2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class spare wheel

Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel or the
MOExtended run-flat system. ( Y page 467)
i Vehicle preparation is not necessary on
vehicles with the MOExtended run-flat
system.
XStop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic on solid, non-slippery and level
ground.XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps.XEngage the electric parking brake manually
( Y page 317).XBring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.XMove the DIRECT SELECT lever to P.XSwitch off the engine.XVehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the key from the ignition lock.XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the key having been
removed.XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
( Y page 299).XAll occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.XMake sure that no one is near the danger
area whilst a wheel is being changed.
Anyone who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.XGet out of the vehicle. Pay attention to
traffic conditions when doing so.XClose the driver's door.Changing a wheel and mounting the
spare wheel
Preparing the vehicleGWarning
The wheel and tire size of the emergency
spare wheel/spare wheel may differ to that of
the damaged wheel. When using an
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel the
handling characteristics of the vehicle may
change.
Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
Never operate the vehicle with more than one
emergency spare wheel/spare wheel that
differs in size.
Only use an emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel of a differing size briefly and do not
switch off ESP ®
.
When using an emergency spare wheel, you
must not exceed the maximum speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
GWarning
Have the different-sized emergency spare
wheel/spare wheel replaced with a new
wheel as soon as possible at a qualified
specialist workshop that has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry out
the work required. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for this purpose. In
particular, work relevant to safety or on
safety-related systems must be carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop.
i Vehicles without an emergency spare
wheel/spare wheel are not equipped with
a tire-change tool kit at the factory. For
more information on which tools are
required to perform a wheel change on your
vehicle, e.g. wheel chock, alignment bolt,
or lug wrench, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Flat tire463Roadside assistanceZ

XMake sure that the base of the jack is
positioned directly under the jacking point.
XTurn crank ? clockwise until jack = sits
completely on jacking point ; and the
base of the jack lies evenly on the ground.
XTurn crank ? until the tire is raised a
maximum of 1.2 inches (3 centimeters)
from the ground.
Removing a wheel
XUnscrew the uppermost wheel bolt
completely.
XScrew alignment bolt : into the thread
instead of the wheel bolt.
XUnscrew the remaining wheel bolts fully.
! Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bolt and wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when
you screw them in.
XRemove the wheel.Mounting a new wheelGWarning!
Always replace wheel bolts that are damaged
or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tightened
wheel bolts can cause the wheel to come off.
This could cause an accident. Make sure to
use the correct wheel bolts.
GWarning
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts.
Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise, the vehicle could
fall off the jack.
GWarning
Make sure to use the original length wheel
bolts when remounting the original wheel
after it has been repaired.
Wheel bolts for:
:All light-alloy wheels and "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel with light-alloy
wheel
;"Minispare" emergency spare wheel with
steel wheel
466Flat tireRoadside assistance

! Always use wheel bolts : to fit the
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel with
light-alloy wheel. Using other wheel bolts
when fitting the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel with light-alloy wheel could
damage the brake system.
Always use wheel bolts ; to fit the
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel with
steel wheel. Using other wheels when
fitting the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel with steel wheel could damage the
brake system.
XClean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
! To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt.
XSlide the emergency spare wheel onto the
alignment bolt and push it on.
XTighten the wheel bolts until they are
finger-tight.
XUnscrew the alignment bolt.XTighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
Lowering the vehicle
XTurn the crank of the jack counter-
clockwise until the vehicle is once again
standing firmly on the ground.
XPlace the jack to one side.XTighten the wheel bolts evenly in a
crosswise pattern in the sequence
indicated (: to A). The tightening torque
must be 110 lb/ft (150 Nm).
GWarning
Have the tightening torque checked
immediately after a wheel is changed. The
wheels could come loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 110 lb/ft
(150 Nm).
XTurn the jack back to its initial position and
store it together with the rest of the vehicle
tool kit in the stowage well under the trunk
floor.
iWhen you are driving with the emergency
spare wheel mounted, the tire pressure
monitor cannot function reliably. Only
restart the tire pressure monitor when the
defective wheel has been replaced with a
new wheel.
All mounted wheels must be equipped with
functioning sensors and the defective
wheel should no longer be in the vehicle.
MOExtended run-flat system
The MOExtended run-flat system allows you
to drive on even if there is a complete loss of
pressure in one or more tires.
The MOExtended run-flat system may only be
used in conjunction with the activated tire
pressure loss warning system or with the
activated tire pressure monitor.
Flat tire467Roadside assistanceZ

