Mersedes Maybach S-Class. Service Manual — part 24

the information on display messages

(

Y

page 306).

It may take up to ten minutes for a malfunction

of the tire pressure monitor to be indicated. A

malfunction will be indicated by the tire pres-

sure warning lamp flashing for approximately

one minute and then remaining lit. When the

malfunction has been rectified, the tire pressure

warning lamp goes out after a few minutes of

driving.

The tire pressure values indicated by the on-

board computer may differ from those meas-

ured at a gas station with a pressure gauge. The

tire pressures shown by the on-board computer

refer to those measured at sea level. At high

altitudes, the tire pressure values indicated by a

pressure gauge are higher than those shown by

the on-board computer. In this case, do not

reduce the tire pressures.

The operation of the tire pressure monitor can

be affected by interference from radio transmit-

ting equipment (e.g. radio headphones, two-way

radios) that may be being operated in or near the

vehicle.

Checking the tire pressure electroni-

cally

X

Make sure that the SmartKey is in position 2

in the ignition lock (

Y

page 162).

X

Use ò on the steering wheel to call up the

list of menus.

X

Press 9 or : on the steering wheel to

select the

Service

menu.

X

Press the a button.

X

Press 9 or : to select

Tire Pres‐

sure

.

X

Press the a button.

The current tire pressure of each tire is shown

in the multifunction display.

If the vehicle was parked for longer than

20 minutes, the following message appears:

Tire pressure will be displayed after

driving a few minutes

.

After a teach-in process, the tire pressure mon-

itor automatically detects new wheels or new

sensors. As long as a clear allocation of the tire

pressure value to the individual wheels is not

possible, the

Tire Pressure Monitor Active

message is shown instead of the tire pressure

display. The tire pressures are already being

monitored.

Tire pressure monitor warning mes-

sages

If the tire pressure monitor detects a pressure

loss in one or more tires, a warning message is

shown in the multifunction display. The yellow

tire pressure warning lamp then lights up.

R

If the

Please Correct Tire Pressure

message appears in the multifunction display,

the tire pressure in at least one tire is too low.

The tire pressure must be corrected when the

opportunity arises.

R

If the

Check Tires

message appears in the

multifunction display, the tire pressure in at

least one tire has dropped significantly. The

tires must be checked.

R

If the

Warning Tire Malfunction

message

appears in the multifunction display, the tire

pressure in at least one tire has dropped sud-

denly. The tires must be checked.

Observe the instructions and safety notes in the

display messages in the "Tires" section

(

Y

page 306).

If the wheel positions on the vehicle are rotated,

the tire pressures may be displayed for the

wrong positions for a short time. This is rectified

after a few minutes of driving, and the tire pres-

sures are displayed for the correct positions.

Restarting the tire pressure monitor

When you restart the tire pressure monitor, all

existing warning messages are deleted and the

warning lamps go out. The monitor uses the cur-

rently set tire pressures as the reference values

for monitoring. In most cases, the tire pressure

monitor will automatically detect the new refer-

ence values after you have changed the tire

pressure. However, you can also define refer-

ence values manually as described here. The tire

pressure monitor then monitors the new tire

pressure values.

X

Set the tire pressure to the value recommen-

ded for the corresponding driving situation on

the Tire and Loading Information placard on

the driver's side B-pillar (

Y

page 387).

You can find more tire pressure values for

various operating conditions in the tire pres-

sure table inside the fuel filler flap

(

Y

page 387).

X

Make sure that the tire pressure is correct on

all four wheels.

392

Tire pressure

Whee

ls

an

d

tires

X

Make sure that the SmartKey is in position 2

in the ignition lock.

X

Use ò on the steering wheel to call up the

list of menus.

X

Press 9 or : on the steering wheel to

select the

Service

menu.

X

Press the a button.

X

Press 9 or : to select

Tire Pres‐

sure

.

X

Press the a button.

The current tire pressure for each wheel or

the

Tire pressure will be displayed

after driving a few minutes

message

will be displayed in the multifunction display.

X

Press the : button.

The

Use Current Pressures as New Ref‐

erence Values

message appears in the mul-

tifunction display.

If you wish to confirm the restart:

X

Press the a button.

The

Tire Press. Monitor Restarted

mes-

sage appears in the multifunction display.

After driving for a few minutes, the system

checks whether the current tire pressures are

within the specified range. The new tire pres-

sures are then accepted as reference values

and monitored.

If you wish to cancel the restart:

X

Press the % button.

