2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV snow chains

Winter driving
231Winter driving
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre, at the onset of winter. Winter tyres
In temperatures below +7 °C, always use all-
weather tyres or winter tyres and always use
winter tyres in wintry road conditions.
Only winter tyres displaying the snowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide optimum grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tyres will allow the ABS and ESP
driving systems to function optimally in win-
ter, as these tyres have been designed spe-
cifically for driving on snow.
Use winter tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
Risk of accident
Winter tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced immediately. They
are no longer suitable for winter use, can
no longer provide sufficient grip. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident.
Always observe the maximum permitted
speed specified for the winter tyres you have
fitted. If you fit winter tyres which have a
lower maximum permitted speed than that of
the vehicle, affix an appropriate warning sign
in the driver's field of vision. This can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent Speedtronic 25
to the maxi-
mum permissible speed for the winter tyres
(Y page 156).
Once you have fitted the winter tyres:
X Check the tyre pressures (Y page 226).
X Restart the tyre pressure moni-
tor* (Y page 228). G
Risk of accident
If you fit the spare wheel* when driving with
winter tyres, bear in mind that driving sta-
bility will be impaired owing to unstable
cornering characteristics caused by the dif-
ferent tyres. You should therefore adapt
your driving style and drive carefully. Have the spare wheel* replaced at the
nearest qualified specialist workshop
which has the necessary specialist knowl-
edge and tools to carry out the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related sys-
tems must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains which
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality.
! Information about the use of snow chain-
compatible AMG winter tyres is applicable
for AMG tyres. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tyres.
! Vehicles with the Off-Road Pro engineer-
ing package*, AIRMATIC package* or
ML 63 AMG: do not drive in ADS SPORT
mode when driving with snow chains fitted.
25 Only available for certain countries. Operation
* optional
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Driving
tips 232
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R Snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel/
tyre combinations.
R Snow chains must not be fitted to emer-
gency spare wheels, e.g. the "Minispare" or
collapsible emergency spare wheel.
R Fit snow chains only in pairs and only to the
rear wheels. Comply with the manufactur-
er's installation instructions.
On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package*, you
may only drive at raised vehicle level if snow
chains have been fitted (Y page 156).
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
i You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when
pulling away with snow chains fitted
(Y page 58). This way you can allow the
wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action). Winter driving
G
Risk of accident
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the selector lever to N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control using
corrective steering. Driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off
G
Risk of accident
Do not switch off the engine while the vehi-
cle is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steer-
ing or the service brake when the engine is
not running.
Steering and braking require significantly
more effort and you could lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident as a
result. Braking
G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid. G
Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking. Operation
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
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Tyres and wheels
356 ML 350
ML 280 CDI
ML 320 CDI ML 420 CDI
ML 500
Winter tyres
44 255/50 R19 103 H M+S
. 255/50 R19 103 H M+S
. Winter tyres
42
,44 255/50 R19 107H XL M+S
.MOExt. 255/50 R19 107H XL M+S
.MOExt. Light-alloy wheels 8J x 19 H2 ET 60 8J x 19 H2 ET 60
20" Both axles
Summer tyres
45 265/45 R20 104 Y 265/45 R20 104 Y
Light-alloy wheels 8.5J x 20 H2 ET 55 8.5J x 20 H2 ET 55
42
Tyres with run-flat characteristics and only in combination with the tyre pressure loss warning system or tyre pressure monitor*.
43 All-terrain tyres for retrofitting. Only certain tyre brands are approved. Ask your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for information.
44 Winter tyres with the symbol .next to the retrofitting label. Only certain tyre brands are approved. Ask your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for information.
45 Snow chains not permitted. Technical data
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
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Tyres and wheels
357ML 63 AMG
19" Both axles
Winter tyres
46 285/45 R19 107 H M+S
. Light-alloy wheels 9.5J x 19 H2 ET 46
20" Both axles
Summer tyres
47 295/4
0 ZR20 106 Y Light-alloy wheels 10J
x 20 H2 ET 46 21" Both axles
Summer tyres
47 295/35 ZR21 107 Y XL
Light-alloy wheels 10J x 21 H2 ET 46
Vehicles with AMG equipment*
All models except the ML 63 AMG
19" Both axles
Summer tyres
47 255/50 R19 103 W
Light-alloy wheels 8.5J x 19 H2 ET 58
46
Winter tyres with the symbol .next to the retrofitting label. Only certain tyre brands are approved. Ask your Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for information.
47 Snow chains not permitted. Technical data
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
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Tyres and wheels
358 Mixed tyres
ML 350 / ML 500
ML 280 CDI / ML 320 CDI / ML 420 CDI
19" Front axle Summer tyres 255/5
0 R19 103 W Light-alloy wheels 8.5J
x 19 H2 ET 60 Rear axle
Summer tyres
48 285/45 R19 107 W
Light-alloy wheels 9.5J x 19 H2 ET 56
Vehicles with AMG equipment*
All models except the ML 63 AMG
21" Front axle
Summer tyres
49 265/40 ZR21 105Y XL
Light-alloy wheels 9J x 21 H2 ET 60
Rear axle
Summer tyres
49 265/40 ZR21 105Y XL
Light-alloy wheels 9J x 21 H2 ET 48
48
Snow chains not permitted.
49 Snow chains not permitted. Technical data
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
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Tyres and wheels
359Spare wheel*
Your vehicle may be equipped with TIREFIT, a "Minispare"/collapsible emergency spare wheel* or a spare wheel* depending on the country,
the engine and the wheels fitted.
i Vehicles with MOExtended tyres (tyres with run-flat characteristics) are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the factory.
! The spare wheel* must be inflated to the maximum tyre pressure given in the table on the inside of the fuel filler flap. ML 350
ML 280 CDI / ML 320 CDI / ML 420 CDI ML 500
18" "Minispare" emer-
gency spare wheel*
50 Tyres T 155/90 - 18 113M —
Tyre pres-
sure 4.2 bar —
Wheels 4.0B x 18 H2 ET 40 —
19" "Minispare" emer-
gency spare wheel*
50 Tyres — T 155/80 R19 114M
Tyre pres-
sure — 4.2 bar
Wheels — 4.5B x 19 H2 ET 40
50
Use of snow chains not possible. Technical data
* optional
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Tyres and wheels
360 ML 63 AMG
19" Collapsible emergency
spare wheel*
50 Tyres 185/65 R19 104P
Tyre pres-
sure 3.5 bar
Wheels 5.5B x 19 H2 ET 13
50
Use of snow chains not possible. Technical data
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
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