warning SMART FORTWO COUPE 2015 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: SMART, Model Year: 2015, Model line: FORTWO COUPE, Model: SMART FORTWO COUPE 2015Pages: 222, PDF Size: 5.02 MB
Page 139 of 222
For more information on tire load rating
(Y page 140).
For information on calculating total and
cargo load capacities (Y page 134).Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning per-
formance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning)
of the tire. Tire care and maintenance
G
WARNING
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam- aged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Check the tire inflation pressure at least
once a month. For more information on
checking tire inflation pressure, see
“Recommended tire inflation pressure”
(Y page 128).
Tire inspection Every time you check the tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following
R excessive treadwear (Y page 137)
R cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber
R bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above conditions. Life of tire G
WARNING
Tires should be replaced after 6 years,
regardless of the remaining tread.
The service life of a tire is dependent upon varying factors including but not limited
to
R driving style
R tire inflation pressure
R distance driven
Tread depth G
WARNING
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not allow 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 var- ies widely.
Do not allow your tires to wear down too far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths of less than
1 / 8 in (3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires 1
/ 8 in (3 mm)
Winter tires 1
/ 6 in (4 mm) Tires and wheels
137>> Operation. Z
Page 140 of 222
Treadwear indicator
:appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Storing tires !
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact with oil, grease and fuels.
Cleaning tires !
Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire. Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a U.S.
Government requirement designed to give
drivers consistent and reliable informa-
tion regarding tire performance. Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: tread- wear
:, traction ;, and temperature
resistance =. Although not a Government
of Canada requirement, all tires made for
sale in North America have these grades
branded on the sidewall.
i For illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
Quality grades can be found, where appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example: Treadwear Traction Temperature
200 AA A
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified U.S. 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 hab-
its, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction G
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics. 138
Tires and wheels>> Operation.
Page 141 of 222
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent 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 perform-
ance.
Temperature G
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause excessive heat build-up and pos- sible tire failure.
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability todissipate heat when tested under control-
led conditions on a specified indoor lab-
oratory test wheel. Sustained high temper- ature 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
car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of perform-
ance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law. Rotating tires
G
WARNING
Do not rotate front and rear wheels as they
have different dimensions, e.g. rim size,
wheel offset etc. Otherwise, the handling
can be affected and you could endanger
yourself and others. Thoroughly clean the mounting face of the
wheels and brake discs, i.e. the inner side of the wheels/tires each time the wheels/
tires are changed. Check for and ensure
proper tire inflation pressure. G
WARNING
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
81 lb‑ft (110 Nm).
Only use genuine smart wheel bolts speci-
fied for your vehicle’s rims.
For information on wheel change, see “Flat
tire” (Y page 187). Tire labeling
Besides tire name (sales designation) and
manufacturer name, a number of markings
can be found on a tire.
Following are some explanations for the
markings on your vehicle’s tires: :
Uniform Quality Grading Standards
(Ypage 138)
; DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
(Ypage 142)
= Maximum tire load (Y page 136)
? Maximum tire inflation pressure
(Ypage 133) Tires and wheels
139>> Operation. Z
Page 142 of 222
A
Manufacturer
B Tire ply material (Y page 143)
C Tire size designation, load and speed
rating (Y page 140)
D Load identification (Y page 142)
E Tire name
i For illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
For more information, see “Rims and
tires” (Y page 216).
Tire size designation, load and speed
rating :
Tire width
; Aspect ratio in %
= Radial tire code
? Rim diameter
A Tire load rating
B Tire speed rating
i For information purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
General:
Depending on the design standards used,
the tire size molded into the sidewall may
have no letter or a letter preceding the tire
size designation.
No letter preceding the size designation
(as illustrated above): Passenger car tire
based on European design standards. Letter “P” preceding the size designation:
Passenger car tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “LT” preceding the size designa-
tion: Light Truck tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “T” preceding the size designation: Temporary spare tires which are high pres-
sure compact spares designed for tempo-
rary emergency use only.
Tire width
Tire width :indicates the nominal tire
width in mm.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio ;is the dimensional rela-
tionship between tire section height and
section width and is expressed as a per-
centage. The aspect ratio is arrived at by
dividing section height by section width.
Tire code
Tire code =indicates the tire construc-
tion type. The “R” stands for radial tire
type. Letter “D” means diagonal or bias ply
construction; letter “B” means belted-bias
ply construction.
At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire
with a speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size
designation (for example: 245/40 ZR 18).