The tire pressure values stored at the last

restart will continue to be monitored.

Radio type approval for the tire pres-

sure monitor

Country

Radio type approval number

USA

FCC ID: MRXMW2433A

FCC ID: MRXGG4

FCC ID: MRXMC34MA4

Canada

IC: 2546A-MW2433A

IC: 2546A-GG4

IC: 2546A-MC34MA4

Tire pressure loss warning system

(Canada only)

General notes

While the vehicle is in motion, the tire pressure

loss warning system monitors the set tire pres-

sure using the rotational speed of the wheels.

This enables the system to detect significant

pressure loss in a tire. If the speed of rotation of

a wheel changes as a result of a loss of pressure,

a corresponding warning message will appear in

the multifunction display.

You can recognize the tire pressure loss warning

by the

Run Flat Indicator Active Press

'OK' to Restart

message which appears in

the

Service

menu of the multifunction display.

Information on the message display can be

found in the "Restarting the tire pressure loss

warning system" section (

Y

page 394).

Important safety notes

The tire pressure warning system does not warn

you of an incorrectly set tire pressure. Observe

the notes on the recommended tire pressure

(

Y

page 387).

The tire pressure loss warning does not replace

the need to regularly check the tire pressure. An

even loss of pressure on several tires at the

same time cannot be detected by the tire pres-

sure loss warning system.

The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn you

of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the tire is

penetrated by a foreign object. In the event of a

sudden loss of pressure, bring the vehicle to a

halt by braking carefully. Avoid abrupt steering

movements.

The function of the tire pressure loss warning

system is limited or delayed if:

R

snow chains are mounted on your vehicle's

tires.

R

road conditions are wintry.

R

you are driving on sand or gravel.

R

you adopt a very sporty driving style (corner-

ing at high speeds or driving with high rates of

acceleration).

R

you are driving with a heavy load (in the vehi-

cle or on the roof).

Tire pressure

393

Wheels

and

tires

Z

Restarting the tire pressure loss warn-

ing system

Restart the tire pressure loss warning system if

you have:

R

changed the tire pressure

R

changed the wheels or tires

R

mounted new wheels or tires

X

Before restarting, make sure that the tire

pressures are set properly on all four tires for

the respective operating conditions.

The recommended tire pressure can be found

on the Tire and Loading Information placard

on the B-pillar on the driver's side. Addition-

ally, a tire pressure table is attached to the

fuel filler flap. The tire pressure loss warning

system can only give reliable warnings if you

have set the correct tire pressure. If an incor-

rect tire pressure is set, these incorrect val-

ues will be monitored.

X

Also observe the notes in the section on tire

pressures (

Y

page 387).

X

Make sure that the SmartKey is in position 2

in the ignition lock (

Y

page 162).

X

Use ò on the steering wheel to call up the

list of menus.

X

Press 9 or : on the steering wheel to

select the

Service

menu.

X

Press the a button.

X

Press 9 or : to select

Tire Pres‐

sure

.

X

Press the a button.

The

Run Flat Indicator ActivePress

'OK' to Restart

message appears in the

multifunction display.

If you wish to confirm the restart:

X

Press the a button.

The

Tire Pressure Now OK?

message

appears in the multifunction display.

X

Press 9 or : to select

Yes

.

X

Press the a button.

The

Run Flat Indicator Restarted

mes-

sage appears in the multifunction display.

After a teach-in period, the tire pressure loss

warning system will monitor the set tire pres-

sures of all four tires.

If you wish to cancel the restart:

X

Press the % button.

or

X

If the

Tire Pressure Now OK?

message

appears, select

Cancel

by pressing 9

or :.

X

Press the a button.

The tire pressure values stored at the last

restart will continue to be monitored.

Loading the vehicle

Instruction labels for tires and loads

G

WARNING

Overloaded tires can overheat, causing a

blowout. Overloaded tires can also impair the

steering and driving characteristics and lead

to brake failure. There is a risk of accident.
Observe the load rating of the tires. The load

rating must be at least half of the GAWR of

your vehicle. Never overload the tires by

exceeding the maximum load.

Two instruction labels on your vehicle show the

maximum possible load.
(1) The Tire and Loading Information placard is

on the B-pillar on the driver's side. The Tire

and Loading Information placard shows the

maximum permissible number of occu-

pants and the maximum permissible vehicle

load. It also contains details of the tire sizes

and corresponding pressures for tires

mounted at the factory.

