2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS spare tire

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 247). 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 onto 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 spare wheel, particularly prior
to long trips, and correct the pressure as
necessary ( Y page 249).
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
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 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).
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).
Indicator
: for tread wear is integrated into
the tire tread.
Notes on selecting, mounting and
replacing tires
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 installing 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 Do not use tires that are excessively worn
as the tire traction on wet road surfaces
Operation247Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com

decreases significantly when the tread
depth is less than 1
/ 8 in (3 mm).
R Replace the tires after six years at the
latest, regardless of wear. This also applies
to the spare wheel.
The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
R driving style
R tire pressure
R mileage
Winter operation
Please bear the following in mind
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of
winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( Y page 269).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), the
elasticity of summer tires and therefore also
traction and braking capability are reduced
considerably — equip your vehicle with
M+S tires. Using summer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage.
M+S tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), use
winter tires or all-season tires. Both types of
tire are identified by the M+S marking.
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide the
driving characteristics of winter tires. In
addition to the M+S marking, winter tires also
bear the snowflake symbol i on the
sidewall. Tires with this marking fulfill the
requirements of the Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA) and the Rubber
Association of Canada (RAC) regarding snow
traction and were specially developed for
driving on snow. Only these tires will allow
driving safety systems such as ABS and
ESP ®
to function optimally in winter, as these
tires have been designed specifically for
driving on snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling
characteristics.
i For further information on tires, see the
"Wheels and tires" section ( Y page 232).GWarning
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than 1
/ 6
inch (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
installed.
When you have installed the M+S tires:
XCheck the tire pressures ( Y page 249).XRestart the tire pressure monitor
( Y page 255).GWarning
If you use your spare wheel when M+S tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may very
well impair turning stability and that overall
driving stability may be reduced. Adapt your
driving style accordingly.
Have the spare wheel replaced by a regular
road wheel with an M+S tire at the nearest
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use snow chains
which have been specially approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a
corresponding standard of quality.
248Winter operationWheels and tires
ProCarManuals.com

Make sure that the tire pressure for normal
speeds is adopted again.
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.
Observe the following for the tire pressure on
the spare wheel:
R the tire and loading information table on
the B-pillar on the driver's side.
R the tire pressure sticker on the inside of the
fuel filler flap.
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.
If no other data is stated, the tire pressures
specified on the fuel filler flap apply for all
tires approved for this vehicle.
Tire pressure table for all approved tires installed
at the factory (example)
If a tire size precedes a tire pressure, the tire
pressure information following is only valid
for that tire size. The load conditions "partially
laden" and "fully laden" are defined in the
table for different numbers of passengers and
amounts of luggage. 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. R16 . The rim diameter is part of the tire
size and can be found on the tire sidewall
( Y page 263).
Tire pressure too low or too high
Underinflation
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 may:
R wear quickly and unevenly
R have an adverse effect on fuel consumption
R overheat leading to tire defects
R have an adverse effect on handling
characteristics
Tire pressure251Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com

Check the tire pressures at least once a
month.
Only check and correct tire pressures when
the tires are cold ( Y page 249).
Checking the tire pressure manually
To determine and set the correct tire
pressure, proceed as follows:
XRemove the valve cap of the tire that is to
be checked.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 table on the B-pillar on
the driver's side of your vehicle.XIf necessary, increase the tire pressure to
the recommended value ( Y page 249).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 these steps for the other tires.
Tire pressure monitor
Important safety notes
If a tire pressure monitor system is installed,
the vehicle's wheels have sensors that
monitor the tire pressures in all four tires. The
tire pressure monitor warns you when the
pressure drops in one or more of the tires. The
tire pressure monitor only functions if the
correct wheel electronics units are installed
on all wheels.
The tire pressure monitor has a yellow
warning lamp in the instrument cluster for
indicating pressure loss/malfunctions (USA)
or pressure loss (Canada). Whether the
warning lamp flashes or lights up indicates
whether a tire pressure is too low or the tire
pressure monitoring system is
malfunctioning:
R If the warning lamp is lit continuously, the
tire pressure on one or more tires is
significantly too low. The tire pressure
monitor is not malfunctioning.
R USA only: if the warning lamp flashes for
60 seconds and then remains lit constantly,
the tire pressure monitor is malfunctioning.GWarning!
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures. Always
adjust tire inflation pressure according to the
Tire and Loading Information placard or the
supplemental tire inflation pressure
information on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due
to a sudden dramatic loss of 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.
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 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
Tire pressure253Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com

2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Unauthorized modifications to the device
can lead to the invalidation of the operating
agreement of the device.
Checking tire pressure electronicallyXMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 (Y page 117) in the ignition lock.XPress and hold the V or U button on
the multifunction steering wheel until the
standard display appears in the
multifunction display ( Y page 160).XPress and hold the & or * button
until the current tire pressure of each tire
is shown in the multifunction display.
If the vehicle has been parked for over 20
minutes, the Tire pressure displayed
only after driving for a few
minutes message appears.
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 spare
tire is installed is not the same as the spare
tire's current tire pressure.
Tire pressure monitor warning
messages
If the tire pressure monitor detects a
significant pressure loss on one or more tires,
a warning message is shown in the
multifunction display. A warning tone also
sounds and the tire pressure warning lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.
Each tire that is affected by a significant loss
of pressure is highlighted by a red rectangle.
i If the wheel positions on the vehicle are
interchanged, the tire pressures may be
displayed for the wrong positions for a
short time. This is rectified after a few
minutes of driving, and the tire pressures
are displayed for the correct positions.
Restarting the tire pressure monitorGWarning
It is the driver's responsibility to set the tire
inflation pressure to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure. Underinflated tires
affect the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You might lose control over the vehicle.
When you restart the tire pressure monitor,
all existing warning messages are deleted and
the warning lamps go out. The monitor uses
the currently set tire pressures as the
reference values for monitoring.
The tire pressure monitor must be restarted
when you set the tire pressure to a new value
(as a result of changed drive or load
characteristics, for example). The tire
pressure monitor then monitors the new tire
pressure values.
i Canada only: in most cases, the tire
pressure monitor recognizes the new
reference values automatically. However,
you can also define reference values
manually as described here.
Restart the tire pressure monitor after you
have set the tire pressure to the value
recommended for the desired driving
situation ( Y page 249). Only correct tire
pressures on cold tires. Comply with the
recommended tire pressures on the tire and
loading information table on the B-pillar on
the driver's side. Additional tire pressure
values for driving at high speeds or with heavy
loads can be found in the tire pressure table
on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
XMake sure that the tire pressure is correct
on all four wheels.XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.XPress and hold the V or U button on
the multifunction steering wheel until theTire pressure255Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com

