2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG tire pressure

361 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messages
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Check tires,
then restart
Run Flat Indicator
.
There was a warning message about a
loss in the tire inflation pressure and
the Run Flat Indicator has not been
restarted yet.Make sure that the correct tire inflation
pressure is set for each tire.
Then restart the Run Flat Indicator.
Tire Pressure
Check TiresThe Run Flat Indicator indicates that
the pressure is too low in one or more
tires.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoid-
ing abrupt steering and braking maneu-
vers. Observe the traffic situation around
you.
Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as
required (
page 302).
If necessary, change the wheel
(
page 417).
Restart the Run Flat Indicator after adjust-
ing the tire inflation pressure values
(
page 304).
ABCMalfunction
Stop CarYou have started driving although the
vehicle level is still too low.
The vehicle is being raised. The ABC
message goes out after a few seconds.Stop your vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Wait until the message disappears from
the multifunction display.
You may then drive off.

374 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire pressuredisplayed after
driving for
a few minutes.Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The tire inflation pressure is being
checked.Drive the vehicle for a few minutes.
Tire Pressure MonitorInoperativeThe TPMS or Advanced TPMS* is
malfunctioning.Have the TPMS or Advanced TPMS*
checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire Pressure MonitorInoperative
No Wheel SensorsThere are wheels without appropriate
wheel sensors mounted (e.g. winter
tires).Have the TPMS or Advanced TPMS*
checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have appropriate wheel sensors in-
stalled by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Tire Pressure Monitor
Wheel Sensor MissingVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more sensors defect
(e.g. empty sensor battery).
The respective tire is indicated by
---
instead of the tire inflation pressure in
the multifunction display.
Have Advanced TPMS* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have appropriate wheel sensors in-
stalled by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

375 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Tire Pressure Monitor
Wheel Sensor MissingVehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
One or more wheels without
appropriate wheel sensors
mounted (e.g. spare wheel).
The respective tire is indicated by
--- instead of the tire inflation
pressure in the multifunction
display.
Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have appropriate wheel sensors installed
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Tire Pressure MonitorCurrently
UnavailableThe TPMS or Advanced TPMS* is
unable to monitor the tire pres-
sure due to a nearby radio interfer-
ence source.As soon as the causes for the malfunction
are no longer present, the TPMS or
Advanced TPMS* automatically becomes
active again after a few minutes driving.
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. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.

397 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
HPlease correct
the tire pressure.The tire inflation pressure is too
low in one or more tires.Check and correct tire inflation pressure as required
(
page 302).
Tire Pressure
Caution
Tire DefectOne or more tires are deflating.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
If necessary, change the wheel (page 417).
Caution
Tire defectOne or more tires are deflating.
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The respective tire is indicated in
the multifunction display.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
If necessary, change the wheel (page 417).
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
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.

398 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
HTire Pressure
Check TiresThe 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.
Check TiresThe tire pressure in one or more
tires is already below the mini-
mum value.
Vehicles with Advanced TPMS*:
The respective tire is indicated in
the multifunction display.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 (page 417).
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
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.

417 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
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
position.
Set the parking brake (page 63).
Move the gear selector lever to
position P.
Turn off the engine (page 64).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Vehicles with Smartkey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: 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.Mounting the spare wheel
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire inflation pressure and do
not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible to have the spare wheel
replaced with a regular road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a spare
wheel is mounted.

422 Practical hints
Flat tire
Unscrew the alignment bolt, install last
wheel bolt and tighten slightly.
Inflating the spare tire (collapsible tire)
Take the electric air pump out of the
trunk (
page 400).1Flap
2Air pump switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Open flap 1 on air pump.
Pull out electrical plug 3 and air hose
with the pressure gauge 4.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve.
Screw union nut 5 onto the tire valve.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel bolts.
Warning!G
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. They are identified by the Mercedes
star. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the ve-
hicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
spare wheel tire. Otherwise the rim may be dam-
aged.
Warning!G
Observe instructions on air pump label.

423 Practical hints
Flat tire
Insert electrical plug 3 into vehicle
cigarette lighter socket (
page 244)
or the power outlet in the trunk
(
page 246).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever once
without depressing the brake pedal.
PressI on the electric air pump
switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the tire.
Inflate the spare tire:

SL 550 to 36 psi (2.5 bar)

SL 600, SL 55 AMG, SL 55 AMG
(Performance Package*), and
SL 65 AMG to 51 psi (3.5 bar)
This takes about 5 minutes.
Air hose4 and union nut5 can be-
come hot during inflation. Exercise
proper caution to avoid burning your-
self when using the equipment.
Press0 on the electric air pump
switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or
Press KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
on the gear selector lever twice without
depressing the brake pedal.
The electric air pump should now be
switched off.
If the spare tire inflation pressure is
above the recommended tire inflation
pressure for the respective collapsible
tire (
page 453), release excess spare
tire inflation pressure using the vent
screw.
!Compare the recommended tire inflation
pressure for your vehicle with the tire inflation
pressure on the yellow label located on the spare
wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the tire to
the recommended tire inflation pressure given
on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the air pump again after it has
cooled off.