(2) The vehicle identification plate is on the B-

pillar on the driver's side. The vehicle iden-

tification plate informs you of the gross

vehicle weight rating. It is made up of the

vehicle weight, all vehicle occupants, the

fuel and the cargo. You can also find infor-

mation about the maximum gross axle

weight rating on the front and rear axle.

The maximum gross axle weight rating is

the maximum weight that can be carried by

one axle (front or rear axle). Never exceed

the maximum load or the maximum gross

axle weight rating for the front or rear axle.

394

Loading the vehicle

Whee

ls

an

d

tire

s

:

B-pillar, driver's side

Maximum permissible gross vehicle

weight rating

X

Specification for maximum gross vehicle

weight : is listed in the Tire and Loading

Information placard: "The combined weight of

occupants and cargo should never exceed

XXX kilograms or XXX lbs."

The gross weight of all vehicle occupants, load

and luggage must not exceed the specified

value.

i

The specifications shown on the Tire and

Loading Information placard in the illustration

are examples. The maximum permissible

gross vehicle weight rating is vehicle-specific

and may differ from that in the illustration.

You can find the valid maximum permissible

gross vehicle weight rating for your vehicle on

the Tire and Loading Information placard.

Number of seats

Maximum number of seats : indicates the

maximum number of occupants allowed to

travel in the vehicle. This information can be

found on the Tire and Loading Information plac-

ard.

i

The specifications shown on the Tire and

Loading Information placard in the illustration

are examples. The number of seats is vehicle-

specific and can differ from the details shown.

The number of seats in your vehicle can be

found on the Tire and Loading Information

placard.

Determining the correct load limit

Step-by-step instructions

The following steps have been developed as

required of all manufacturers under Title 49,

Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 pur-

suant to the "National Traffic and Motor Vehicle

Safety Act of 1966".

X

Step 1: Locate the statement "The combined

weight of occupants and cargo should never

exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s

Tire and Loading Information placard.

X

Step 2: Determine the combined weight of

the driver and passengers that will be riding in

your vehicle.

X

Step 3: Subtract the combined weight of the

driver and passengers from XXX kilograms or

XXX lbs.

X

Step 4: The resulting figure equals the avail-

able amount of cargo and luggage load capa-

city. For example, if the "XXX" amount equals

1400 lbs and there will be five 150-lb pas-

sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-

Loading the vehicle

395

Whee

ls

an

d

tires

Z

able cargo and luggage load capacity is

650 lbs (1400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).

X

Step 5: Determine the combined weight of

luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehi-

cle. That weight may not safely exceed the

available cargo and luggage load capacity cal-

culated in step 4.

396

Loading the vehicle

Wheels

and

tir

es

Example: steps 1 to 3

The following table shows examples on how to calculate total and cargo load capacities with varying

seating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples use a load limit of

1500 lbs (680 kg). This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you are using the actual load

limit for your vehicle stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Information placard (

Y

page 394).

The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Example 1
Step 1

R

Combined maximum weight of occupants and load (data from the Tire and Loading Information

placard): 1500 lbs (680 kg)

Step 2

R

Number of people in the vehicle (driver and occupants): 5

R

Distribution of the occupants

-

Front: 2

-

Rear: 3

R

Weight of the occupants

-

Occupant 1: 150 lbs (68 kg)

-

Occupant 2: 180 lbs (82 kg)

-

Occupant 3: 160 lbs (73 kg)

-

Occupant 4: 140 lbs (63 kg)

-

Occupant 5: 120 lbs (54 kg)

R

Total weight of all occupants: 750 lbs (340 kg)

Step 3

R

Permissible load (maximum gross vehicle weight rating from the Tire and Loading Information

placard minus the gross weight of all occupants):

1500 lbs (680 kg) Ò 750 lbs (340 kg) = 750 lbs (340 kg)

Example 2
Step 1

R

Combined maximum weight of occupants and load (data from the Tire and Loading Information

placard): 1500 lbs (680 kg)

Step 2

R

Number of people in the vehicle (driver and occupants): 3

R

Distribution of the occupants

-

Front: 1

-

Rear: 2

R

Weight of the occupants

-

Occupant 1: 200 lbs (91 kg)

-

Occupant 2: 190 lbs (86 kg)

-

Occupant 3: 150 lbs (68 kg)

R

Total weight of all occupants: 540 lbs (245 kg)

Step 3

R

Permissible load (maximum gross vehicle weight rating from the Tire and Loading Information

placard minus the gross weight of all occupants):

1500 lbs (680 kg) Ò 540 lbs (245 kg) =960 lbs (435 kg)

