traction control MERCEDES-BENZ SLK-Class 2001 R170 User Guide

173 Driving systems
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data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Note:
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. This may cause
serious damage to the drive train which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The ESP warning lamp, located in the speedometer dial,
starts to f lash at any vehicle speed as soon as the tires
lose traction and the wheels begin to spin.
To return to the enhanced vehicle stability offered by
ESP: press lower half of the switch (the ESP warning
lamp in the speedometer dial goes out).Important!
If the ESP warning lamp flashes:
•during take-off, apply as little throttle as possible,
•while driving, ease up on the accelerator.
Wa r n i n g !
ESP should not be switched off during normal
driving other than in circumstances described
above. Disabling of the system will reduce vehicle
stability in standard driving maneuvers.

258 Consumer information
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Consumer information
This has been prepared as required of all manufactures
of passenger cars under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal
Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic
and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.
Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
All passenger vehicle tires must conform to federal
safety requirements in addition to these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
(1
1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Tread wear 200 Traction AA Temperature A

259 Consumer information
Te ch n ica l
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The traction grades, from highest to lowest are “AA”,
“A”, “B”, and “C”. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked “C” may
have poor traction performance.Te mp e r a t u r e
The temperature grades are “A” (the highest), “B”, and
“C”, representing the tire‘s resistance to the generation
of heat 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 “C” corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger vehicle 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.
Wa r n i n g !
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straightahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
Wa r n i n g !
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.

268 Index
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Tire traction ............................................................... 159
Winter driving instructions .................................... 160
Tow-away alarm ................................................................ 37
Towing the vehicle ......................................................... 214
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking .................................................. 217
Traveling abroad ............................................................ 162
Trip Odometer .................................................................. 74
Trunk ................................................................................. 33
Separately locked ........................................................ 33
Trunk lid
Emergency release ..................................................... 35
Release switch ............................................................. 33
Turn signal failure ........................................................... 81
Turn signals ...................................................................... 81
VVanity Mirror ................................................................... 111
Vehicle jack ..................................................................... 197
Vehicle tools .................................................................... 196
WWarranty Coverage ....................................................... 242
Washing the vehicle ..................................................... 236
What you should know at the gas station .................. 174
Wheels ............................................................................. 198
Changing ................................................................... 202
Light alloy wheels .................................................... 238
Rims and tires .......................................................... 249
Rotating ...................................................................... 199
Spare wheel ............................................................... 200
Where to find it ................................................................ 11
Wind screen ....................................................................125
Windshield and headlamp washer system ................ 195
Low fluid level warning lamp .................................. 183
Winter driving ................................................................ 161
Winter driving instructions .......................................... 160
Wiper blade
Replacing insert ........................................................231