Get Wheels and tires -> Tire labeling Guide for Mercedes C Class 4 Door Second Generation (2007-2013)

specified government test surfaces of asphalt

and concrete. Atire marked C may have poor

traction performance.

The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy

road is always lower than on dry road

surfaces.

You should pay special attention to road

conditions when temperatures are around

the freezing point.

Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum

tread depth of ã in (4 mm) for all four winter

tires (Y page 312) to maintainnormal driving

characteristics in winter. Winter tires can

reduce the braking distance on snow-covered

surfaces in comparison with summer tires.

Stopping distance, however, is still

considerably greater than when the road is

not covered with ice or snow. Take

appropriate care when driving.

Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage

to the drive train.

Temperature

WARNING

The temperature grade for this tire is

established for a tire that is properly inflated

and not overloaded. Excessive speed,

underinflation, or excessive loading, either

separately or in combination, can cause

excessive heat build-up and possible tire

failure.

The temperature grades are A(the highest),

B, and C. These represent the tire's

resistance to the generationofheat and its

ability to dissipate heat when tested under

controlled conditions on a specified indoor

laboratory test wheel. Sustained high

temperature can cause the material of the tire

to degenerate and reduce tire life, and

excessive temperature can lead to sudden

tire failure. The grade Ccorresponds to a level

of performance which all passenger car tires

must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A

represent higher levels of performance on the

laboratory test wheel than the minimum

required by law.

Tire labeling

Overview of tire labeling

The following markings are on the tire in

addition to the tire name (sales designation)

and the manufacturer's name:

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standard

(Y page 331)

;

DOT, Tire Identification Number

(Y page 330)

Maximum tire load (Y page 325)

Maximum tire pressure (Y page 316)

Manufacturer

Tire material (Y page 331)

Tire size designation, load-bearing

capacity and speed index (Y page 328)

Load index (Y page 330)

Tire name

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may

deviate from the data in the example.

Tire labeling

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Wheels and tires

Tire size designation,load-bearing

capacity and speed rating

Tire width

;

Nominal aspectratio in %

Tire code

Rim diameter

Load bearing index

Speed rating

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may

deviate from the data in the example.

General: depending on the manufacturer's

standards, the size imprinted in the tire wall

may not contain any letters or may contain

one letterthat precedes the size description.

If there is no letter preceding the size

description (as shown above): these are

passenger vehicle tires according to

European manufacturing standards.

If "P" precedes the size description: these are

passenger vehicle tires according to U.S.

manufacturing standards.

If "LT" precedes the size description: these

are light truck tires according to U.S.

manufacturing standards.

If "T" precedes the size description: these are

compact emergency spare wheels at high tire

pressure, to be used only temporarily in an

emergency.

Tire width: tire width : shows the nominal

tire width in millimeters.

Height-width ratio: aspect ratio ; is the

size ratio between the tire height and tire

width and is shown in percent.The aspect

ratio is calculated by dividing the tire width by

the tire height.

Tire code: tire code = specifies the tire type.

"R" represents radial tires; "D" represents

diagonal tires; "B" represents diagonal radial

tires.

Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of

over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR" in

the size description, depending on the

manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).

Rim diameter: rim diameter ? is the

diameter of the bead seat, not the diameter

of the rim flange. The rim diameter is

specified in inches (in).

Load-bearing index: load-bearing index A

is a numerical code that specifies the

maximum load-bearing capacity of a tire.

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the

specified load limit. The maximum

permissible load can be found on the

vehicle's Tire and Loading Information

placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side

(Y page 321).

Example:

Load-bearing index 91 indicates a maximum

load of 1,356 lb (615 kg) that the tires can

bear. For further information on the maximum

tire load in kilograms and lbs, see

(Y page 325).

For further information on the load bearing

index, see "Load index" (Y page 330).

Speed rating: speed rating B specifies the

approved maximum speed of the tire.

WARNING

Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing

capacity 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.

Regardless of the speed rating, always

observe the speed limits. Drive carefully and

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Tire labeling

Wheels and tires

adapt your driving style to the traffic

conditions.