Loading the vehicle

397

Wheels

and

tires

Z

Example 3
Step 1

R

Combined maximum weight of occupants and load (data from the Tire and Loading Information

placard): 1500 lbs (680 kg)

Step 2

R

Number of people in the vehicle (driver and occupants): 2

R

Distribution of the occupants:

-

Front: 1

R

Weight of the occupants

-

Occupant 1: 150 lbs (68 kg)

R

Total weight of all occupants: 150 lbs (68 kg)

Step 3

R

Permissible load (maximum gross vehicle weight rating from the Tire and Loading Information

placard minus the gross weight of all occupants):

1500 lbs (680 kg) Ò 150 lbs (68 kg) = 1350 lbs (612 kg)

Vehicle identification plate

Even if you have calculated the total cargo care-

fully, you should still make sure that the gross

vehicle weight rating and the gross axle weight

rating are not exceeded. Details can be found on

the vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on

the driver's side of the vehicle (

Y

page 394).

Permissible Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

(GVWR): the gross weight of the vehicle, all pas-

sengers, load and trailer load/noseweight (if

applicable) must not exceed the permissible

gross vehicle weight.

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): the maxi-

mum permissible weight that can be carried by

one axle (front or rear axle).

To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed the

maximum permissible values (gross vehicle

weight and maximum gross axle weight rating),

have your loaded vehicle (including driver, occu-

pants, cargo, and full trailer load if applicable)

weighed on a suitable vehicle weighbridge.

All about wheels and tires

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-

ards

Overview of Tire Quality Grading Stand-

ards

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are U.S.

government specifications. Their purpose is to

provide drivers with uniform reliable information

on tire performance data. Tire manufacturers

have to grade tires using three performance fac-

tors: : tread wear grade, ; traction grade and

= temperature grade. These regulations do not

apply to Canada. Nevertheless, all tires sold in

North America are provided with the corre-

sponding quality grading markings on the side-

wall of the tire.

Quality grades can be found, where applicable,

on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and

maximum section width.

398

All about wheels and tires

Wheels

and

tir

es

Example:

R

Treadwear grade: 200

R

Traction grade: AA

R

Temperature grade: A

All passenger car tires must conform to the stat-

utory safety requirements in addition to these

grades.

i

The actual values for tires are vehicle-spe-

cific and may deviate from the values in the

illustration.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative rating

based on the wear rate of the tire when tested

under controlled conditions on a specified U.S.

government course. For example, a tire graded

150 would wear one and one-half times as well

on the government test track 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 cli-

mate.

Traction

G

WARNING

The traction grade assigned to this tire is

based on straight-ahead braking traction

tests, and does not include acceleration, cor-

nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction char-

acteristics.

!

Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage to

the drive train.

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 meas-

ured under controlled conditions on specified

government test surfaces of asphalt and con-

crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction

performance.

The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy

road is always lower than on dry road surfaces.

You should pay special attention to road condi-

tions when temperatures are around freezing

point.

Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum tread

depth of ã in (4 mm) on all four winter tires.

Observe the legally required minimum tire tread

depth (

Y

page 385). Winter tires can reduce the

braking distance on snow-covered surfaces in

comparison with summer tires. The braking dis-

tance is still much further than on surfaces that

are not icy or covered with snow. Take appro-

priate care when driving.

Further information on winter tires (M+S tires)

(

Y

page 386).

Temperature

G

WARNING

The temperature grade for this tire is estab-

lished for a tire that is properly inflated and

not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-

tion, or excessive loading, either separately or

in combination, can cause excessive heat

build-up and possible 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 to dissipate

heat when tested under controlled conditions

on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sus-

tained 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 car 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.

All about wheels and tires

399

Whee

ls

an

d

tire

s

Z

Tire labeling

Overview

:

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standard

(

Y

page 403)

;

DOT, Tire Identification Number

(

Y

page 402)

=

Maximum tire load (

Y

page 402)

?

Maximum tire pressure (

Y

page 390)

A

Manufacturer

B

Tire material (

Y

page 403)

C

Tire size designation, load-bearing capacity

and speed rating (

Y

page 400)

D

Load index (

Y

page 402)

E

Tire name

The markings described above are on the tire in

addition to the tire name (sales designation) and

the manufacturer's name.

i

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate

from the data in the example.

Tire size designation, load-bearing

capacity and speed rating

G

WARNING

Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-

city and the approved maximum speed could

lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There

is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes

approved for your vehicle model. Observe the

tire load rating and speed rating required for

your vehicle.

