2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Page 425

340 OperationTires and wheelsRotating tires
Tire rotation can be performed on vehicles
with tires of the same dimension all
around. If your vehicle is equipped with
tires of the same dimension all around,
tires can be rotated, observing a
front-to-rear rotation pattern that will
maintain the intended rotation (spinning)
direction of the tire (
page 314).
In some cases, such as when your vehicle
is equipped with mixed-size tires (different
tire dimension front vs. rear), tire rotation
is not possible.If 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 3000 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 314).
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, activating the tire pressure mon-
itoring system* if necessary.
For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 407) and
(
page 425).
Warning!
G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if they are
of the same size.
If your vehicle is equipped with mixed-size
tires (different tire dimensions front vs.
rear), tire rotation is not possible.
!If your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system*, there
are electronic components built into
the wheel.
Do not use mounting tools in the area
of the valve as they could damage the
electronic components.
To prevent damage or incorrect instal-
lation, have the tires changed at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.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.

398 Practical hintsWhat 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 monitor-
ing system after correcting the tire
pressure values (
page 324).
Tire pres. monitor
deactivated
Drive to workshop
The tire pressure monitoring system is
malfunctioning.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.

Have the tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Change the wheel (
page 425).
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.

399 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres.
Please rectify
The pressure is too low in one or more
tires.

Check and correct tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 322).
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 425).

Have the damaged wheel repaired or re-
placed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
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.

Check the tire.

Check and correct the tire pressure as re-
quired.

If necessary change the wheel (
page 425).
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
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

400 Practical hintsWhat 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. Ob-
serve the traffic situation around you.

Change the wheel (
page 425).

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 adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 425).
Caution
Tire pres., RR
The right rear tire 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 425).

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

401 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, RR
Check tire
The right rear tire inflation pres-
sure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire.

Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 425).
Caution
Tire pres., FL
The left front tire 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 425).

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure, FL
Check tire
The left front tire inflation pres-
sure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 425).
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
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

402 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Caution
Tire pres., FR
The right front tire 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 425).

Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure, FR
Check tire
The right front tire inflation pres-
sure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire.

Check and adjust the tire inflation pressure.

If necessary change the wheel (
page 425).
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.

425 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
In the case of a flat tire, you may tempo-
rarily 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 vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Preparing 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.
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described under
“Preparing the vehicle” on this page.
Take the spare wheel out of the trunk
(page 407).

Take the wheel wrench and the jack
out of the trunk (
page 407).
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.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel and
the collapsible tire are different from those
of the road wheels. As a result, the vehicle
handling characteristics change when driv-
ing with a spare wheel mounted.
The spare wheel should only be used tempo-
rarily, and replaced with a regular road
wheel as quickly as possible.