Page 282 of 409

281 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.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.
iFor illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from data shown in
above illustration.
Page 291 of 409

290 OperationMaintenanceMaintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested ser-
vice term, you will see the following mes-
sage in the right multifunction display:Service exceeded by .. days
Service exceeded by .. milesAny authorized Mercedes-Benz Center will
reset the maintenance service indicator
following a completed maintenance
service.
Calling up the service due date
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).
Press buttonè orÿ on the
multifunction steering wheel repeated-
ly until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 117).
Press button k or j on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator service
symbol 9 appears in the left multi-
function display and the service dead-
line appears in the right multifunction
display.
iIf the vehicle is not be used for a longer
period of time, do not disconnect the
consumer battery. Instead, maintain
the condition of the battery by using
the battery charger approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on the SLR and
supplied with the car (
page 358).
This charger automatically controls the
charge rate, and can be left connected
to the car for long periods without dam-
age to the battery.
If the battery supplying the vehicle’s
electrical consumers is disconnected,
the days of disconnection will not be in-
cluded in the count shown by the ser-
vice indicator. To arrive at the true
service deadline, you will need to sub-
tract these days from the days shown
in the service indicator.
Do not confuse the maintenance
service indicator with the engine oil
level indicator:.
Page 300 of 409

299 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solutions
-
The yellow ABS indicator
lamp comes on while driving.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The BAS and the ESP
®
are also switched off (see messages in dis-
play).
The electrohydraulic brake system is still
functioning normally but without ABS
available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning
the automatic transmission may also be
malfunctioning.
Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the multi-
function display (
page 307).
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ABS was switched off.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again.
If necessary, have the generator and battery
checked.
Page 310 of 409

309 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Text messagesLeft display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP
® and
the BAS are also deactivated.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ABS available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit
workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Cruise control
– – –
You attempted to resume a stored
speed, but nothing is stored.
Store a speed (
page 198).
You attempted to set a speed below
20 mph (30 km/h).
Drive faster than 20 mph (30 km/h) and set
the speed (
page 198).
Page 312 of 409
311 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ESP
Unavailable
See Oper. Manual
The ESP
® is deactivated because the
power supply has been interrupted.
The electrohydraulic brake system is
still functioning normally but without
the ESP® available.
Synchronize the ESP
®. With the vehicle sta-
tionary, turn the steering wheel completely
to the left and then to the right.
Ensure that you can turn the steering wheel
to the stop without the wheels touching an
object (e.g. the road curb).
If the ESP
® message does not go out:
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP
®, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheels hitting any objects, e.g.
a road curb.
Page 336 of 409

335 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
H
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.
Temporarily repair tire using TIREFIT (
page 351) or
contact Roadside Assistance. If tire cannot be tempo-
rarily repaired using TIREFIT, contact Roadside
Assistance.
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.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!
G
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 257). Otherwise, the driving stabili-
ty of the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.
Page 337 of 409

336 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure
Check tires
The tire inflation
pressure in one or
more tires is already
below the minimum
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. If no damage visible, check and correct tire infla-
tion pressure as required.
Temporarily repair tire using TIREFIT (
page 351) or contact
Roadside Assistance. If tire cannot be temporarily repaired using
TIREFIT, contact Roadside Assistance.
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.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!
G
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 257). Otherwise, the driving stabili-
ty of the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.
Page 338 of 409

337 Practical hints
What to do if ...
Left display
Right display
Possible cause/
consequence
Possible solution
H
Tire pressure, FL
Caution
Tire defect
The left front tire is
deflating.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steering and
braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation around you.
Temporarily repair tire using TIREFIT (
page 351) or contact
Roadside Assistance. If tire cannot be temporarily repaired using
TIREFIT, contact Roadside Assistance.
Have the damaged wheel repaired or replaced at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire pressure, FL
Check
tires
The left front tire in-
flation pressure is
low.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.
Check the tires. If no damage visible, check and correct tire infla-
tion pressure as required.
If necessary, have the 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.
Continued driving with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!
G
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 257).
Otherwise, the driving stability of the vehicle
will be adversely affected, especially when
driving at high speeds.