General: depending on the manufacturer's

standards, the size imprinted in the tire wall may

not contain any letters or may contain one letter

that precedes the size description.

If there is no letter preceding the size descrip-

tion (as shown above): these are passenger

vehicle tires according to European manufac-

turing standards.

If "P" precedes the size description: these are

passenger vehicle tires according to U.S. man-

ufacturing standards.

If "LT" precedes the size description: these are

light truck tires according to U.S. manufacturing

standards.

If "T" precedes the size description: compact

emergency wheels with high tire pressure that

are only designed for temporary use in an emer-

gency.

Tire width: tire width : shows the nominal tire

width in millimeters.

Height-width ratio: aspect ratio ; is the size

ratio between the tire height and tire width and

is shown in percent. The aspect ratio is calcula-

ted by dividing the tire width by the tire height.

Tire code: tire code = specifies the tire type.

"R" represents radial tires; "D" represents diag-

onal tires; "B" represents diagonal radial tires.

Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of over

149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR" in the size

description, depending on the manufacturer

(e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).

Rim diameter: rim diameter ? is the diameter

of the bead seat, not the diameter of the rim

flange. The rim diameter is specified in

inches (in).

400

All about wheels and tires

Whee

ls

an

d

tire

s

Load-bearing index: load-bearing index A is a

numerical code that specifies the maximum

load-bearing capacity of a tire.

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the

specified load limit. The maximum permissible

load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and

Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on

the driver's side (

Y

page 394).

Example:

Load-bearing index 91 indicates a maximum

load of 1,356 lb (615 kg) that the tires can bear.

For further information on the maximum tire

load in kilograms and lbs, see (

Y

page 402).

For further information on the load bearing

index, see "Load index" (

Y

page 402).

Speed rating: speed rating B specifies the

approved maximum speed of the tire.

i

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate

from the data in the example.

Regardless of the speed rating, always observe

the speed limits. Drive carefully and adapt your

driving style to the traffic conditions.

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

up to 186 mph (300 km/h)

ZR...(..Y)

over 186 mph (300 km/h)

ZR

over 149 mph (240 km/h)

R

Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of

over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR" in

the size description, depending on the man-

ufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR18).

The service specification is made up of load-

bearing index A and speed rating B.

R

If the size description of your tire includes

"ZR" and there are no service specifications,

ask the tire manufacturer in order to find out

the maximum speed.

If a service specification is available, the max-

imum speed is limited according to the speed

rating in the service specification. Example:

245/40 ZR18 97 Y. In this example, "97 Y" is

the service specification. The letter "Y" rep-

resents the speed rating. The maximum

speed of the tire is limited to 186 mph

(300 km/h).

R

The size description for all tires with maxi-

mum speeds of over 186 mph (300 km/h)

must include "ZR", and the service specifica-

tion must be given in parentheses. Example:

275/40 ZR 18 (99 Y). Speed rating "(Y)" indi-

cates that the maximum speed of the tire is

over 186 mph (300 km/h). Ask the tire man-

ufacturer about the maximum speed.

All-weather tires and winter tires

Index

Speed rating

Q M+S

1

up to 100 mph (160 km/h)

T M+S

1

up to 118 mph (190 km/h)

H M+S

1

up to 130 mph (210 km/h)

V M+S

1

up to 149 mph (240 km/h)

i

Not all tires with the M+S marking provide

the driving characteristics of winter tires. In

addition to the M+S marking, winter tires also

have the i snowflake symbol on the tire

wall. Tires with this marking fulfill the require-

ments of the Rubber Manufacturers Associa-

tion (RMA) and the Rubber Association of

Canada (RAC) regarding the tire traction on

snow. They have been especially developed

for driving on snow.

An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehi-

cle from exceeding a speed of 130 mph

(210 km/h).

The speed rating of tires mounted at the factory

may be higher than the maximum speed that the

electronic speed limiter permits.

Make sure that your tires have the required

speed rating, e.g. when buying new tires. The

1

Or M+S i for winter tires.

All about wheels and tires

401

Wheels

and

tir

es

Z

required speed rating for your vehicle can be

found in the "Tires" section (

Y

page 410).

Further information about reading tire data can

be obtained from any qualified specialist work-

shop.

Load index

In addition to the load-bearing index, load

index : may also be imprinted on the sidewall

of the tire. You will find this after the letter that

identifies the speed rating (

Y

page 400).

