Brakes - Vehicle Stopping Distances
TO: OUR MERCEDES-BENZ PASSENGER CARSDate: July 1993
Ref. No. MBNA 42/14
Subject:
MODEL YEAR 1994
VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES
Included with this S.I. is an illustrated copy of the Model Year 1994 Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Stopping Distance consumer information sheet.
U.S. Federal regulations require that a copy of this consumer information must be made available free of charge to any prospective customer who requests it in person or by mail.
In order to provide sufficient copies for your dealership, use the illustration for printing additional copies.
Please advise your Sales Department of the availability of this information.
Mercedes-Benz Model Year 1994
VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE
These figures indicate braking performance that can be met or exceeded by the vehicles to which it applies, under different conditions of loading and with partial failure of the braking system. The information depicted represents the results obtained by skilled drivers under controlled road and vehicle conditions. The information may not be correct under other conditions.
Explanation of Uniform Tire Quality Grading
All passenger car tires must conform to federal safety requirements in addition to these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating cased 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.
Traction "A", "B", "C"
The traction grades, from the highest to the lowest, are "A", "B" and "C", and may 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.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to the tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature "A", "S", "C"
The temperature grades, from the highest to the lowest, are "A", "B" and "C", and they represent 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 lean to sudden tire failure, The grade "C" corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger tires must meet under 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.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for the tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-inflation or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Consumer Information
This information has been prepared for consumers as required of all manufacturers 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."