load capacity MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS 2007 User Guide

528 OperationTires and wheelsconcerning tires and gives purchases the
means to easily identify such tires. The TIN
is comprised of “Manufacturer’s identifica-
tion mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type code”
and “Date of manufacture”.
Tire load rating
Numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
Tire ply composition and material used
This indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufac-
turers also must indicate the ply materials
in the tire and sidewall, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the road
via the tires. The amount of grip provided.
Tread
The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called
“wear bars” that show across the tread of
a tire when only
1/16
in (1.6 mm) of tread
remains.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The
ratings are molded into the sidewall of the
tire.Vehicle capacity weight
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s
designated seating capacity.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two.

678 Technical termsTightening torque
Force times lever arm (e.g. a lug
wrench) with which threaded fasteners
such as wheel bolts are tightened.
TIN
(T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
(
page 527)
Tire load rating
(page 528)
Tire ply composition and material used
(page 528)
Tire speed rating
(page 528)
Traction
(page 528)
Tread
(page 528)
Treadwear indicators
(page 528)UDF
(U
niversal D
isc F
ormat)
A universal file system for optical me-
dia allowing an operating system to
read, write and modify data stored on
optical media that was created by an-
other operating system.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
(
page 528)
Uphill driving assistant
While you are driving up a hill, this sys-
tem holds the vehicle in place for ap-
prox. one second after you have taken
your foot off the brake pedal.
Vehicle capacity weight
(page 528)
Vehicle level control
The ground clearance of the vehicle is
automatically controlled according to a
selected setting and speed. The driver
can choose manually within a range of
ground clearance, for example on very
rough roads. Vehicle maximum load on the tire
(
page 528)
VIN
(Vehicle I
dentification N
umber)
The number set by the manufacturer
and stamped on the body to uniquely
identify each vehicle produced.
Voice Control*
Voice control system for car phones,
portable cell phones and audio sys-
tems (radio, CD, etc.).