R

If no specification is given: no text (as in the

example above), represents a standard load

(SL) tire

R

XL or Extra Load: represents a reinforced tire

R

Light Load: represents a light load tire

R

C, D, E: represents a load range that depends

on the maximum load that the tire can carry at

a certain pressure

i

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate

from the data in the example.

Maximum load rating

Maximum tire load : is the maximum permis-

sible weight for which the tire is approved.

Do not overload the tires by exceeding the

specified load limit. The maximum permissible

load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and

Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on

the driver's side (

Y

page 394).

i

The actual values for tires are vehicle-spe-

cific and may deviate from the values in the

illustration.

DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)

US tire regulations stipulate that every tire man-

ufacturer or retreader must imprint a TIN in or on

the sidewall of each tire produced.

The TIN is a unique identification number. The

TIN enables the tire manufacturers or retreaders

to inform purchasers of recalls and other safety-

relevant matters. It makes it possible for the

purchaser to easily identify the affected tires.

The TIN is made up of manufacturer identifica-

tion code ;, tire size =, tire type code ? and

manufacturing date A.

DOT (Department of Transportation): tire

symbol : marks that the tire complies with the

requirements of the U.S. Department of Trans-

portation.

Manufacturer identification code: manufac-

turer identification code ; provides details on

the tire manufacturer. New tires have a code

with two symbols. Retreaded tires have a code

with four symbols.

For further information about retreaded tires,

see (

Y

page 410).

Tire size: identifier = describes the tire size.
Tire type code: tire type code ? can be used by

the manufacturer as a code to describe specific

characteristics of the tire.

Date of manufacture: date of manufacture A

provides information about the age of a tire. The

first and second positions represent the week of

402

All about wheels and tires

Wheels

and

tire

s

manufacture, starting with "01" for the first cal-

endar week. Positions three and four represent

the year of manufacture. For example, a tire that

is marked with "3208", was manufactured in

week 32 in 2008.

i

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate

from the data in the example.

Tire characteristics

This information describes the type of tire cord

and the number of layers in sidewall : and

under tire tread ;.

i

Tire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate

from the data in the example.

Definition of terms for tires and loading

Tire ply composition and material used

Describes the number of plies or the number of

layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread

and sidewall. These are made of steel, nylon,

polyester and other materials.

Bar

Metric unit for tire pressure. 14.5038 pounds

per square inch (psi) and 100 kilopascals (kPa)

are the equivalent of 1 bar.

DOT (Department of Transportation)

DOT-marked tires fulfill the requirements of the

U S Department of Transportation.

Normal occupant weight

The number of occupants for which the vehicle

is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms (150 lbs).

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards

A uniform standard to grade the quality of tires

with regards to tread quality, tire traction and

temperature characteristics. The quality grad-

ing assessment is made by the manufacturer

following specifications from the U.S. govern-

ment. The ratings are molded into the sidewall of

the tire.

Recommended tire pressures

The recommended tire pressure applies to the

tires mounted at the factory.

The Tire and Loading Information placard con-

tains the recommended tire pressures for cold

tires on a fully loaded vehicle and for the maxi-

mum permissible vehicle speed.

The tire pressure table contains the recommen-

ded pressures for cold tires for various operat-

ing conditions, i.e. differing load and speed con-

ditions.

Increased vehicle weight due to optional

equipment

The combined weight of all standard and

optional equipment available for the vehicle,

regardless of whether it is actually installed on

the vehicle or not.

Rim

This is the part of the wheel on which the tire is

mounted.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)

The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight

rating. The actual load on an axle must never

exceed the gross axle weight rating. The gross

axle weight rating can be found on the vehicle

identification plate on the B-pillar on the driver's

side.

Speed rating

The speed rating is part of the tire identification.

It specifies the speed range for which the tire is

approved.

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)

The gross vehicle weight includes the weight of

the vehicle including fuel, tools, the spare wheel,

accessories installed, occupants, luggage and

the drawbar noseweight, if applicable. The gross

vehicle weight must not exceed the gross vehi-

cle weight rating GVWR as specified on the vehi-

cle identification plate on the B-pillar on the

driver's side.

All about wheels and tires

403

Whe

el

s

and

tires

Z

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

The GVWR is the maximum permissible gross

weight of a fully loaded vehicle (the weight of the

vehicle including all accessories, occupants,

fuel, luggage and the drawbar noseweight, if

applicable). The gross vehicle weight rating is

specified on the vehicle identification plate on

the B-pillar on the driver's side.

