2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR rims

Contents
Tire labeling .................................. 276
Load identification........................ 280
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN) .
281
Maximum tire load ....................... 282
Maximum tire inflation pressure... 283
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
(U.S. vehicles) .............................. 284
Tire ply material............................ 286
Tire and loading terminology ........ 286
Rotating tires................................ 289
Anti-theft wheel nuts .................... 290
Winter driving..................................... 292
Winter tires*................................. 292
Snow chains ................................. 293
Maintenance ...................................... 294
Clearing the maintenance service
indicator message ........................ 294
Maintenance service term exceeded ...
295
Calling up the maintenance service due
date .............................................. 295
Resetting the maintenance service
indicator ....................................... 296
Vehicle care ....................................... 297
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 297Vehicle washing ........................... 298
Soft top care ................................ 300
Practical hints.................................. 302
What to do if ... .................................. 304
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 304
Lamp in center console ................ 317
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 319
Symbol messages ........................ 332
Where will I find ...? ........................... 356
First aid kit ................................... 356
TIREFIT kit, electric air pump, towing
eye bolt and vehicle literature portfolio
356
Unlocking in an emergency ............... 357
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 357
Replacing SmartKey batteries............ 359
Replacing bulbs ................................. 361
Front lamps .................................. 362
Rear lamps ................................... 362
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 363
Removing wiper blades ................ 363
Installing wiper blades ................. 364
Flat tire .............................................. 365Preparing the vehicle ................... 365
Sealing tires with TIREFIT ............. 365
Batteries ............................................ 370
Charging the batteries ................. 371
Towing the vehicle ............................. 373
Installing/reinstalling towing eye bolt..
375
Points to bear in mind .................. 375
Transporting the vehicle .............. 375
Fuses ................................................. 376
Technical data................................. 378
Parts service ...................................... 380
Warranty coverage ............................ 381
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 381
Identification labels ........................... 382
Engine number ............................. 382
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 383
Engine ............................................... 384
Rims and tires ................................... 385
Mixed size tires ............................ 386
Winter tires* ................................ 388
Electrical system ............................... 390
Main dimensions ............................... 391

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
Emergency Tensioning Device (ETD)
and air bag
i
Air bags are designed to activate only in cer-
tain frontal impacts (front air bags, knee air
bags) and side impacts (head-thorax air bags)
which exceed preset thresholds. Only during
these types of impacts will they provide their
supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger should always wear
their seat belts. Otherwise it is not possible for
the air bags to provide their supplemental
protection.
In cases of other types of impacts and impacts
below air bag deployment thresholds, air bags
will not deploy. The driver and passenger will
then be protected to the extent possible by a
properly fastened seat belt. A properly fastened
seat belt is also needed to provide the best pos-
sible protection in a rollover.
We caution you not to rely on the presence of the
air bags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt.
It is important to your safety and that of your pas-
senger that you replace deployed air bags and
repair any malfunctioning air bags to ensure that
the vehicle will continue to provide supplemental
crash protection for occupants.
Warning!
G


Damaged seat belts or seat belts that
were highly stressed in an accident
must be replaced and their anchoring
points must also be checked. Only use
seat belts installed or supplied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.


Air bags and ETDs are designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis. An air bag
or ETD that was activated must be
replaced.


Air bags and ETDs contain perchlorate
material, which may require special han-
dling and regard for the environment.
Check with your local government’s dis-
posal guidelines. California residents,
see www.dtsc.ca.gov/Hazardous-
Waste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.


Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.


Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat
belts.


Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash,
they may not be able to provide
adequate protection.


No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or
removing any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, passenger front air bag cov-
er, door frame trims, or door trim pan-
els, and installation of additional
electrical/electronic equipment on or
near SRS components and wiring. Keep
area between air bags and occupants
free from objects (e.g. packages,
purses, umbrellas, etc.).


Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.

259 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
For safety reasons, only use tires and rims
which have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on SLR vehicles.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information on tested and
recommended rims and tires for summer
and winter operation. They can also offer
advice concerning tire service and
purchase.
Important guidelines

For the first 100 miles (160 km) avoid
high-speed cornering. Do not exceed a
speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).
1


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


Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.


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
required.
Warning!
G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged.


The operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct.
Warning!
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Have worn or damaged tires replaced in
pairs (front pair or rear pair) an make sure
the tires rotate in the direction specified
(page 262). Otherwise, the driving stabili-
ty of the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result 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.
!
A wheel change should only be carried out
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Other-
wise there is a danger of damaging the vehicle by
jacking it up incorrectly.
1Please always drive carefully and obey applicable
speed limits.

276 OperationTires and wheelsOverinflated tires
Overinflated tires can:

adversely affect handling
characteristics


cause uneven tire wear


be more prone to damage from road
hazards


adversely affect ride comfort


increase stopping distance
Tire labeling
Besides tire name (sales designation) and
manufacturer name, a number of markings
can be found on a tire.
Following are some explanations for the
markings on your vehicle’s tires:1Uniform Quality Grading Standards
(
page 284)
2DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
(page 281)
3Maximum tire load (
page 282)
4Maximum tire inflation pressure
(
page 283)
5Manufacturer
6Tire ply material (
page 286)
7Tire size designation, load and speed
rating (
page 277)
8Load identification (
page 280)
9Tire name
Warning!
G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
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.
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary
from data shown in above illustration.
For more information, see “Rims and tires”
(
page 385).

278 OperationTires and wheelsRim diameter
The rim diameter4 (
page 277) is the
diameter of the bead seat, not the
diameter of the rim edge. Rim diameter is
indicated in inches (in).
Tire load rating
The tire load rating5 (page 277) is a
numerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.
For example, a load rating of 91 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 1356 lb
(615 kg) the tire is designed to support.
See also “Maximum tire load”
(
page 282) where the maximum load as-
sociated with the load index is indicated in
kilograms and lb.For additional information on tire load
rating, see “Load identification”
(
page 280).
Warning!
G
The tire load rating must always be at least
half of the GAWR (
page 287) of your
vehicle. Otherwise tire failure may be the re-
sult which may cause an accident and/or
serious injury to you or others.
Always replace rims and tires with the same
designation, manufacturer and type as
shown on the original part.
Warning!
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the Tire and Loading
Information placard located on the driver’s
door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can over-
heat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Overloading the tires can also result in han-
dling or steering problems, or brake failure.
i
Tire load rating5 (
page 277) and tire
speed rating6 (
page 277) are also referred
to as “service description”.

290 OperationTires and wheelsThoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side
of the wheels/tires, during each rotation.
Check for and ensure proper tire inflation
pressure.
For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 365).
Anti-theft wheel nuts
Your vehicle is equipped with anti-theft
wheel nuts that prevent the theft of your
vehicle’s wheels.
1Anti-theft wheel nut
2Wheel nut key
Removing anti-theft wheel nuts

Unscrew anti-theft wheel nut1 using
wheel nut key2.

Replace anti-theft wheel nut1 with
one of the regular wheel bolts.

Fasten the wheel bolt and tighten it
with a torque wrench to a tightening
torque of 95 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
95 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Only use Genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle’s rims.
Warning!
G
Pull the parking brake lever up as many
notches as possible and move the gear se-
lector lever to park positionP, before loos-
ening the wheel bolts. Otherwise the vehicle
may move and cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury. !
Do not use air tools, such as an impact
wrench, when installing or removing the
anti-theft wheel nuts. An impact wrench can
damage the anti-theft wheel nuts and the wheel
nut key, or cause them to malfunction.
!
Store wheel bolts and anti-theft wheel nuts
not currently in use in a safe place to avoid
damage to the threads.

Technical dataParts service
Warranty coverage
Identification labels
Layout of poly-V-belt drive
Engine
Rims and tires
Electrical system
Main dimensions
Weights
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.

385 Technical data
Rims and tires
Rims and tires
!
For safety reasons, only use tires and rims
which have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on SLR vehicles. Tires
approved by Mercedes-Benz are developed to
provide best possible performance in conjunc-
tion with the driving safety systems on your
vehicle such as ABS or ESP
®.
!
Using tires and rims other than those ap-
proved 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 dimen-
sional variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
This may result in damage to the tires or the
vehicle.
i
Further information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter. A placard with the recommended tire infla-
tion pressures is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar. Some vehicles may have supplemental
tire pressure information for driving at high
speeds (
page 269) or for vehicle loads less
than the maximum loaded vehicle condition. If
such information is provided, it can be found on
the placard located on the inside of the fuel filler
flap. The tire pressure should be checked regu-
larly and should only be adjusted on cold tires.
Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.