2009 MERCEDES-BENZ SLR wheel size

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

85 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
For more information, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 304).
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP
® when you see the
ABS/ESP
® warning lamp v flashing in
the instrument cluster. In this case proceed
as follows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving, ease up on the
accelerator.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
Warning!
G
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
® equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (SmartKey in starter
switch position 0 or1) when the parking brake is
being tested on a brake test dynamometer.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
The ESP
® will only function properly if you use
wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 385).

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.

260 OperationTires and wheels

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).


When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Tire care and maintenance
Check the tire inflation pressure at least
every other week. For more information on
checking tire inflation pressure, see “Rec-
ommended tire inflation pressure”
(page 268).Tire inspection
Every time you check your tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your
tires for the following:


excessive treadwear (
page 261)


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.
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.
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.
Warning!
G
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.

262 OperationTires and wheelsStoring tires
Cleaning tires
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning perfor-
mance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.
Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.
1) The Tire and Loading Information
placard can be found on the driver’s
door B-pillar. This placard tells you im-
portant information about the number
of people that can be in the vehicle and
the total weight that can be carried in
the vehicle. It also contains information
on the proper size and recommended
tire inflation pressures for the original
equipment tires on your vehicle.
!
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible.
Protect tires from contact with oil, grease and
gasoline.
!
Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Warning!
G
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.
Warning!
G
19" turbine-style wheels:
The wheels must be mounted corresponding
to the labelling on the inside of the rim,
where LEFT refers to the left-hand side of
the vehicle and RIGHT to the right-hand side
of the vehicle, both seen in direction of trav-
el. When unidirectional tires are mounted,
make sure that they rotate in the direction
specified. Otherwise, the driving stability of
the vehicle will be adversely affected,
especially when driving at high speeds.

265 Operation
Tires and wheels
Step 2
Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
Step 3

Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from
XXX kilograms or XXX lbs.
Step 4

The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the “XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs and there will
be five 150 lbs passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs
(1400 - 750 (5 x150) = 650 lbs).Step 5

Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in step 4.
Step 6 (if applicable)

If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduces
the available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle (
page 267).The following table shows examples on
how to calculate total and cargo load
capacities with varying seating configura-
tions and number and size of occupants.
The following examples use a load limit
of 1500 lbs. This is for illustration
purposes only. Make sure you are using
the actual load limit for your vehicle stated
on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Informa-
tion placard (
page 264).

273 Operation
Tires and wheels
Warning!
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked every other week when
cold and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
or the tire inflation pressure label. If your ve-
hicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard or the tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain correct
tire pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately
one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able to
detect or signal low tire pressure as intend-
ed. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a vari-
ety of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.i
If a condition causing the TPMS to malfunc-
tion develops, it may take up to 10 minutes for
the system to signal a malfunction using the
TPMS telltale flashing and illumination se-
quence.
The telltale extinguishes after a few minutes driv-
ing if the malfunction has been corrected.
i
Operating radio transmission equipment
(e.g. wireless headsets, two-way radios) in or
near the vehicle could cause the TPMS to mal-
function.

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).