Page 334 of 491
333 Operation
Tires and wheels
Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than one mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.DOT (D
epartment o
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GVW (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel,
installed accessories, passengers and
cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue
load. The GWV must never exceed the
GWVR indicated on the certification label
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.GVWR (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
This is the maximum permissible vehicle
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of
the vehicle including all options, passen-
gers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
Kilopascal (kPa)
The metric unit for air pressure. There are
6.9 kPa to one psi; another metric unit for
air pressure is bar. There are
100 kilopascals (kPa) to one bar.
Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight and production
options weight.
Page 335 of 491
334 OperationTires and wheelsMaximum tire inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is
designed to seat, multiplied by
68 kilograms (150 lbs).
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.
Production options weight
The combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing over
5 lbs (2.3 kilograms) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.PSI (P
ounds per s
quare i
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pressure
-> bar, kilopascal (kPa).
Recommended tire inflation pressure
Recommended tire inflation pressure
listed on placard located on driver’s door
B-pillar for normal driving conditions.
Provides best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Sidewall
The portion of a tire between the tread and
the bead.TIN (T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
Unique identifier which facilitates efforts
by tire manufacturers to notify purchasers
in recall situations or other safety matters
concerning tires and gives purchases the
means to easily identify such tires. The TIN
is comprised of “Manufacturer's identifica-
tion mark”, “Tire size”, “Tire type code”
and “Date of manufacture”.
Tire load rating
Numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
Tire ply composition and material used
This indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufac-
turers also must indicate the ply materials
in the tire and sidewall, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
Page 337 of 491
336 OperationTires and wheelsIf applicable to your vehicle's tire configu-
ration, tires can be rotated according to
the tire manufacturer's recommended in-
tervals in the tire manufacturer's warranty
pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should
be rotated every 3 000 to 6 000 miles
(5 000 to 10 000 km), or sooner if neces-
sary, according to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained (
page 310).
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire
wear pattern becomes visible (shoulder
wear on front tires and tread center wear
on rear tires).
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side
of the wheels/tires, during each rotation.
Check for and ensure proper tire inflation
pressure.For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 402) and
(
page 419).Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle's rims.
Page 359 of 491
358 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
H
The yellow warning lamp for the
tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem* comes on.
The tire pressure monitoring system* de-
tects a loss of pressure in at least one tire.
Bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Observe the traffic situation around you.
Take note of the messages in the multi-
function display.
The warning lamp goes out once the tire in-
flation pressure monitor has been reactivat-
ed after the tire inflation pressures have
been corrected.
Warning!
G
When the tire pressure monitoring system*
warning light is lit, one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated. You should
stop and check your tires as soon as possi-
ble, and inflate them to the proper pressure
as indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as speci-
fied in the vehicle placard and owner’s
manual.
iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the placard of the driver’s door B-pillar
or the inside of the fuel filler flap, not in
the owner’s manual.
Page 391 of 491
390 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres. monitor
reactivated
The tire pressure monitoring system* is
using the current pressure values as the
basis for monitoring.
Tire pressure
displayed only
after driving
a few mins.
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.
Tire pres. monitor
temporarily
unavailable
The tire pressure monitoring system* is
unable to monitor the tire inflation pres-
sure due to
the presence of several wheel sensors
in the vehicle.
excessive wheel sensor tempera-
tures.
a nearby radio interference source.
unrecognized wheel sensors mount-
ed.
Remove any extra wheel sensors from
the vehicle.
As soon as the causes of the malfunction
have been removed, the tire pressure
monitoring system* automatically be-
comes active again.
Tire pres.
Please rectify
The pressure is too low in one or more
tires.
Check and correct tire inflation pres-
sure as required (
page 318).
Page 392 of 491
391 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Reactivate
tire pres. monitor
after corr. pres.
There was a tire pressure warning mes-
sage.
The yellow warning lamp for the tire pres-
sure monitoring system* comes on and
you have not reactivated the system
since the last tire pressure warning mes-
sage.
Reactivate the tire pressure monitoring
system* after correcting the tire pressure
values (
page 320).
Tire pres. monitor
deactivated
Drive to workshop
The tire inflation pressure monitor is mal-
functioning.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.
Have the tire inflation pressure monitor
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Change the wheel (
page 419).
Page 393 of 491
392 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Caution
Tire pressure
One or more tires is deflating.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers. Ob-
serve the traffic situation around you.
Change the wheel (
page 419).
Have the damaged wheel repaired or
replaced at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Tire pres.
Check tire
The tire inflation pressure in one or
more tires is already below the mini-
mum value.
The tire inflation pressure in one or
more tires is low.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Observe the traffic situation around you.
Check the tires.
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
as required.
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 419).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Page 394 of 491
393 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Caution
Tire pres., RL
The left rear tire is deflating.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers.
Observe the traffic situation around you.
Change the wheel (
page 419).
Have the damaged wheel repaired or
replaced at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Tire pressure, RL
Check tire
The left rear tire inflation pressure is
low.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.
Check the tire.
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
as required.
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 419).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