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 severe corrosion on
wheels), at least 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 481). 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 emergency spare wheel or the
spare wheel, particularly prior to long trips,
and correct the pressure as necessary
( Y page 483).
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.
Replace tires before they become 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 (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth
is approximately 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm). 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.
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 until they are excessively
worn as the tire traction on wet road
Mode481Tires and wheelsZ

surfaces 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 emergency spare wheel/spare
wheel.
The service life of tires depends, among other
things, on the following factors:
R driving style
R tire pressure
R mileage
MOExtended run-flat system
The MOExtended run-flat system allows you
to continue driving the vehicle even when one
or more tires lose all air pressure.
The MOExtended run-flat system may only be
used in conjunction with the activated tire
pressure loss warning system or with the
activated tire pressure monitor, and on
wheels specifically tested by Mercedes-Benz.
You will find notes on driving with a flat tire in
the "Breakdown assistance" section
( Y page 467).
Winter operation
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, at the onset of
winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( Y page 502).
Winter tires
Use winter tires at temperatures below
45 ‡ (7 †) and on snow or ice-covered roads.
Only winter tires also bearing the i
snowflake symbol next to the M+S marking
provide the best-possible grip in wintry road
conditions. Only these tires will allow the ABS
and ESP ®
driving systems 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.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.
Once you have installed the winter tires:
XCheck the tire pressures ( Y page 487).XRestart the tire pressure monitor
( Y page 487).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.
! You must drive at raised vehicle level if
snow chains have been mounted. The
vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
! There is not enough space for snow
chains on some wheel sizes. Observe the
information under "Tires and wheels" in the
482Winter operationTires and wheels

"Technical Data" section to avoid damage
to the vehicle or the wheels.
R Only use snow chains when driving on an
area completely covered by snow. Do not
exceed the maximum permissible speed of
30 mph (50 km/h). Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you are no
longer driving on snow-covered roads.
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Applicable regulations must
be observed if you wish to mount snow
chains.
R Snow chains must not be mounted on
emergency spare wheels.
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R you may not attach snow chains to all
wheel-tire combinations; see the "Tires and
wheels" section in the "Technical data"
chapter.
R mount snow chains only in pairs and only
on the rear wheels. Observe the
manufacturer's installation instructions.
! If snow chains are mounted on the front
wheels, the snow chains could grind
against the bodywork or components of the
chassis. This could result in damage to the
vehicle or the tires.
! Vehicles with steel wheels
If you wish to mount snow chains to steel
wheels, make sure that you remove the
respective wheels' hubcaps first. The
hubcaps may otherwise be damaged.
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 69) when pulling away with
snow chains installed. This way you can
allow the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving
force (cutting action).Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
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.
You will find a table of recommended tire
pressures on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the B-pillar on the
driver's side ( Y page 490). You will find a
table of tire pressures for various operating
conditions on the inside of your vehicle's fuel
filler flap.
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 pressure can be
checked using the on-board computer.
GWarning
Should the tire pressure drop repeatedly:
Tire pressure483Tires and wheelsZ

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.
The tire pressure for emergency spare wheels
can be found:
R on the yellow label on the wheel rim of the
emergency spare wheel
R in the "Wheel and tire combinations"
section ( Y page 503) of this Operator's
Manual
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the B-pillar on the driver's side
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.
Tire pressure table 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 496).
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
Tire pressure485Tires and wheelsZ

Check the tire pressure at least once a month.
Only check and correct tire pressures when
the tires are cold ( Y page 483).
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 483).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 monitor
Important safety notes
If a tire pressure monitor is installed, the
vehicle's wheels have sensors installed 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
in 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). Depending on how
the warning lamp flashes or lights up, a tire
pressure that is too low or a malfunction in
the tire pressure monitor is displayed:
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
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
Tire pressure487Tires and wheelsZ