2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 winter tires

348 OperationTires and wheels
Install the valve cap.

Repeat this procedure for each tire.Run Flat Indicator
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator may function in a re-
stricted manner or with a delay if:


snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle


winter road conditions prevail


you are driving on a loose surface (e.g.
sand or gravel)


you are driving in a very sporty manner
(involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)
iIf you have overfilled the tire, release
tire inflation pressure by pushing the
metal stem of the valve with e.g. a tip of
a pen. Then recheck the tire inflation
pressure with the tire gauge.
Warning!
G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire pressure Check tires
,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
der-inflated. You should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper tire inflation pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard. Driving on a significantly under-in-
flated 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 tire infla-
tion pressure as specified in the vehicle
placard and owner’s manual.


358 OperationTires and wheelsSummer tires

At the tire manufacturer’s option, any
tire with a speed capability above
149 mph (240 km/h) can include a
“ZR” in the size designation (for exam-
ple: 245/40 ZR18). To determine the
maximum speed capability of the tire,
the service description for the tire must
be referred to. The service description is comprised of the tire load rating5
(
page 355) and the tire speed
rating6 (
page 355).
If your tire includes “ZR” in the size
designation and no service
description5 and6 (
page 355) is
given, the tire manufacturer must be
consulted for the maximum speed ca-
pability.
If a service description5 and6
(
page 355) is given, the speed capa-
bility is limited by the speed symbol in
the service description.
Example: 245/40 ZR18 97Y.
In this example, “97Y” is the service
description. The letter “Y” designates
the speed rating and the speed capabil-
ity of the tire is limited to 186 mph
(300 km/h).


Any tire with a speed capability above
186 mph (300 km/h) must include a
“ZR” in the size designation AND the
service description must be placed in
parenthesis. Example: 275/40 ZR 18
(99Y). The “(Y)” speed rating in paren-
thesis designates the maximum speed
capability of the tire as being above
186 mph (300 km/h). Consult the tire
manufacturer for the actual maximum
permissible speed of the tire.
All-season and winter 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)
(Y)
above 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR
above 149 mph (240 km/h)
Index
Speed rating
QM+S
1
1or M+S.for winter tires
up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
TM+S
1
up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
HM+S
1
up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
VM+S
1
up to 149 mph (240 km/h)

359 Operation
Tires and wheels
Load identification
1Load identificationIn addition to tire load rating, special load
information may be molded into the tire
sidewall following the letter designating
the tire speed rating1 (
page 355).
No specification given: absence of any text
(like in above example) indicates a
standard load (SL) tire.
XL or Extra Load: designates an extra load
(or reinforced) tire.
Light Load: designates a light load tire.
C, D, E: designates load range associated
with the maximum load a tire can carry at
a specified pressure.
iNot all M+S rated tires provide special
winter performance. Make sure the
tires you use show M+S and the moun-
tain/snowflake.marking on the
tire sidewall. These tires meet specific
snow traction performance require-
ments of the Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA) and the Rubber
Association of Canada (RAC) and have
been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions.
iFor illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from data shown in
above illustration.

369 Operation
Winter driving
Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. This
service includes:

Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.


Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“S” to a premixed windshield washer
solvent/antifreeze which is formulated
for below freezing temperatures
(page 500).


Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to make
sure that the engine can be started
even at low ambient temperatures.


Tire change. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the
winter season.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated
tires provide special winter performance.
Make sure the tires you use show the
mountain/snowflake.marking on the
tire sidewall. These tires meet specific
snow traction performance requirements
of the Rubber Manufacturers Association
(RMA) and The Rubber Association of Can-
ada (RAC) and have been designed specif-
ically for use in snow conditions. Use of
winter tires is the only way to achieve the
maximum effectiveness of the ABS, ESP
®
and SBC in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your
vehicle, you must place a notice to this
effect where it will be seen by the driver.
Such notices are available from your tire
dealer or from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
Winter tires with a tread depth under
1/6in
(4 mm) must be replaced. They are no long-
er suitable for winter operation.

370 OperationWinter driving
Block heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:


Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations.


Snow chains should only be used on
the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer’s mounting instructions.


Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
C e n t e r w i l l b e g l a d t o a d v i s e y o u o n t h i s
subject.


Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
Warning!
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
®
(
page 97) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
!Even on vehicles with all-wheel-drive
use snow chains on rear tires only.
The use of snow chains is not permissi-
ble with the spare wheel.

406 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Tire pressure display

appears after driving
several minutes
The tire inflation pressure is being checked.

Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Tire pressure monitor
inoperative
The Advanced TPMS* is malfunctioning.

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Tire pres. monitor
inoperative
No wheel sensors
There are wheels without wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. winter tires).

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Have the wheel sensors install by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Tire pres. monitor
Wheel sensor missing
One or more sensors defect (e.g. battery in
one or more wheel sensor is empty).
One or more wheels without wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. spare tire).

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Have the wheel sensors install by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
The tire pressure for the respective tire is not shown
in the multifunction display.
Tire pres. monitor
temporarily
unavailable
The Advanced TPMS* is unable to monitor
the tire pressure due to

a nearby radio interference source.


excessive wheel sensor temperatures.

As soon as the causes of the malfunction have been
removed, the Advanced TPMS* automatically be-
comes active again after a few minutes driving.

488 Technical dataRims and tiresRims and tires
ML 350
ML 350*
ML 500
ML 350 (Sport Package*)
ML 500 (Sport Package*)
Rims (light alloy)
7.5 J x 17 H2
8J x18 H2
8J x19 H2
Wheel offset
2.20 in (56 mm)
2.36 in (60 mm)
2.36 in (60 mm)
Summer tires
1
1Radial-ply tires
-
-
255/50 R19 103W
All-season tires
1
235/65 R17 104H M+S
255/55 R18 105H M+S
not available at time of
printing
3
Winter tires
1,23
2Not available as factory equipment.3Data not available at time of printing; please contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
235/65 R17 104H M+S.
255/55 R18 105H M+S
.
not available at time of
printing
3
All-terrain tires*
1,2
-
255/55 R18 105H M+S
-

532 IndexTime
Setting day 166
Setting hours 165
Setting minutes 166
Setting month 166
Setting year 167
TIN 367
Tire
Vehicle maximum load on 368
Tire and Loading Information 339
Tire and loading terminology 365
Tire care and maintenance 336
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 325, 345, 347
Tire inflation pressure see
the placard on the fuel filler flap
Tire inspection 336
Tire load rating 367
Tire ply composition and
material used 367Tire speed rating 303, 357, 367, 506
Tire terminology 365
Tire traction 303
Tires 487
Direction of rotation 338
Driving instructions 302
Low tire pressure telltale 391
Retreads 335
Rims and tires 487
Run Flat Indicator 348
Service life 336
Temperature 346, 364
TPMS malfunction telltale 391
Tread depth 337, 369
Wear pattern 368
Winter 369Tools 430
Tow-away alarm 102
Arming 102
Disarming 102
Disarming for transport 102
Towing
Trailer 314
Towing a trailer 317
Automatic transmission 191
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt 474
Stranded vehicle 476
Traction 367, 506
Trailer
Attaching 316
Loading 315
Towing 317