Maximum loaded vehicle weight

The maximum weight is the sum of:

R

the curb weight of the vehicle

R

the weight of the accessories

R

the load limit

R

the weight of the factory installed optional

equipment

Kilopascal (kPa)

Metric unit for tire pressure. 6.9 kPa corre-

sponds to 1 psi. Another unit for tire pressure is

bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equivalent of

1 bar.

Load index

In addition to the load-bearing index, the load

index may also be imprinted on the sidewall of

the tire. This specifies the load-bearing capacity

more precisely.

Curb weight

The weight of a vehicle with standard equipment

including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil and

coolant. It also includes the air-conditioning sys-

tem and optional equipment if these are instal-

led in the vehicle, but does not include passen-

gers or luggage.

Maximum load rating

The maximum tire load is the maximum permis-

sible weight in kilograms or lbs for which a tire is

approved.

Maximum permissible tire pressure

Maximum permissible tire pressure for one tire.

Maximum load on one tire

Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated by

dividing the maximum axle load of one axle by

two.

PSI (pounds per square inch)

A standard unit of measure for tire pressure.

Aspect ratio

Relationship between tire height and tire width

in percent.

Tire pressure

This is pressure inside the tire applying an out-

ward force to each square inch of the tire's sur-

face. The tire pressure is specified in pounds per

square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar.

The tire pressure should only be corrected when

the tires are cold.

Cold tire pressure

The tires are cold:

R

if the vehicle has been parked with the tires

out of direct sunlight for at least three hours

and

R

if the vehicle has not been driven further than

1 mile (1.6 km)

Tread

The part of the tire that comes into contact with

the road.

Bead

The tire bead ensures that the tire sits securely

on the wheel. There are several steel wires in the

bead to prevent the tire from coming loose from

the wheel rim.

Sidewall

The part of the tire between the tread and the

bead.

Weight of optional extras

The combined weight of those optional extras

that weigh more than the replaced standard

parts and more than 5 lbs (2.3 kg). These

optional extras, such as high-performance

brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-per-

formance battery, are not included in the curb

weight and the weight of the accessories.

TIN (Tire Identification Number)

This is a unique identifier which can be used by

a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for example

for a product recall, and thus identify the pur-

chasers. The TIN is made up of the manufactur-

er's identity code, tire size, tire type code and

the manufacturing date.

404

All about wheels and tires

Whee

ls

and

tires

Load bearing index

The load bearing index (also load index) is a code

that contains the maximum load bearing capa-

city of a tire.

Traction

Traction is the result of friction between the tires

and the road surface.

Treadwear indicators

Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are distrib-

uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level

with the bars, the wear limit of á in (1.6 mm)

has been reached.

Occupant distribution

The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at their

designated seating positions.

Total load limit

Nominal load and luggage load plus 68 kg

(150 lbs) multiplied by the number of seats in

the vehicle.

Changing a wheel

Flat tire

The "Breakdown assistance" section

(

Y

page 367) contains information and notes on

how to deal with a flat tire. Information on driv-

ing with MOExtended tires in the event of a flat

tire can be found under "MOExtended tires (tires

with run-flat characteristics" (

Y

page 368).

Rotating the wheels

G

WARNING

Interchanging the front and rear wheels may

severely impair the driving characteristics if

the wheels or tires have different dimensions.

The wheel brakes or suspension components

may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-

dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels

and tires are of the same dimensions.

!

On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure

monitor, electronic components are located

in the wheel.

Tire-mounting tools should not be used near

the valve. This could damage the electronic

components.

Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop.

Always observe the instructions and safety

notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section

(

Y

page 406).

The wear patterns on the front and rear tires

differ, depending on the operating conditions.

Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern

has formed on the tires. Front tires typically

wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in

the center.

On vehicles that have the same size front and

rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels accord-

ing to the intervals in the tire manufacturer's

warranty book in your vehicle documents. If no

warranty book is available, the tires should be

rotate every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to

10,000 km). Earlier may be necessary, depend-

ing on the degree of tire wear. Do not change the

direction of wheel rotation.

Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the

brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is rota-

ted. Check the tire pressure and, if necessary,

restart the tire pressure loss warning system

(

Y

page 394) or the tire pressure monitor

(

Y

page 392).

Direction of rotation

Tires with a specified direction of rotation have

additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydro-

planing. These advantages can only be gained if

the tires are installed corresponding to the

direction of rotation.

An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates its

correct direction of rotation.

Storing wheels

Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,

dry and preferably dark place. Protect the tires

from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel.