For additional information, see “Tire
speed rating” (Y page 141).
Rim diameter
Rim diameter ?is the diameter of the
bead seat, not the diameter of the rim edge. Rim diameter is indicated in inches (in).
Tire load rating G
WARNING
The tire load rating must always be at least
half of the GAWR of your vehicle. Otherwise, tire failure may result and cause an acci-
dent and/or serious personal injury to you
or others. 140
Tires and wheels>> Operation.
Page 143 of 222
Always replace rims and tires with the same
designation, manufacturer and type as
shown on the original part. G
WARNING
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the
Tire and Loading Information placard on
the driver’s door B‑pillar. Overloading the tires can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also
result in handling or steering problems, or brake failure.
Tire load rating Ais a numerical code
associated with the maximum load a tire
can support.
For example, a load rating of 91 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 1356 lbs
(615 kg) the tire is designed to support.
See also “Maximum tire load” (Y page 136)
where the maximum load associated with
the load index is indicated in kilograms
and lbs.
For additional information on tire load
rating, see “Load identification”
(Y page 142).
Tire speed rating G
WARNING
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury and possible death, for you and for others.
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to prevailing
conditions.
Tire speed rating Bindicates the
approved maximum speed for the tire. 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 above 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR...(Y) above 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR above 149 mph (240 km/h)
R
At the tire manufacturer’s option, any
tire with a speed capability above
149 mph (240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in
the size designation (for example:
245/40 ZR18). To determine the maximum
speed capability of the tire, the service description for the tire must be referred to.
The service description is comprised of
tire load rating Aand tire speed rating
B.
If your tire includes “ZR” in the size
designation and no service description
is given, the tire manufacturer must be
consulted for the maximum speed capa-
bility.
If a service description is given, the
speed capability is limited by the speed
symbol in the service description.
Example: 245/40 ZR18 97Y.
In this example, “97Y” is the service
description. The letter “Y” designates
the speed rating and the speed capabil- Tires and wheels
141>> Operation. Z
Page 148 of 222
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 trac-
tion, temperature and treadwear. Ratings
are determined by tire manufacturers
using U.S. government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into the sidewall of the tire.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire Load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two. Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your vehi- cle winterized at an authorized electric
drive smart center.
This service includes:
R Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.
R Addition of washer concentrate to the
water of the windshield/rear window.
Use a windshield washer concentrate
labeled for winter which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(Y page 218).
R 12 V battery test. The capacity of the
12 V battery test drops with decreasing
ambient temperature.
R Tire change. Winter tires
G
WARNING
Winter tires with a tread depth of less than 1 / 6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45 ¦(7¥) and whenever wintry road
conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflake marking ion the tire side-
wall. These tires meet specific snow trac-
tion performance requirements of the Rub- ber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and
the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and
have been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the only way to achieve the maximum effective-
ness of the ABS and ESP ®
in winter opera-
tion.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.
For information on winter tires for your
vehicle model, see the "Technical data"
section (Y page 216).
Always observe the speed rating of the win-
ter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your
vehicle, you must place a notice to this
effect where it will be seen by the driver.
Such notices are available at your tire
dealer or any authorized electric drive
smart center. Snow chains*
! Remember that snow chains must always
be compatible with the tire sizes of a
vehicle. Snow chains that are approved
by smart are only permitted for the fol-
lowing tire size:
175/55 R15 on the rear axle. 146
Winter driving>> Operation.
* optional
Page 149 of 222
For safety reasons, smart recommends
that you only use snow chains that have
been approved by smart.
Information on this is available from any
smart center.
Please refer to the separate operating
instructions for detailed information on mounting the snow chains.
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains: R Using snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(Y page 216).
R Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.
R Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before mounting
snow chains. G
WARNING
When mounting or removing snow chains,
always park your vehicle on level ground,
engage the parking brake, and switch off
the drive system. The vehicle could other-
wise move and injure yourself or other road users. G
WARNING
When mounting and removing snow chains,
ensure that you and your vehicle are at a
safe distance from moving traffic. Not
doing so could endanger other road users or even lead to you being injured by the vehi-cles behind you. G
WARNING
The vehicle’s handling changes when driv-
ing with snow chains on any kind of road
surface. This means that you should always adapt your driving style to suit the current
road and weather conditions.
