2007 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK55AMG winter tires

315 Operation
Tires and wheels
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)
Warning!G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire pressure Check tires,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
derinflated. You should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper tire inflation pressure as indicat-
ed on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading
Information placard or, if available, on the
tire inflation pressure label. Driving on a sig-
nificantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Un-
derinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Each tire, in-
cluding the spare, should be checked
monthly when cold and set to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure as specified
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B-pillar (
page 307) or,
if available, on the tire inflation pressure
label located on the inside of the fuel filler
flap (
page 291).
Warning!G
The Run Flat Indicator does not indicate a
warning for wrongly selected tire inflation
pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres-
sure according to the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar (
page 307) or, if available, on the
tire inflation pressure label located on the
inside of the fuel filler flap (
page 291).
The Run Flat Indicator does not replace
regular checks of the tire inflation pressures
since a gradual pressure loss in more than
one tire cannot be detected by the Run Flat
Indicator.
The Run Flat Indicator is not able to issue a
warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of
tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.

321 Operation
Tires and wheels

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 318)
and the tire speed rating6
(
page 318).
If your tire includes “ZR” in the size
designation and no service
description5 and6 (
page 318) is
given, the tire manufacturer must be
consulted for the maximum speed ca-
pability.If a service description5 and6
(
page 318) 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
IndexSpeed rating
QM+S1
1or M+S.for winter tires.
up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
TM+S1up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
HM+S1up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
VM+S1up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
iNot all M+S rated tires provide special
winter performance. Make sure the tires
you use show M+S and 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 Canada (RAC) and have
been designed specifically for use in snow
conditions.

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

Checking anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.

Adding of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning* system. Add MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit”
to a pre-mixed windshield washer
solvent/antifreeze which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(
page 450).

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

Tire change.
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 M+S
and the mountain/snowflake
symbol.marking on the tire sidewall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and
have been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the
only way to achieve the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS and ESP
® 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 mounted to your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your ve-
hicle, you must place a notice to this effect
where it will be seen by the driver. Such no-
tices are available at your tire dealer or any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!When scraping ice or snow from the rear
window, be careful not to damage the sealing
strip or apertures along the side of the window.
Warning!G
Winter tires with a tread depth of less than 1/6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are
no longer suitable for winter operation.

333 Operation
Winter driving
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not higher
than 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
(
page 434).

Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.

Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Any
authorized 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.

Do not use snow chains on the spare
wheel (
page 439).
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 Center.!Some tire sizes do not leave adequate clear-
ance for snow chains. To help avoid serious dam-
age to your vehicle or tires, make sure that the
use of snow chains is permissible as specified in
the “Technical data” section of this Operator’s
Manual, see “Rims and tires” (
page 434).
!If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body or axle
components. The tires or the vehicle could be
damaged as a result.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you may
wish to deactivate the ESP® (page 88) before
setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve
the vehicle’s traction.

434 Technical data
Rims and tires
!Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires approved by
Mercedes-Benz are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your vehicle such as
ABS or ESP
®. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding the
following on the tire’s sidewall:

MO = Mercedes-Benz Original equipment
tires
AMG vehicles:
Does not apply to all approved tires on AMG
vehicles. For information on tested and
approved tires for AMG vehicles, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires with limited run-flat characteristics)
original equipment tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iFor information on driving with MOExtended
tires, see “MOExtended system*” (
page 414).
!Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental effects,
such as

poor handling characteristics

increased noise

increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit
dimensional variations and different tire defor-
mation characteristics that could cause them to
come into contact with the vehicle body or axle
parts. Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be
the result.
iFurther information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. A placard with the recommended tire
inflation pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have supplemental
tire inflation pressure information for driving at
high speeds (
page 313) or for vehicle loads
less than the maximum loaded vehicle condition
(
page 313). If such information is provided, it
can be found on the placard located on the in-
side of the fuel filler flap.The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.
iThe following pages also list the approved
wheel rim and tire sizes for equipping your
vehicles with winter tires. Winter tires are not
available as standard or optional factory
equipment, but can be purchased from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Depending on vehicle model and the standard or
optional factory-equipped wheel rim/tire config-
uration on your vehicle (Performance Package,
Sport Package etc.), equipping your vehicle with
winter tires approved for your vehicle model may
also require the purchase of two or four wheel
rims of the recommended size for use with these
winter tires. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for more information.

435 Technical data
Rims and tires
Same size tires
ModelSLK 280SLK 280
SLK 280 (Appearance Package*)
SLK 350
SLK 350 (Appearance Package*)
Rims (light alloy)7Jx16H27.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset1.34 in (34 mm)1.42 in (36 mm)
Winter tires1,2
1Radial-ply tires2Not available as factory equipment.
205/55 R16 91H M+S.225/45 R17 91H M+S.
Rims (light alloy) –7.5 J x 17 H2
Wheel offset –1.42 in (36 mm)
Winter tires*1,2,3
3Must be used in conjunction with Run Flat Indicator* only.
–225/45 R17 91H M+S.MOExtended

436 Technical data
Rims and tires
ModelSLK 280 (Sport Package*)
SLK 350 (Sport Package*)
SLK 55 AMGSLK 55 AMG
SLK 55 AMG (Performance Package*)
Rims (light alloy)7.5 J x 17 H27.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset1.46 in (37 mm)1.46 in (37 mm)
Winter tires1,2,3
1Radial-ply tires2Not available as factory equipment.3For use with snow chains contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
205/50 R17 89H M+S.
or
225/45 R17 91H M+S.225/40 R18 92H XL (Extra Load) M+S.

455 Index
Delayed shut-off
Exterior lamps 144
Interior lighting 145
Department of Transportation see DOT
Difficulties
Wile driving 58
With starting the engine 52
Digital speedometer 128
Dimensions, Vehicle 441
Dipstick see Oil dipstick
Direction of rotation (Tires) 307
Display text see Messages in the
multifunction display
Displays
Digital speedometer 128
Maintenance service indicator 334
Multifunction display 121
Outside temperature 128
Symbol messages 366
Text messages 358
Vehicle status message memory 135
Vehicle status messages 356Distance to empty (range), Trip
computer 149
Door
Control panel 34
Entry lamps 117
Locking in an emergency 388
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 94
Opening from inside 99
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid* 269
Unlocking in an emergency 387
DOT 328
Drink holder see Cup holder
Drinking and driving 279
Driver’s air bag see Air bagsDriving 53
Abroad 287
Accelerator position 159
Automatic transmission* 53
Driving off 282
Fuel saving 279
Hydroplaning 284
In winter 286
Instructions 48, 279
Kickdown 159
Manual transmission 53
Standing water 287
Tires 283
Driving safety systems 84
ABS 84
BAS 86
Electronic traction system 88
ESP
®86
Driving systems
Cruise control 247
Driving tips 159