Mercedes Benz 2004 ml 500 Manuale Utente

Pagina di 344
197
Operation
Driving instructions
The tread wear indicator appears as a solid 
band across the tread.
Specified tire pressures must be main-
tained. This applies particularly if the tires 
are subjected to high loads (e.g. high 
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water on 
the road, hydroplaning may occur even at 
low speeds and with new tires. Reduce ve-
hicle speed, avoid track grooves in the 
road and apply brakes cautiously in the 
rain.
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.
Mercedes-Benz recommends M+S rated 
radial-ply tires with a minimum tread depth 
of approximately 
1
/
6
in (4 mm) on all four 
wheels for the winter season to ensure 
normal balanced handling characteristics. 
On packed snow, they can reduce your 
stopping distance as compared with sum-
mer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not 
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor vehi-
cle safety laws consider a tire to be worn 
when the tread wear indicators (TWI) be-
come visible at approximately 
1
/
16
in 
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not al-
low 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 varies 
widely.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects 
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You 
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued 
driving with a flat tire or driving at high 
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive 
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!
G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction 
will be substantially reduced. Under such 
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake 
with extreme caution.