! If snow chains that do not meet require-
ments are mounted, they may scrape
against the body or axle components when the vehicle is in motion. This could
result in damage to the rim/tire or vehi-
cle. Driving instructions
Drinking and driving
G
WARNING
Do not drink alcohol or take drugs and drive or allow anyone to drive who has been
drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Even a
small amount of alcohol or drugs can affect
your reflexes, perceptions and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you
drink or take drugs and drive. Pedals
G
WARNING
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats* or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the ped- als still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrictyour ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury. Power assistance
G
WARNING
With the drive system inactive, there is no power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to Driving instructions
147>> Operation.
* optional Z
Page 150 of 222
keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle. Adapt your driving
accordingly. Brakes
G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out braking maneu-
vers.
Refer to the description of the hydraulic
brake assistant (Y page 47).
! Because the ESP ®
operates automati-
cally, the ignition must be switched off
when the parking brake is being tested
on a brake test dynamometer. Active
braking action through the ESP ®
may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake sys-
tem which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the brake system may be the reason for low brake fluid level
in the brake fluid reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake warn- ing lamp in the instrument cluster comes on
(Y page 23) although the parking brake is
released.
Have the brake system inspected immedi-
ately. Contact an authorized electric drive
smart center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
electric drive smart center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by smart. Inclines G
WARNING
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheat-
ing, thereby significantly reducing their
effectiveness and your ability to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci- dent.
Please observe the following guidelines to
avoid that the permitted maximum speed is
exceeded when driving on downhill grades:
R Do not move the gear selector lever to N.
R Recuperation is limited, if:
- the high-voltage battery is fully
charged or too cold
- the power electronics or the electric
motor is overheated.
When driving down long and steep grades, do not depress the brake pedal perma-
nently. Depress it in intervals instead to
reduce the vehicle speed.
High and low stresses After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
If your brake system is normally only sub-
jected to moderate loads, you should occa- sionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers. 148
Driving instructions>> Operation.
Page 151 of 222
Wet road surface
G
WARNING
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through
water deep enough to wet brake components, the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking
effect. Maintain a safe distance from vehi-
cles in front.
To help prevent brake disc corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Limited braking effect on salted roads Remember that the effect of the brakes can
be limited on salted road surfaces. A layer of salt can form on brake discs and brake
pads, considerably reducing the friction
between the brake disc and the brake pad.
The effect is most noticeable after long
trips without braking, e.g. on the highway, and after the vehicle has been parked for
several hours. G
WARNING
The accumulation of salt on brake discs and brake pads reduces braking effectiveness
and increases the distance necessary to
come to a complete standstill. This could
potentially cause an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.
To avoid this risk, you should
R brake carefully every now and then on
salted roads in order to remove any layer
of salt on the brake disc and brake pad, but do so without endangering any other
road users
R keep a good safe distance from the vehi-
cle in front and drive carefully
R press the brake carefully at the end of the
trip and again when beginning the next
trip in order to remove any salt residues
from the brake disc
New brake pads Only install brake pads recommended by
smart. G
WARNING
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired.
This could result in an accident. G
WARNING
New brake pads will not achieve their opti- mal braking effect until after several hun- dred miles (kilometers). This means that
you must compensate for the reduced brak-
ing effect by pressing harder on the brake
pedal and adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. The same applies after brake pads or
brake discs have been changed. Drive sensibly - save energy
Energy consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save energy you should: R Drive carefully and maintain a suitable
distance from the vehicle in front.
R Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
R Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
R Remove carriers* when not in use. Driving instructions
149>> Operation.
* optional Z
Page 152 of 222
R
Remove unnecessary loads.
R Have all maintenance work performed at
the intervals specified in the Mainte-
nance Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance System. Contact an author-
ized electric drive smart center.
Energy consumption is also increased by
driving in stop-and-go traffic, on short
trips, and in hilly areas. Tires
G
WARNING
If you feel a sudden significant vibration
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that
possible damage to your vehicle has occur- red, you should turn on the hazard warning
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive
with caution to an area which is a safe dis-
tance from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to the nearest smart center or tire dealer for
repairs.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread. G
WARNING
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not allow 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 var- ies widely.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be maintained. This applies particularly if
the tires are subject to high loads (e.g.
high speeds, heavy loads, high ambient
temperatures). G
WARNING
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire will affect your ability to steer or brake and maycause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire or driv-
ing at high speed with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a
fire.
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (Y page 127). Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur
resulting in a loss of control, even at low
speeds and with new tires. Reduce vehicle
speed, avoid track grooves in the road and
apply brakes cautiously when it is raining. 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. G
WARNING
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
smart recommends winter tires (Y page 146)
with a minimum tread depth of approx- 150
Driving instructions>> Operation.