Summer tires

Index Speed rating

Q up to 100 mph (160 km/h)

R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)

S up to 112 mph (180 km/h)

T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)

H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)

V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)

W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)

Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)

ZR...Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)

ZR...(..Y) over 186 mph (300 km/h)

ZR over 149 mph (240 km/h)

Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of

over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR"

in the size description, depending on the

manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR18).

The service specificationis made up of

load-bearing index A and speed rating

If the size description of your tire includes

"ZR" and there are no service

specifications, ask the tire manufacturer in

order to find out the maximum speed.

If a service specification is available, the

maximum speed is limited according to the

speed rating in the service specification.

Example: 245/40 ZR 18 97 Y. In this

example, "97 Y" is the service specification.

The letter "Y" represents the speed rating.

The maximum speed of the tire is limited to

186 mph (300 km/h).

The size descriptionfor all tires with

maximum speeds of over 186 mph

(300 km/h) must include "ZR", and the

service specification must be given in

parentheses. Example:

275/40 ZR 18 (99 Y). Speed rating "(Y)"

indicates that the maximum speed of the

tire is over 186 mph (300 km/h). Ask the

tire manufacturer about the maximum

speed.

All-weather tires and winter tires

Index Speed rating

Q M+S

up to 100 mph (160 km/h)

T M+S

up to 118 mph (190 km/h)

H M+S

up to 130 mph (210 km/h)

V M+S

up to 149 mph (240 km/h)

Not all tires with the M+S marking provide

the driving characteristics of winter tires.

In addition to the M+S marking, winter tires

also have the i snowflake symbol on

the tire wall. Tires with this marking fulfill

the requirements of the Rubber

Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the

Rubber Association of Canada (RAC)

regarding snow traction, and were specially

developed for driving on snow.

An electronic speed limiter prevents your

vehicle from exceeding the following speeds:

all vehicles (except AMG vehicles):

130 mph (210 km/h)

AMG vehicles: 155 mph (250 km/h)

AMG vehicles with increased top speed:

174 mph (280 km/h)

The speed rating of tires mounted at the

factory may be higher than the maximum

speed that the electronic speed limiter

permits.

Make sure that your tires have the required

speed rating for your vehicle as specified in

the "tires" section (Y page 338), e.g. if you

buy new tires.

Or M+Si for winter tires.

Tire labeling

329

Wheels and tires

Further information aboutreading tire data

can be obtained from any qualified specialist

workshop.

Load index

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may

deviate from the data in the example.

In addition to the load-bearing index, load

index : may be imprinted after the letters

that identify speed rating B(Y page 328) on

the sidewall of the tire.

If no specification is given: no text(as in the

example above), represents astandard

load (SL) tire

XL or Extra Load: represents a reinforced

tire

LightLoad: represents a light load tire

C, D, E: represents a load range that

depends on the maximum load that the tire

can carry at a certain pressure

DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)

U.S. tire regulations prescribe that every

manufacturer of new tires or retreader has to

imprint a TIN in or on the sidewall of each tire

produced.

The TIN is a unique identification number. The

TIN enables tire manufacturers to inform

purchasers of recalls and other safety-

relevant matters. It makes it possible for the

purchaser to easily identify the affected tires.

The TIN is made up of manufacturer

identification code ;, tire size =, tire type

code ? and manufacturing date A.

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may

deviate from the data in the example.

DOT (Department of Transportation): tire

symbol : indicates that the tire complies

with the requirements of the U.S. Department

of Transportation.

Manufacturer identification code:

manufacturer identification code ; provides

details on the tire manufacturer. New tires

have a code with two symbols. Retreaded

tires have a code with four symbols.

For further information about retreaded tires,

see (Y page 310).

Tire size: identifier = describes the tire size.

Tire type code: tire type code ? can be used

by the manufacturer as acode to describe

specific characteristics of the tire.

Date of manufacture: date of manufacture

A provides information about the age of a

tire. The first and second positions represent

the week of manufacture, starting with "01"

for the first calendar week. Positions three

and four represent the year of manufacture.

For example, a tire that is marked with

"3208", was manufactured in week 32 in

2008.

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Tire labeling

Wheels and tires

Wheels and tires -> Tire labeling for Your Mercedes C Class 4 Door Second Generation (2007-2013)

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