Page 296 of 464
296 OperationTires and wheels
Tires and wheelsSee your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information on tested and rec-
ommended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation. They can also offer ad-
vice concerning tire service and purchase.Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on
retreads. Mercedes-Benz can therefore
not assure the operating safety of the vehi-
cle when such tires are used.Warning!
G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. See your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:
The wheel brakes or suspension compo-
nents can be damaged.
The correct operating clearance of the
wheels and tires is no longer guaran-
teed.
Warning!
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can re-
sult in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
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Page 299 of 464
299 Operation
Tires and wheels
Rotating wheels
On vehicles with the same wheel size all
around, wheels can be rotated every 3 000
to 6 000 miles (5 000 to 10 000 km), or
sooner if necessary, according to the de-
gree of tire wear. The same direction of tire
rotation must be retained.Rotate the wheels before the characteris-
tic tire wear pattern becomes visible
(shoulder wear on front wheels and tread
center wear on rear wheels).
Thoroughly clean the inner side of the
wheels after each rotation. Check and en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure.Warning!
G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if they are
of the same size.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle's rims.
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Page 343 of 464
343 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
Where will I find...?
First aid kit
The first aid kit is stored in right hand side
of the trunk underneath the trunk floor in
an separate storage space.
Lift cover1.
Remove first aid kit2.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit is stored in the com-
partment underneath the trunk floor.
The following is included:
Towing eye bolt
Vehicle jack
Wheel wrench
Alignment bolt
Wheel bolts
Fuse extractor
Straps for soft top emergency opera-
tion
iCheck expiration dates and contents
for completeness at least once a year
and replace missing/expired items.
iHex wrench:
You will find the hex wrench for
manually operating the roll bars
(page 353) or the soft top
(page 355) in the Mercedes-Benz
vehicle literature pouch.
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Page 344 of 464
344 Practical hintsWhere will I find...?Removing the vehicle tool kit
1Retaining screw
2Storage well casing
Lift trunk floor cover and engage trunk
floor handle in upper edge of trunk.
Loosen retaining screw 1 in the mid-
dle of storage well casing2.
Remove storage well casing2.3Arrow
4Minispare wheel
5Vehicle tool kit storage well casing
6Vehicle tool kit
Wheel wrench
Vehicle jack
Wheel bolts for Minispare wheel
Remove vehicle tool kit storage well
casing5.
!To prevent damage, always disengage
trunk floor handle from upper edge of
trunk and lower trunk floor before clos-
ing the trunk lid.
iArrow3 on vehicle tool kit storage
well casing 5 must point in the direc-
tion of travel. Otherwise you cannot
place the storage well casing on top
and secure the Minispare wheel with
retaining screw 1 (
page 344).
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Page 346 of 464
346 Practical hintsWhere will I find...?Minispare wheel
The Minispare wheel is located in the com-
partment underneath the trunk floor.
1Vehicle tool kit
Wheel wrench
Jack
Wheel bolts for Minispare wheel
2Arrow
3Minispare wheel
4Vehicle tool kit storage well casingRemoving the Minispare wheel
Lift trunk floor cover and engage trunk
floor handle in upper edge of trunk.
Loosen the retaining screw
(page 344) in the middle of storage
well casing.
Remove the storage well casing
(page 344).
Remove vehicle tool kit storage well
casing4.
Remove Minispare wheel3.Storing the Minispare wheel
Place Minispare wheel3 in wheel
well.
Place vehicle tool kit storage well
casing4 over the Minispare wheel.
Make sure the arrow 2 on storage
well casing4 points in the direction of
travel.
Place storage well casing
(page 344) over the vehicle tool kit
storage well casing 4 and turn the re-
taining screw (
page 344) clockwise
as far as it will go to secure the
Minispare wheel.
iThe arrow2 on vehicle tool kit stor-
age well casing4 must point in the di-
rection of travel, otherwise you cannot
place the storage well casing
(page 344) on top and secure the
Minispare wheel with the retaining
screw (
page 344).
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Page 347 of 464
347 Practical hints
Where will I find...?
In the case of a flat tire, you may tempo-
rarily use the Minispare wheel when ob-
serving the following restrictions:
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or re-
placed as appropriate.
Do not operate vehicle with more than
one Minispare wheel mounted.
More information can be found in the
“Technical data” section (
page 403).
Minispare wheel bolts
1Wheel bolt for light alloy rims
2Wheel bolt for Minispare wheel or other
steel rims (located in trunk with spare
wheel)
!To prevent damage, always disengage
trunk floor handle from upper edge of
trunk and lower trunk floor before clos-
ing the trunk lid.Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted.
The Minispare wheel should only be used
temporarily, and should be replaced with a
regular road wheel as quickly as possible.
!Wheel bolts2 must be used when
mounting the Minispare wheel. The use
of any wheel bolts other than wheel
bolts2 for the Minispare will physical-
ly damage the vehicle's brakes.Warning!
G
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel af-
ter it has been repaired.
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Page 380 of 464
380 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 gear selector lever toP.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Mounting the Minispare wheelIn case of a flat tire, you may temporarily
use the spare wheel when observing the
following restrictions:
Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or re-
placed as appropriate.
Do not operate the vehicle with more
than one spare wheel mounted.
Prepare the vehicle as described on
(
page 380).
Take the wheel wrench and the jack
out of the trunk (
page 346).
Take the Minispare wheel and wheel
bolts out of the trunk (
page 346).
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted.
The spare wheel should only be used tempo-
rarily, and should be replaced with a regular
road wheel as quickly as possible.
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Page 381 of 464
381 Practical hints
Flat tire
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.1Wheel wrench
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The jack take-up brackets are located di-
rectly behind the front wheel housings and
in front of the rear wheel housings.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. 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 supported
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 a level surface. Make sure the jack arm is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient ca-
pacity jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
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