DLoad index (Y page 265)ETire name
i
Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Indication of tire size, load-bearing
capacity and speed index
:Tire width;Nominal aspect ration in %=Tire code?Rim diameterALoad bearing indexBSpeed index
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
General: depending on the manufacturer's
standards, the size imprinted in the tire wall
may not contain any letters or may contain
one letter that precedes the size description.
If there is no letter preceding the size
description (as shown above): these are
passenger vehicle tires according to
European manufacturing standards.
If "P" precedes the size description: these are
passenger vehicle tires according to U.S.
manufacturing standards.
If "LT" precedes the size description: these
are light truck tires according to U.S.
manufacturing standards.
If "T" precedes the size description: these are
compact emergency spare wheels at high tire
pressure, to be used only temporarily in an
emergency.
Tire width: tire width : shows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Nominal aspect ratio: aspect ratio ; is the
ratio between the tire height and tire width
and is shown as a percentage. The aspect
ratio is calculated by dividing the tire width by
the tire height.
Tire code: tire code = specifies the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires. "D" represents
diagonal tires, "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR" in
the size description depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).
Rim diameter: rim diameter ? is the
diameter of the bead seat, not the diameter
of the rim flange. The rim diameter is
specified in inches (in).
Load bearing index: load bearing index A
is a numerical code that specifies the
maximum load-bearing capacity of a tire.GWarning
The tire load rating must always be at least
half of the GAWR of your vehicle. Otherwise,
sudden tire failure may be the result which
could cause an accident and/or serious injury
to you or others.
Always replace rims and tires with rims and
tires having the same specifications
(designation, manufacturer and type) as
shown on the original part.
GWarning
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.
Tire labeling263Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com

Average weight of the vehicle
occupants
The number of occupants for which the
vehicle is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lb).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards
A uniform standard to grade the quality of
tires with regards to tread quality, tire traction
and temperature characteristics. The quality
grading assessment is made by the
manufacturer following specifications from
the U.S. government. The quality grade of a
tire is imprinted on the sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure
The recommended tire pressure for your
vehicle under normal driving conditions. You
will find the recommendation on the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on
the driver's side of your vehicle. The
recommended tire pressure provides the best
balance between handling characteristics,
ride comfort and wear. Additional information
on particular driving conditions is located on
the tire pressure table on the inside of the fuel
filler flap.
Increased vehicle weight due to
optional equipment
This is the combined weight of all standard
and optional equipment available for the
vehicle, regardless of whether it is actually
installed on the vehicle or not.
Wheel rim
This is the part of the wheel on which the tire
is mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight
rating. The actual load on an axle must never
exceed the gross axle weight rating. The
gross axle weight rating can be found on the
vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on
the driver's side.
Speed index
The speed index is part of the tire
identification. It specifies the speed range for
which the tire is approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
The GTW is the sum of the weight of a trailer
and the weight of the load, luggage,
accessories etc. on the trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, the spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants,
luggage and the drawbar noseweight if
applicable. The gross vehicle weight must not
exceed the gross vehicle weight rating GVWR
as specified on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar on the driver's side.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The GVWR is the maximum permitted gross
weight of the fully laden vehicle (weight of the
vehicle including all accessories, occupants,
fuel, luggage and the drawbar noseweight if
applicable). The gross vehicle weight rating is
specified on the vehicle identification plate on
the B-pillar on the driver's side.
Maximum weight of the laden vehicle
The maximum weight is the sum of the curb
weight of the vehicle, the weight of the
Definitions for tires and loading267Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com

brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-
performance battery, are not included in the
curb weight and the weight of the
accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This is a unique identification number which
can be used by a tire manufacturer to identify
tires, for example for a product recall, and
thus identify the purchasers. The TIN is made
up of the manufacturer's identity code, tire
size, tire type code and the manufacturing
date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
TWR (permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may act on the ball coupling of the trailer
tow hitch.
Wear indicator
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are
distributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread
is level with the bars, the wear limit of 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
Distribution of vehicle occupants over
designated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload
weight
Nominal load and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the
number of seats in the vehicle.
Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Roadside Assistance" section
( Y page 232) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. It also provides
instructions on changing a wheel or mounting
the spare wheel.
Interchanging the wheels
GWarning
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires
are of the same dimension.
If your vehicle is equipped with mixed-size
tires (different tire dimensions front vs. rear),
tire rotation is not possible.
GWarning!
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts
specified for your vehicle's rims.
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires
in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you
can rotate the wheels according to the
intervals in the tire manufacturer's warranty
book in your vehicle documents. If no
warranty book is available, the tires should be
rotated every 3000 to 6000 miles
(5000 to 10000 km), or earlier if tire wear
Changing a wheel269Wheels and tiresZProCarManuals.com