2003 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG flat tire

271 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Removing the spare wheel
1Mounting screws
Unscrew mounting screws1.

Remove the spare wheel.Please also refer to the “Flat tire” section
when changing the wheel (
page 290).
Warning!
G
Make sure that no one is injured when re-
moving the spare wheel.
Grip wheel from the sides.
Keep hands from beneath the wheel.
iAfter changing the wheel, secure the
replaced wheel on the spare wheel car-
rier. Make sure that the wheel cannot
come loose.
Cover the wheel with the cover plate.
Repair or replace damaged tire as soon
as possible and return spare tire as
original spare.

290 Practical hintsFlat tire
Flat tirePreparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Engage the steering wheel lock in the
straight ahead position and set the
parking brake.

Move the selector lever toP.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.

Remove the vehicle tool kit
(page 268) and the jack
(page 269).

Remove the spare wheel from the
spare wheel mounting bracket
(page 270).Information on spare wheel
When you replace the vehicle’s tires, you
can use the spare wheel as a regular wheel
if:


it is not more than six years old


rim and tire are the same model as the
regular wheels
Warning!
G
For your safety, remove spare wheel from
the spare wheel mounting bracket before
undertaking any further steps.
Warning!
G
If the spare tire is more than six years old or
is not the same model as the regular tires,
have the spare tire replaced with a new tire
at the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare tire.
Vehicles with different tire dimensions on
the front and rear axle: rim and tire size of
spare wheel and normal wheel differ. Han-
dling will be adversely affected when the
spare wheel is used.
Do not exceed the maximum speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).

291 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
Prepare the vehicle (
page 290).
Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place one chock in front of and one be-
hind the wheel that is diagonally oppo-
site to the wheel being changed.
When changing wheel on a hill:

Place chocks on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the other axle.
Wheel wrench
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle under the axle housing. To
help avoid personal injury, use the jack only
to lift the vehicle during a wheel change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is sup-
ported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always firmly set parking brake and block
wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure that the jack is
positioned correctly under the axle housing.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-
pacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
If the vehicle is not raised as described, it
could slip off the jack as a result of vibra-
tions (e.g. opening or closing a door or the
tailgate).

292 Practical hintsFlat tirePump handle (three pieces)1Indent for activation of release bolt2
Assemble the pump handle for the
jack. The pump handle is located in the
vehicle tool kit.
Jack2Release bolt
Close release bolt2.
To do so, turn indent1 to the right in
the pump lever until its stop.

Place jack on firm ground.

Position jack under the axle housing,
so that it is always vertical (plumb-line)
as seen from the side, even if the vehi-
cle is parked on an incline.
Be certain the jack arm is positioned
correctly under the axle housing (axle
must fall into jack contour).

Jack up the vehicle by pumping (arrow)
until the wheel is clear of the ground.
Never start engine while vehicle is
raised.
iNever turn release bolt2 more than
one or two revolutions. Hydraulic fluid
can otherwise escape.

293 Practical hints
Flat tire
Removing the wheel
Remove the wheel bolts.

Remove the wheel.Mounting the new wheel

Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.

Push the wheel onto the wheel hub and
press firmly.

Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt.
This could result in damage to the bolt
and wheel hub threads.Warning!
G
Make sure that no one is injured when re-
moving the wheel.
Grip wheel from the sides.
Keep hands from beneath the wheel.
Warning!
G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be re-
paired immediately. Do not continue to drive
under these circumstances! Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
or call Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect mounting bolts or improperly
tightened mounting bolts can cause the
wheel to come off. This could cause an acci-
dent. Be sure to use the correct mounting
bolts.
Warning!
G
Use only genuine equipment
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts. They are identi-
fied by the Mercedes star. Other wheel bolts
may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
tip over.

294 Practical hintsFlat tireLowering the vehicle
Using the pump lever, open the lower-
ing screw on the jack approximately
one turn (
page 292).
The vehicle is resting fully on its own
weight.

Remove the jack.
After use, disassemble pump handle
(page 292) and store jack in the des-
ignated storage compartment
(page 269).
1-5 Wheel bolts

Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to 5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of 97 ft lb
(130 Nm).

Press the jack piston in again and close
the lowering screw. Store the jack
(page 269) and the other vehicle
tools (
page 268).

After changing the wheel, secure the
faulty wheel on the spare wheel mount-
ing bracket (
page 271). Make sure
that the wheel cannot come loose.

Check the tire inflation pressure and
correct it if necessary.
A table with the tire pressure values for
your vehicle is located on the fuel filler
flap.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel as soon as possible. The
wheels could come loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 97 ft lb (130 Nm).

313 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
Use only tires and rims which have been
specifically developed for your vehicle and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Other tires and rims can have detrimental
effects, such as

poor handling characteristics


increased noise


increased fuel consumption
Tires and Spare wheel
!Moreover, tires and rims not approved
by Mercedes-Benz may, under load, ex-
hibit dimensional variations and differ-
ent tire deformation characteristics
under load that could cause them to
come into contact with the vehicle
body or axle parts. Damage to the tires
or the vehicle may be the result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. A
tire inflation pressure table is located
on the fuel filler cap of the vehicle. The
tire pressure should be checked regu-
larly and should only be adjusted on
cold tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s
maintenance recommendation includ-
ed with vehicle.
G500
G55AMG
Rims (light alloy)
7½ Jx18 H2 ET43
9½ Jx18 EH2 ET50
Wheel offset
1.69 in (43 mm)
1.97 in (50 mm)
All season tires (radial-ply tires)
265/60 R18 110V
285/55 R18 113V

323 Technical data
Consumer information
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance 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 tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. 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 perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Warning!
G
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underin-
flation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.