Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45‡ (7†) and whenever wintry road
conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires
provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflakeimarking on the tire sidewall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and
have been designed specifically for use in
snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the
only way to achieve the maximum
effectiveness of your vehicle’s driving safety
systems such as the ABS and the ESP
®
in
winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.
For information on winter tires for your
vehicle model, see the “Technical data”
section ( Y page 297).
Always
observe the speed rating of the winter
tires installed on your vehicle. Snow chains
! Some tire sizes do not leave adequate
clearance for snow chains. To help avoid
serious damage to your vehicle or tires,
make sure the use of snow chains is
permissible as specified in the “Technical
data” section of this Operator’s Manual.
Snow chains should only be driven on snow-
covered roads at speeds not to exceed
30 mph (50 km/h)
. Remove chains as soon
as possible when driving on roads without
snow.
Observe the following guidelines when using
snow chains:
R Use of snow chains is not permissible with
all wheel/tire combinations ( Y page 297).
R Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions. !
If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body
or
axle components. The tires or the vehicle
could be damaged as a result.
R Only use snow chains that are approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center will be glad to advise you on
this subject.
R Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check local
and state laws before installing snow
chains.
R Do not use snow chains on the spare wheel.
i When driving with snow chains, you may
wish to switch off the ESP ®
(Y page 49)
before setting the vehicle in motion. This
will improve the vehicle’s traction. Winter driving instructions
G
Warning!
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) gases may enter vehicle interior
resulting in unconsciousness and death.
To
assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind. G
Warning!
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing
point do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. G
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result
in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle 220
Winter driving
Operation
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G
Warning!
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar
or the tire inflation pressure label on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the Tire and Loading Information 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 monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly underinflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’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.
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 combined with
the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately 1 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 intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
incompatible 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. Lamp in center console
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions04
The passenger front air
bag off indicator lamp
illuminates and
remains illuminated
with the weight of a
typical adult or
someone larger than a
small individual on the
passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.
X
Have the system checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Read and observe messages in the multifunction display and
follow corrective steps (Y page 236). What to do if …
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Mounting the spare wheel
Introduction X
Prepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 273).
X Take the following out of the vehicle:
R
spare wheel
R jack
R wheel wrench
R collapsible wheel chock
R wheel bolts for spare wheel
R alignment bolt
R electric air pump
For information on where to find the
respective items, see “Where will I find ...?”
(Y page 234) and ( Y page 235).
i Vehicles without spare wheel are not
factory-equipped
with the tools required for
a wheel change such as a jack or a wheel
wrench. Some tools required for a wheel
change are specific to your vehicle.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to obtain the tools approved for
your vehicle. This section describes the
wheel change using the tools approved and
recommended for your vehicle.
Lifting the vehicle G
Warning!
When jacking up the vehicle, only use the jack
which has been specifically approved by
Mercedes-Benz for your vehicle.
The
jack is designed exclusively for jacking up
the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets built
into both sides of the vehicle. Make sure the
jack arm is fully seated in the jack take-up
bracket. The jack must always be vertical
when in use, especially on inclines or
declines.
The jack is intended only for lifting the vehicle
briefly for wheel changes. It is not suited for
performing maintenance work under the vehicle. To help avoid personal injury, use the
jack only to lift the vehicle during a wheel
change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is
supported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity
jackstands before working under the
vehicle.
Always engage the parking brake firmly and
block the wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizeable objects before raising the vehicle
with the jack. Do not disengage the parking
brake while the vehicle is raised.
Make sure that the ground on which the
vehicle is standing and where you place the
jack is solid, level and not slippery. If
necessary, use a large underlay. On slippery
surfaces, such as tiled floors, you should use
a non-slip underlay, for example a rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
to support the jack. Otherwise the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing
capacity if it is not at its full height.
Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking
wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizeable objects.
When your vehicle is equipped with a wheel
chock, it is included with the vehicle tool kit
(Y page 234). For information on setting up
the collapsible wheel chock, see
(Y page 234).
When changing a wheel on a level surface:
X Place a wheel chock or other sizeable
object
in front of and another wheel chock
or other sizeable object behind the wheel
that is diagonally opposite to the wheel
being changed. Flat tire
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Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack on
a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a hill:
X
Place wheel chocks or other sizeable
objects on the downhill side in front of both
wheels on the side opposite to the side on
which the wheel is to be changed. G
Warning!
Only jack up the vehicle on level ground or on
slight inclines/declines. Otherwise, the
vehicle could fall off the jack and injure you or
others. X
On the wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with wheel
wrench :).
The jack take-up brackets are located directly
behind the front wheel housings and in front
of the rear wheel housings. G
Warning!
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up
the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets. Make
sure the jack arm is fully seated in the jack
take-up bracket.
If you do not position the jack correctly in the
jack take-up bracket, the vehicle can fall off
the jack and seriously or fatally injure you or
others.
! Do not position the jack on the body of
the vehicle, as this may cause damage to
the vehicle. X
Place jack = on firm ground.
X Position jack = under take-up
bracket ; so that it is always vertical as
seen from the side, even if the vehicle is
parked on an incline. X
Turn crank ? clockwise until jack = is
fully seated in take-up bracket ; and the
jack base evenly meets the ground.
X Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the ground.
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!
This vehicle is not designed to carry items
on its roof. Roof rails and any roof-mounted
devices, unless expressly approved by
Mercedes-Benz for use on this vehicle
model, must not be used as they will
damage the vehicle and retractable
hardtop.
At time of printing, Mercedes-Benz does
not offer any roof racks or any other roof-
mounted devices for use on this vehicle.
! This vehicle is not designed to carry any
items on its trunk lid or accommodate any
type of trunk lid rack or device. Using such
devices may damage the vehicle and
retractable hardtop mechanism. Rims and tires
Notes
! Only
use tires which have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Tires
approved by Mercedes-Benz are developed
to provide best possible performance in
conjunction with the driving safety systems
on your vehicle such as the ABS or the
ESP ®
. Tires specially developed for your
vehicle and tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be identified by finding
the following on the tire’s sidewall:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
equipment tires
Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz may result in damage that
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
! Using tires other than those approved by
Mercedes-Benz can have detrimental
effects, such as
R poor handling characteristics
R increased noise
R increased fuel consumption Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may, under load, exhibit
dimensional variations and different tire
deformation characteristics that could
cause them to come into contact with the
vehicle body or axle parts. Damage to the
tires or the vehicle may be the result.
i Further information on tires and rims is
available
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. The Tire and Loading Information
placard with the recommended tire
inflation pressures for cold tires is located
on the driver’s door B-pillar. Supplemental
tire inflation pressure information for
driving at high speeds or for vehicle loads
less than the maximum loaded vehicle
condition can be found on the tire inflation
pressure label. The tire inflation pressure
label is located on the inside of the fuel filler
flap. The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly and should only be
adjusted on cold tires. Follow tire
manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with the vehicle.
For information on recommended tire
inflation pressure and supplemental tire
inflation pressure information for special
driving situations, see ( Y page 198).
i Please keep in mind that the vehicle must
be equipped
R with wheels of identical dimensions on
each axle (left and right)
R with tires of identical characteristics all
around, i.e. summer tires, winter tires, or
all-season tires etc.
i The following pages also list the approved
rim and tire sizes for equipping your vehicle
with winter tires. Winter tires are not
available as standard or optional factory
equipment, but can be purchased from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Equipping your vehicle with winter tires
approved for your vehicle model may
require the purchase of rims of the Rims and tires
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recommended size for use with these
winter
tires. This depends on vehicle model
and the standard or optional factory- equipped wheel rim/tire configuration on
your
vehicle. For more information contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Same size tires
SLK 300
16"
wheels Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
7 J x 16 H2
1.34 in (34 mm)
Winter tires
26,27 205/55 R16 91H M+S
i SLK 300
SLK 300 (Sport Package)
SLK 350
SLK 350 (Sport Package) SLK 55 AMG
17"
wheels Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
7.5 J x 17 H2
1.42 in (36 mm) —
AMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
— 7.5 J x 17 H2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Winter tires
26,27 225/45 R17 91H M+S
i 205/50 R17 89H
M+S
i 28 Winter tires
26,27 — 225/45 R17 91H
M+S
i 28 SLK 55 AMG
SLK 55 AMG (Performance Package)
18"
wheels AMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
7.5 J x 18 H2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Winter tires
26,27,28 225/40 R18 92H XL (Extra Load) M+S
i26
Radial-ply tires.
27 Not available as factory equipment.
28 For use with snow chains, contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 298
Rims and tires
Technical data
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Mixed size tires
SLK 300
29 16"
wheels Front axle Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
7 J x 16 H2
1.34 in (34 mm)
Summer tires
30 205/55 R16 91W
Rear axle Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
8 J x 16 H2
1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires
30,31 225/50 R16 92W
SLK 300
32
SLK 300 (Sport Package) 29
SLK 350 32 17"
wheels Front axle Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
7.5 J x 17 H2
1.42 in (36 mm)
Summer tires
30 225/45 R17 91W
Rear axle Rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
8.5 J x 17 H2
1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires
30,31 245/40 R17 91W
SLK 300 (AMG Sport Package)
32
SLK 350 29
SLK 350 (AMG Sport Package) 32
SLK 55 AMG
SLK
55 AMG (Performance Package) 18"
wheels Front axle AMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
7.5 J x 18 H2
1.46 in (37 mm)
Summer tires
30 225/40 ZR18 92Y XL (Extra Load)
Rear axle AMG rims (light alloy)
Wheel offset
8.5 J x 18 H2
1.18 in (30 mm)
Summer tires
30,31 245/35 ZR18 92Y XL (Extra Load)
29
Canada only.
30 Radial-ply tires.
31 Must not be used with snow chains.
32 USA only. Rims and tires
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