Changing a wheel

405

Whe

el

s

and

tires

Z

Mounting a wheel

Preparing the vehicle

X

Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and

level ground.

X

Apply the electric parking brake manually.

X

Bring the front wheels into the straight-ahead

position.

X

Shift the transmission to position P.

X

Make sure that "normal" level is selected for

AIRMATIC (

Y

page 212) or Active Body Con-

trol (ABC) (

Y

page 210).

X

Switch off the engine.

X

Open the driver's door.

The on-board electronics now have status 0.

This is the same as the SmartKey having been

removed.

X

Remove Start/Stop button from ignition lock

(

Y

page 162).

or, if the SmartKey is inserted in the ignition

lock:

X

Remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.

X

Make sure that the engine cannot be started

via your smartphone (

Y

page 164).

X

If included in the vehicle equipment, remove

the tire-change tool kit from the vehicle.

X

Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away.

Securing the vehicle to prevent it from

rolling away

If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock, it

can be found in the tire-change tool kit

(

Y

page 367).

The folding wheel chock is an additional safety

measure to prevent the vehicle from rolling

away, for example when changing a wheel.

X

Fold both plates upwards :.

X

Fold out lower plate ;.

X

Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into the

openings in base plate =.

X

Place chocks or other suitable items under

the front and rear of the wheel that is diago-

nally opposite the wheel you wish to change.

Raising the vehicle

G

WARNING

If you do not position the jack correctly at the

appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the

jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.

There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate jack-

ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack

must be positioned vertically, directly under

the jacking point of the vehicle.

!

The jack is designed exclusively for jacking

up the vehicle at the jacking points. Other-

wise, your vehicle could be damaged.

Observe the following when raising the vehi-

cle:

R

To raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-spe-

cific jack that has been tested and approved

by Mercedes-Benz. If used incorrectly, the

jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.

R

The jack is designed only to raise and hold the

vehicle for a short time while a wheel is being

changed. It must not be used for performing

maintenance work under the vehicle.

R

Avoid changing the wheel on uphill and down-

hill slopes.

R

Before raising the vehicle, secure it from roll-

ing away by applying the parking brake and

406

Changing a wheel

Whe

els

and

tire

s

inserting wheel chocks. Do not disengage the

parking brake while the vehicle is raised.

R

The jack must be placed on a firm, flat and

non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a large,

flat, load-bearing underlay must be used. On a

slippery surface, a non-slip underlay must be

used, e.g. rubber mats.

R

Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects

as a jack underlay. Otherwise, the jack will not

be able to achieve its load-bearing capacity

due to the restricted height.

R

Make sure that the distance between the

underside of the tires and the ground does not

exceed 1.2 in (3 cm).

R

Never place your hands and feet under the

raised vehicle.

R

Do not lie under the vehicle.

R

Do not start the engine when the vehicle is

raised.

R

Do not open or close a door or the trunk lid

when the vehicle is raised.

R

Make sure that no persons are present in the

vehicle when the vehicle is raised.

Vehicles with AMG wheels and hub caps: the

hub cap covers the wheel bolts. Before you can

unscrew the wheel bolts, you must remove the

hub cap. Two different variants can be installed.

Vehicles with AMG wheels and plastic hub

caps:

X

To remove: turn the center cover of hub

cap : counter-clockwise and remove.

X

To install: before installing, ensure that hub

cap : is in the open position. To do this, turn

the center cover counter-clockwise.

X

Position hub cap : and turn the center cover

clockwise until hub cap : engages physically

and audibly.

X

Make sure that hub cap : is installed

securely.

Vehicles with AMG wheels and aluminum

hub caps:

X

To remove: take socket ; and lug wrench

= from the vehicle tool kit (

Y

page 367).

X

Position socket ; on hub cap :.

X

Position lug wrench = on socket ;.

X

Using lug wrench =, turn hub cap : coun-

ter-clockwise and remove it.

X

To install: before installing, check hub cap :

and the wheel area for soiling and clean if

necessary.

X

Put hub cap : in position and turn until it is in

the right position.

X

Position socket ; on hub cap :.

X

Attach lug wrench = to socket ; and

tighten hub cap :.

The tightening torque must be

18 lb-ft (25 Nm).

i

Note that the hub cap should be tightened

to the specified torque of 18 lb-ft (25 Nm).

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have

the hub cap installed at a qualified specialist

workshop.

X

Using lug wrench =, loosen the bolts on the

wheel you wish to change by about one full

turn. Do not unscrew the bolts completely.

Changing a wheel

407

Wheels

and

tires

Z