentthecalendarweek andthe 3rd and 4th positionsstatetheyear of manufacture (e.g. "3208"representsthe 32ndweek of 2008).
Information onthe maximum tire load
%The data shown inthe image isexampledata.
Maximum tire load1isthe maximum permissi‐bleweightfor whichthe tire is approved.
Do notoverloadthe tiresby exceedingthe speci‐fied load limit. The maximum permissible loadcan befound onthevehicle'sTireand LoadingInformation placard onthe B-pillar onthe driv‐er's side (→page442).
Specificationsfor maximum tire pressure
%The datashown inthe image isexampledata.
448Wheels and tires
Neverexceed maximum tire pressure1speci‐fiedforthe tire.
Information on tirecharacteristics
%The data shown inthe image isexampledata.
This information describesthe type of tire cordandthe number of layersin sidewall1andunder tire tread2.
Tiresize designation, load-bearing capacity,speedrating and load index
&WARNINGRisk of injurythroughexceed‐ingthe specified tire loadrating orthepermissible speedrating
Exceedingthe specified tire loadrating orthe permissible speedrating may leadtotiredamageandtothe tires bursting.
#Therefore, only use tire types and sizesapprovedforyourvehicle model.
#Observethe tire loadrating and speedratingrequiredforyourvehicle.
1Preceding letter
2Nominal tire width in millimeters
3Aspectratio in %
4Tirecode
5Rim diameter
6Load-bearing index
7Speedrating
8Load index
%The data shown inthe image isexampledata.
Information aboutreading tire data can beobtained from anyqualified specialistworkshop.
Wheels and tires449
these are installed onthevehicle, but does notinclude passengers or luggage.
Maximum tire load:the maximum tire load isthe maximum permissibleweight in kilograms orlbsfor whicha tire is approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure:maxi‐mum permissible tire pressurefor one tire.
Maximum load on one tire:maximum load onone tire. This is calculatedbydividingthe maxi‐mum axle load of one axlebytwo.
PSI (pounds per square inch):standard unit ofmeasurementfor tire pressure.
Aspectratio:ratio between tire height and tirewidth in percent.
Tirepressure:pressure insidethe tire applyingan outwardforcetoeverysquare inch ofthe tire.The tire pressure is specified in pounds persquare inch (psi), in kilopascals (kPa) or in bar.The tire pressure should only be corrected whenthe tires are cold.
Cold tire pressure:the tires are cold whenthevehicle has been parkedfor at least3 hours
without direct sunlight onthe tires orthevehiclehas been drivenfor lessthan 1 mile (1.6 km).
Tirecontact surface:the part ofthe tirethatcomes into contact with theroad.
Tirebead:the purpose ofthe tire bead istoensurethatthe tire sits securely onthe wheelrim. There are several wire cores inthe tire beadtopreventthe tire fromchanging length onthewheelrim.
Sidewall:the part ofthe tire betweenthe treadandthe tire bead.
Weight of optional equipment:the combinedweight ofthe optional equipmentweighing morethanthereplacedstandard parts and morethan5 lbs (2.3kg).This optional equipment, such ashigh-performance brakes, level control system, aroof luggagerackor high-performance batteries,is not included inthe curbweight andtheweightofthe accessories.
TIN (Tire IdentificationNumber):a uniqueidentification number which can be usedby atire manufacturertoidentify tires,forexample,in a productrecall, andthus identifythe pur‐chasers. The TIN is made up ofthe manufactur‐
er's identity code, tire size, tire type code andthe manufacturing date.
Load-bearing index:the load-bearing index is acodethat containsthe maximum load-bearingcapacity of a tire.
Traction:traction isthe gripresulting from fric‐tion betweenthe tires andtheroad surface.
Wear indicator:narrowbars (treadwear bars)that are distributedoverthe tire contact surface.Ifthe tire tread is level withthe bars,thewearlimit of 1/16in (1.6 mm) has beenreached.
Distribution ofvehicle occupants:distributionofvehicle occupantsover designated seat posi‐tions in avehicle.
Maximum permissible payloadweight:nomi‐nal load and luggage load plus150 lb (68kg)multipliedbythe number of seats inthevehicle.
Wheels and tires453