Pay special attention to the country-spe-
cific requirements for tyre approval.
These requirements can stipulate a spe-
cific tyre type for your vehicle. Further-
more, the use of certain tyre types in cer-
tain regions
and areas of operation can be
highly beneficial. You can find further
information regarding tyres at specialist
tyre retailers, at qualified specialist
workshops or at any smart centre.
R
Only fit tyres and wheels of the same type
and make.
Exception: it is permissible to fit a dif-
ferent type or make in the event of a flat
tyre.
R
Only fit tyres of the correct size onto the
wheels.
R
Run in new tyres at moderate speeds for
the first 100 km. They only reach their
full performance after this distance.
R
Do not drive with tyres which have too
little tread depth. This otherwise sig-
nificantly reduces the traction on wet
roads (aquaplaning).
R
Replace the tyres after six years at the
latest, regardless of wear.
Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a
qualified
specialist
workshop at the onset
of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section (Y page 255).
Driving with summer tyres
At temperatures below
+7
†, summer tyres
lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tyres on your
vehicle to M+S tyres. Using summer tyres at
very cold temperatures could cause tears to
form, thereby damaging the tyres perma-
nently. smart cannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage.
G
WARNING
Damaged tyres can cause tyre inflation
pressure loss. As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle. There is a risk of
accident.
Check
the
tyres regularly for signs of dam-
age and replace any damaged tyres imme-
diately.
M+S tyres
G
WARNING
M+S tyres with a tyre tread depth of less
than
4
mm are not suitable for use in winter
as they do not provide sufficient traction.
There is a risk of accident.
M+S tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced.
At temperatures below +7 † use winter
tyres marked with M+S.
Only winter tyres bearing the i snow-
flake symbol in addition to the M+S mark-
ing provide the best possible grip in win-
try road conditions. Only these tyres will
allow driving safety systems such as ABS
and ESP
®
to function optimally in winter.
These tyres have been developed specifi-
cally for driving in snow.
Use M+S tyres of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tyres you have
fitted. Therefore, only use tyre types and
sizes approved for smart. Observe the tyre
load rating and speed rating required for
smart.
Tyres with a specified direction of rota-
tion have additional benefits, e.g. if there
is a risk of aquaplaning. These advantages
can only be gained if the tyres are fitted
250
Winter operation
>> Wheels and tyres.