Page 318 of 480

317 Operation
Winter driving
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to ex-
ceed 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 ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz. Your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center will be
glad to advise you on this subject.
Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
!When driving with snow chains, always
select setting 1 of the level control sys-
tem (
page 220). Other settings may
result in damage to your vehicle.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ESP
®
(
page 86) before setting the vehicle
in motion. This will improve the vehi-
cle’s traction.
!Some tire sizes do not leave adequate
clearance for snow chains. To help
avoid serious damage to your vehicle or
tires, use of snow chains is not permis-
sible with the spare wheel and with tire
size:
285/35 R18 97W
285/35 R18 97Y
285/35 ZR18 97Y
285/35 R18 97Y MOExtended
285/35 R18 97V M+S .
MOExtended
285/30 ZR19 98Y XL (Extra Load)
Page 323 of 480

322 OperationVehicle careWe have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the car-care products recommended here.
In such cases it is best to seek aid at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to Mercedes-Benz approved car-care
products.Power washer
Tar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry
and become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.
!Follow the instructions provided by the
power washer manufacturer on main-
taining a distance between the vehicle
and the nozzle of the power washer.
Never use a round nozzle to
power-wash tires. The intense jet of
water can result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Always keep the jet of water moving
across the surface. Do not aim directly
at electrical parts, electrical connec-
tors, seals, or other rubber parts.
iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of
water, and a SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is in close proximity, i.e.
within approximately 3 ft (1 m), the ve-
hicle could be inadvertently locked or
unlocked.
Page 344 of 480

343 Practical hints
What to do if …
Warning!
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure
label. If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the mal-
function indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of in-
compatible replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.
Page 357 of 480

356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Run Flat
Indicator
inactive
The Run Flat Indicator is
malfunctioning.
Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Check tires
Then reactivate
There was a warning message
about a loss in the tire inflation
pressure and the Run Flat Indica-
tor has not been reactivated yet.
Make sure that the correct tire inflation
pressure is set for each tire.
Then reactivate the Run Flat Indicator.
Run Flat
Indicator
unavailable
The Run Flat Indicator has been
switched off due to an error.
Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pres.
Check tires
The Run Flat Indicator indicates
that the pressure is too low in one
or more tires.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding
abrupt steering and braking maneuvers. Ob-
serve the traffic situation around you.
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 293).
If necessary, change the wheel
(page 399).
Reactivate the Run Flat Indicator after ad-
justing the tire inflation pressure values
(page 295).
Page 358 of 480
357 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Tire pressure monitor
currently
unavailable
The TPMS is unable to monitor the tire
pressure due to
a nearby radio interference source.
excessive wheel sensor tempera-
tures.
As soon as the causes for the malfunction
are no longer present, the TPMS
automatically becomes active again after a
few minutes driving.
Tire pressure
displayed after
driving for a
a few minutes
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.
Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Tire pressure monitor
inoperative
No wheel sensors
There are wheels without wheel sen-
sors mounted (e.g. winter tires).
Have the TPMS checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have the wheel sensors installed by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 381 of 480

380 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
H
Please rectify
tire pressure
The tire inflation pressure is too
low in one or more tires.
Check and correct tire inflation pressure as required
(page 293).
Tire pressure
Caution
Tire defect
One or more tires is deflating.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic
situation around you.
If necessary, change the wheel (
page 399).
Vehicles with TIREFIT: Temporarily repair tire using
TIREFIT (
page 399) or contact Roadside Assistance.
If tire cannot be temporarily repaired using TIREFIT,
contact Roadside Assistance.
Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced at an au-
thorized 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. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Page 382 of 480
381 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure
Check tires
The tire pressure in one or more
tires is already below the mini-
mum value.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
Check and adjust tire pressure as required.
If necessary, change the wheel.
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. Continued
driving with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Page 400 of 480

399 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Your SL 55 AMG with Performance
Package* and SL 65 AMG are equipped
with a TIREFIT kit.Preparing the vehicle
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight ahead po-
sition.
Set the parking brake.
Move the gear selector lever to P.
Vehicles with SmartKey:
Turn off the engine (
page 60).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* button on the gear se-
lector lever once (
page 60).
Open the driver’s door (this puts the
starter switch in position 0, same as
with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch). The driver’s door then
can be closed again.
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Sealing tires with TIREFIT
Small tire punctures, particularly those in
the tread, can be sealed with TIREFIT.
TIREFIT can be used in ambient tempera-
tures down to -4°F (-20°C).
iOpen door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
iSL 55 AMG with Performance
Package* and SL 65 AMG only.Warning!
G
Keep TIREFIT away from sparks, open flame
or heat source.
Do not smoke.