2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 winter tires

Contents
Useful features .................................. 243
Storage compartments................. 243
Cup holders .................................. 246
Ashtrays ....................................... 248
Cigarette lighter ........................... 249
Power outlets ............................... 250
Heated steering wheel
(Canada only) ............................... 251
Floormats ..................................... 252
Telephone*................................... 253
Tele Aid ........................................ 256
Garage door opener ..................... 262
Operation......................................... 269
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)......... 270
Driving instructions............................ 271
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 271
Drinking and driving ..................... 271
Pedals .......................................... 271
Power assistance ......................... 272
Brakes .......................................... 272
Driving off .................................... 274
Parking ......................................... 275
Tires ............................................. 275
Hydroplaning ................................ 276
Tire traction.................................. 276
Tire speed rating .......................... 277
Winter driving instructions ........... 278
Standing water ............................. 279
Passenger compartment .............. 280
Driving abroad.............................. 280
Control and operation of
radio transmitter .......................... 280
Catalytic converter ....................... 281
Emission control .......................... 281
Coolant temperature .................... 282At the gas station .............................. 283
Refueling ...................................... 283
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 285
Engine compartment ......................... 286
Hood ............................................ 286
Engine oil ..................................... 287
Transmission fluid level................ 289
Coolant level ................................ 290
Battery ......................................... 291
Washer system and headlamp
cleaning system* ......................... 292
Tires and wheels................................ 293
Important guidelines .................... 293
Tire care and maintenance........... 294
Direction of rotation..................... 295
Loading the vehicle ...................... 296
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 301
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 303
MOExtended system* .................. 313
Tire labeling ................................. 314
Load identification ....................... 318
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 318
Maximum tire load ....................... 320

Contents
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 320
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 321
Tire ply material ........................... 323
Tire and loading terminology ........ 323
Rotating tires ............................... 326
Winter driving .................................... 328
Winter tires .................................. 328
Block heater* (Canada only) ........ 329
Snow chains................................. 329
Maintenance ...................................... 330
Maintenance service indicator
message....................................... 330
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator........................... 331
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator........................... 332
Vehicle care ....................................... 333
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 333
Practical hints.................................. 343
What to do if … ................................... 344
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 344
Lamp in center console................. 356
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display..................... 358
Where will I find...? ............................. 393
First aid kit .................................... 393
Spare wheel .................................. 393
Vehicle tool kit .............................. 395
Luggage box ................................. 397
Unlocking/locking in an emergency... 398
Unlocking the vehicle.................... 398
Locking the vehicle ....................... 399
Fuel filler flap emergency release . 400
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ................................ 400
Resetting activated head restraints .... 401
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 402
Replacing bulbs .................................. 404
Bulbs ............................................. 404
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 407
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 409
Replacing wiper blades....................... 410
Wiper blades ................................. 410Flat tire............................................... 412
Preparing the vehicle .................... 412
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 412
MOExtended system* ................... 419
Battery ............................................... 420
Disconnecting the battery ............ 421
Removing the battery ................... 421
Charging and reinstalling the
battery .......................................... 422
Reconnecting the battery ............. 422
Jump starting...................................... 423
Towing the vehicle.............................. 425
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 426
Fuses.................................................. 428
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 429
Fuse box in trunk .......................... 429

89 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Driving safety systems
In this section you will find information on
the following driving safety systems:

ABS (Antilock Brake System)

Adaptive Brake

BAS (Brake Assist System)

EBP (Electronic Brake Proportioning)

ESP® (Electronic Stability Program)
ABS
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) regulates
the brake pressure so that the wheels do
not lock during braking. This allows you to
maintain the ability to steer your vehicle.
The ABS is functional above a speed of
approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) indepen-
dent of road surface conditions.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even with light brake pressure.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the
ignition. It goes out when the engine is run-
ning.
Warning!G
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:

Excessive speed, especially in turns

Wet and slippery road surfaces

Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in this
section cannot reduce these risks or pre-
vent the natural laws of physics from acting
on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions and
keep a safe distance to other road users and
objects on the street.
iIn winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS, BAS, ESP® and Adap-
tive Brake is only achieved with winter tires
(
page 328) or snow chains as required.
Warning!G
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead. Pump-
ing the brake pedal defeats the purpose of
the ABS and significantly reduces braking
effectiveness.

269 Operation
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km)
Driving instructions
At the gas station
Engine compartment
Tires and wheels
Winter driving
Maintenance
Vehicle care

277 Operation
Driving instructions
Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 328) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to make sure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires. Stopping distance, however, is still
considerably greater than when the road is
not covered with snow or ice. Exercise
appropriate caution.
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use pru-
dent driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of:

CLS 550
CLS 550 (Sport Package*):
130 mph (210 km/h)

CLS 63 AMG:
155 mph (250 km/h)

CLS 63 AMG (Performance Package*):
186 mph (300 km/h)
The factory equipped tires on your vehicle
may have a tire speed rating above the
maximum speed permitted by the elec-
tronic speed limiter.
Make sure your tires have the required tire
speed rating as specified for your vehicle in
the “Technical data” section (
page 438),
for example when purchasing new tires.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited War-
ranty.
Warning!G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury and possible death, for you
and for others.

278 Operation
Driving instructions
For information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see “Tire
size designation, load and speed rating”
(
page 314).
If you are uncertain about the correct read-
ing of the information given on a tire’s side-
wall, any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will be glad to assist you.
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to positionN. Try
to keep the vehicle under control by cor-
rective steering action.Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce
the normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking
efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible
after driving is resumed.
iFor information on speed rating for winter
tires, see “Winter driving” (
page 328).
For additional general information on tire speed
markings on tire sidewall, see “Tire speed rating”
(
page 316).
iFor more information on driving with snow
chains, see “Snow chains” (
page 329).
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.

293 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information on tested and rec-
ommended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation. They can also offer ad-
vice concerning tire service and purchase.
Important guidelines

Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.

Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.

Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.

Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.

If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as re-
quired.

Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths of less than
1/8in (3 mm).

The wheels on the front and rear axles
are different. For this reason, pay at-
tention to the markings on the inside of
the wheel rims. Wheels marked “REAR
AXLE ONLY” on the inside of the rim
may only be fitted on the rear axle.

When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. See an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension compo-
nents can be damaged.

The correct operating clearance of the
wheels and the tires are no longer guar-
anteed.
Warning!G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can re-
sult in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.

294 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more informa-
tion on checking tire inflation pressure see
“Recommended tire inflation pressure”
(
page 301).
Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:

excessive treadwear (page 294)

cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber

bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation.
Spare tires will age and become worn over
time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.
Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:

Driving style

Tire inflation pressure

Distance drivenTread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths of less
than
1⁄8in (3 mm).
Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:

Summer tires 1/8in (3 mm)

Winter tires 1/6in (4 mm)
Warning!G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning!G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires