Directives to be observed
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
R Only mount tires of the correct size onto
the wheels.
R After mounting new tires, run them in at
moderate speeds for the first 60 miles
(100 km) as they only reach their full
performance after this distance.
R Mount new tires on the front wheels first if
tires of the same size are required on the
front and rear wheels.
R Do not use tires that are excessively worn
as the tire traction on wet road surfaces
decreases significantly when the tread
depth is less than 1
/ 8 in (3 mm).
R If the vehicle is heavily laden, check the tire
pressures and correct them if necessary.
R When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb
or other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive
over curbs, speed humps or similar
elevations, try to do so slowly and at an
obtuse angle. Otherwise, the tires,
particularly the sidewalls, can get
damaged.
Maintenance and care of wheels and
tires
Checking wheels and tires
GWarning
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged 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 worn to minimum tread depth, or if
the tires have sustained damage, replace
them.
R Regularly check the wheels and tires of
your vehicle for damage (e.g. cuts,
punctures, tears, bulges on tires and
deformation or cracks or severe corrosion
on wheels), at least once a month, as well
as after driving off-road or on rough roads.
Damaged wheels can cause a loss of tire
pressure.
R Regularly check the tire tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the whole
width of the tire (Y page 305). If necessary,
turn the front wheels to full lock in order to
inspect the inner side of the tire surface.
R All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything on the valve (such as tire
pressure monitoring systems) other than
the standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle.
R Regularly check the pressure of all the tires
including the emergency spare wheel or the
spare wheel, particularly prior to long trips,
and correct the pressure as necessary
( Y page 306).
Service life of tires
The service life of tires depends on the
following factors amongst other things:
R driving style
R tire pressure
R mileage
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel.
Tire tread
GWarning
Although the applicable federal motor vehicle
safety laws consider a tire to be worn when
the tread wear indicators (TWI) become
visible at approximately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm), we
recommend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
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approaches 1
/ 8 in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Do not use tires until they are excessively
worn as the tire traction on wet road surfaces
decreases significantly when the tread depth
is less than 1
/ 8 in (3 mm).
Tread wear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible as soon as a tread
depth of approximately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm) is
reached. If this is the case, the tire is so worn
that it must be replaced.
The recommended tread depth for summer
tires is at least 1
/ 8 in (3 mm). The
recommended tread depth for winter tires is
at least 1
/ 6 in (4 mm).
Bar marking
: for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Storing tires
Store tires that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
Cleaning tiresGWarning
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles (concentrated-power jets) to clean
your vehicle, especially for cleaning tires. You
could otherwise damage the tires and cause
an accident.
Tire pressures
Recommended tire pressures
GWarning
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 overheated.
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.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver's door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
A table of recommended tire pressures can
be found on the Tire and Load Information
placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side of
your vehicle ( Y page 314). You will find a
table of tire pressures for various operating
conditions on the inside of your vehicle's fuel
filler flap.
To test tire pressure, use a suitable pressure
gauge. The outer appearance of a tire does
not permit any reliable conclusion about the
tire pressure. On vehicles equipped with the
electronic tire pressure monitor, the tire
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pressure can be checked in the on-board
computer.GWarning!
Should the tire pressure drop repeatedly:
R check the tire for foreign bodies.
R check whether the wheel is losing air or the
valve is leaking.
R make sure that only a valve cap approved
by Mercedes-Benz is installed on the tire
valve.
tire pressure that is too low have a negative
effect on vehicle safety, which could lead you
to cause an accident.
Only correct tire pressures when the tires are
cold. The tires are cold when the vehicle has
been parked for at least three hours or has
been driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) in this
time. The tire temperature changes
depending on the outside temperature, the
vehicle speed and the tire load. A change in
tire temperature of 18 ‡ (10 †) changes the
tire pressure by approximately 10 kPa
(0.1 bar/1.5 psi). Take this into account when
checking the pressure of warm tires and only
correct the tire pressure if it is too low for the
current operating conditions. If you check the
tire pressure when the tires are warm, the
resulting value will be higher than if the tires
were cold. This is normal. Do not reduce the
tire pressure to the value specified for cold
tires. The tire pressure would otherwise be
too low.
Comply with the recommended tire pressure
specifications for cold tires on the Tire and
Load Information placard on the B-pillar on
the driver's side of your vehicle.
i The following data on the Tire and Load
Information placard is given as an example.
Tire pressure specifications are vehicle-
specific and may deviate from the data
shown here. The tire pressures applicable
to your vehicle can be found on the Tire and
Loading Information placard on your
vehicle.
On the Tire and Load Information placard you
will find recommended tire pressure
information : for cold tires on a fully laden
vehicle. The tire pressure information is
applicable to all tires mounted at the factory.
Important notes on tire pressures
GWarning
If the tire pressure drops repeatedly, check
the tires for punctures from foreign objects
and/or whether air is leaking from the valves
or from around the rim.
The tire temperature and pressure increase
when the vehicle is in motion. This is
dependent on the driving speed and the load.
If you wish to drive at high speeds of 100 mph
(160 km/h) or higher when this is allowed,
use the tire pressure table on the inside of the
fuel filler flap to set the correct tire pressures
when the wheels are cold. If the tire pressure
is not set correctly, this can lead to an
excessive build up of heat and a sudden loss
of pressure.
For more information, contact a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Ride comfort may be affected if the tire
pressure is adjusted to the recommended
value for speeds of over 100 mph
(160 km/h).
Make sure that the tire pressure for normal
speeds is adopted again.
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Additional specifications of tire pressure
values for loads can also be found on the tire
pressure table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap.
The tire pressure for emergency spare wheels
can be found:
R on the yellow sticker on the wheel rim of
the emergency spare wheel
R in the "Tires" section ( Y page 327) in this
Operator's Manual
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B-pillar
i The specifications shown in the examples
in the tire pressure tables are only
examples. Tire pressure specifications are
vehicle-specific and may deviate from the
data shown here. The tire pressure
specifications that are valid for your vehicle
can be found on your vehicle's tire pressure
table.
The tire pressures in the tire pressure table
on the inside of the fuel filler flap are valid for
all approved tires installed at the factory,
unless stated otherwise.
The tire pressure table is valid for all approved tires
installed at the factory (example)
If the tire pressure precedes a tire size, the
tire pressure specification is only valid for this
tire size. The vehicle loading conditions
"partially laden" or "fully laden" are specified
using a differing number of persons and
luggage in the table. The actual number of
seats may differ from this.
Tire pressure table with tire sizes (example)
Some tire pressure tables only show the rim
diameter instead of the complete tire size,
e.g. R18 . The rim diameter is a component of
the tire size and can be read from the tire
sidewall ( Y page 321).
Tire pressure too low or too high
Underinflated tires
GWarning
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 overheated.
Underinflated tires can:
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R adversely affect fuel economy
R fail from being overheated
R adversely affect handling
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Overinflated tires can:GWarning
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.
Overinflated tires can:
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R be more likely to become damaged
R adversely affect ride comfort
R increase stopping distance
Checking tire pressures
Important safety notes
GWarning
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 overheated.
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.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver's door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also result
in handling or steering problems, or brake
failure.
Check the tire pressure at least once a month.
Only check and correct tire pressures when
the tires are cold ( Y page 306).
Checking the tire pressures manually
In order to determine and adjust the tire
pressures, proceed as follows:
XRemove the valve cap of the tire you wish
to check.XPress the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.XRead the tire pressure and compare it with
the recommended value on the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the
B-pillar on the driver's side of your vehicle.XIf necessary, increase the tire pressure to
the recommended value ( Y page 306).XIf the tire pressure is too high, release air
by pressing down the metal pin in the valve
using the tip of a pen, for example. Then,
check the tire pressure again using the tire
pressure gauge.XScrew the valve cap onto the valve.XRepeat the steps for the other tires.
Tire pressure loss warning system
(Canada only)
Important safety notes
While the vehicle is in motion, the tire
pressure loss warning system monitors the
set tire pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tire. If the speed
of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of
a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appear in the multifunction
display.
GWarning
If the Check Tire Pressure Soon message
appears in the multifunction display, one or
more tires are significantly underinflated.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible and
inflate the tires to the pressure specified on
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the vehicle's Tire and Loading Information
placard or (where available) in the tire
pressure table.
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.
Check all tires when cold, including the spare
tire, at least once a month. The tires should
be inflated to the recommended pressure.
This information can be found:
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the B-pillar on the driver's side
or
R in the table for the tire pressure on the
inside of the fuel filler flapGWarning!
The tire pressure loss warning system does
not provide a warning for wrongly selected tire
inflation pressures. Always adjust tire
inflation pressure according to the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the driver's
door B-pillar or on the tire inflation pressure
label located on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The tire pressure loss warning system does
not replace regular checks of the tire inflation
pressures since a gradual pressure loss in
more than one tire cannot be detected by the
tire pressure loss warning system.
The tire pressure loss warning system is not
able to issue a warning due to a sudden
dramatic loss of tire inflation pressure (e.g.
tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In
this case bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully
applying the brakes and avoiding abrupt
steering maneuvers.
The function of the tire pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are mounted on your vehicle.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
Ryou adopt a very sporty driving style
(cornering at high speeds or driving with
high rates of acceleration).
R you are driving with a heavy cargo (in the
vehicle or on the roof).
Restarting the tire pressure loss
warning system
Restart the tire pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R changed the tire pressure
R changed the wheels or tires
R mounted new wheels or tires
XBefore restarting, refer to the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the
B-pillar on the driver's side or the tire
pressure table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap to ensure the tire pressure in all four
tires is set correctly for the current
operating conditions.XObserve the notes in the section on tire
pressures ( Y page 306).GWarning
The tire pressure loss warning system can
only give reliable warnings if you have set the
correct tire pressure.
If an incorrect tire pressure is set, these
incorrect values will be monitored.
A tire with insufficient pressure results in
vehicle instability when driving, thus
increasing the risk of an accident.
XMake sure that the SmartKey is in
position 2 ( Y page 151) in the ignition lock.XPress the = or ; button to select the
Service menu.XPress the 9 or : button to select
Tire Pressure .XPress the a button.
The Run Flat Indicator Active
Press 'OK' to Restart message
appears in the multifunction display.310Tire pressuresTires and wheels
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If you wish to confirm the restart:XPress the a button.
The Tire Pressure Now OK? message
appears in the multifunction display.XPress 9 or : to select Yes.XPress the a button.
The Run Flat Indicator Restarted
message appears in the multifunction
display.
After a teach-in period, the tire pressure
loss warning system will monitor the set
tire pressures of all four tires.
If you wish to cancel the restart:
XPress the % button.
or
XIf the message: Tire Pressure now OK?
appears, use 9 or : to select
Cancel .XPress the a button.
The tire pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored.
Tire pressure monitoring system
(USA only)
Important safety information
The tire pressure monitoring system consists
of sensors installed in the vehicle wheels that
monitor the air pressure in all four tires. The
tire pressure monitoring system warns you
when the pressure in one or more tires
decreases. It only works when the
corresponding sensors are installed on all the
wheels.
The tire pressure monitor informs you via a
yellow warning lamp in the instrument cluster
about pressure loss or if the system is
malfunctioning. Whether the warning lamp
flashes or lights up indicates whether a tire
pressure is too low or the tire pressure
monitor is malfunctioning:
R If the warning lamp is lit up constantly, one
or more of your tires are significantly
underinflated. The tire pressure monitor is
not malfunctioning.
R If the warning lamp flashes for 60 seconds
and is then lit constantly, the tire pressure
monitor is malfunctioning.GWarning!
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 table on the driver's door B-pillar
or the tire inflation pressure table 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 table or
the tire inflation pressure table, 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
(TPMS). An indicator lamp lights up if one or
more of your tires are significantly
underinflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure indicator lamp lights up, 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 at which the low tire
pressure indicator lamp of the TPMS lights up.
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 indicator lamp. When the
system detects a malfunction, the indicator
lamp will flash for approximately 1 minute and
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then remain illuminated. This sequence will
continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups
as long as the malfunction exists. When the
malfunction indicator is lit, 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 indicator 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 the tire pressure monitoring system
malfunctions, it may take up to 10 minutes
before the malfunction is displayed to you
by the tire pressure warning lamp flashing
for 60 seconds and then remaining lit.
When the error has been rectified, the tire
pressure warning lamp goes out after a few
minutes of driving.
Information on tire pressures is displayed in
the multifunction display. After a few minutes
of driving, the current tire pressure of each
tire is shown in the multifunction display.
i The tire pressure values in the on-board
computer may deviate from the inflation
pressure as measured using a tire pressure
checker at the filling station. The tire
pressures shown in the on-board computer
refer to pressures at sea level. At high
altitudes, a tire pressure checker will
display a higher tire pressure than the on-
board computer. In this case do not reduce
the tire pressure.
i If radio transmitting equipment (e.g. radio
headphones, a two-way radio) is operated
in or near the vehicle, this can lead to the
function of the tire pressure monitor being
impaired.i This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. This device must withstand any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.
Checking the tire pressure
electronicallyXMake sure that the key is in position
2 (Y page 151) in the ignition lock.XUsing = or ; , select the Serv.
menu.XUsing 9 or : , select Tire
Pressure .XPress the a button.
The current tire pressure of each tire is
shown in the multifunction display.
If the vehicle has been parked for longer than
20 minutes and subsequently you have not
driven faster than 15 mph (25 km/h), the
Tire pressures will be displayed
after driving for a few minutes
message is shown.
After a teach-in process, the tire pressure
monitor automatically detects new wheels or
new sensors. As long as it is not possible to
allocate tire pressure values to individual
wheel positions, the Tire Pressure
Monitor Active message appears instead
of the tire pressure display. The tire pressures
are already being monitored.
i If a spare wheel is installed, the system
may continue to show the tire pressure of
the wheel that has been removed for a few
minutes. If this occurs, note that the value
displayed for the position where the
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel is
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