2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class tires

Notes on regularly inspecting wheels
and tires
G
WARNING
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 243). 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 You should regularly check the pressure of
all your tires including the spare wheel,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the
tire pressure as necessary ( Y page 245).Tire tread
G
WARNING
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 mounting new tires, run them in at
moderate speeds for the first 60 miles Operation
243
Wheels and tires Z

(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
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 distance covered Winter operation
Please bear the following in mind
Have your

vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section ( Y page 265).Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), the
elasticity of summer tires and therefore also
the 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 thesidewall. 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.
i You can obtain information about winter
tires that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz especially for your vehicle
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on
all wheels to maintain safe handling
characteristics.
i For further information about tires, see
(Y page 268). G
WARNING
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than
1 / 6 inch (4 mm) must be replaced
immediately. They are no longer suitable for
use in winter.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
When you have mounted the M+S tires:
X Check the tire pressures (

Y page 245).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 251). G
WARNING
The spare wheel and M+S tires have different
tire characteristics. Driving characteristics
can be

severely impaired when you mount the
spare wheel. There is a risk of an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
and drive carefully. Have the spare wheel
replaced with a new wheel with an M+S tire
at the nearest qualified specialist workshop. 244
Winter operation
Wheels and tires

Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use snow chains
that have been specially approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a
corresponding standard of quality.
! Information about the use of snow chain
compatible AMG winter tires is applicable
for AMG tires. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tires.
! There is not enough space for snow
chains on some wheel sizes. Observe the
information under
"Tires and wheels" in the
"Technical Data" section to avoid damage
to the vehicle or the wheels.
R only use snow chains when driving on roads
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.
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 (Y page 266).
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.
i You may wish to deactivate
ESP ®
(Y page 55) when pulling away with
snow chains mounted. 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
G
WARNING
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 252). 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 tire
pressure gauge. The outer appearance of a
tire does not permit any reliable conclusion Tire pressure
245
Wheels and tires Z

about the tire pressure. On vehicles equipped
with the electronic tire pressure monitoring
system, the tire pressure can be checked
using the on-board computer.
G
WARNING
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 pressures that are 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 driven
for less than 1 mile (1.6 km). The tire
temperature changes depending on the
outside temperature, the vehicle speed and
the tire load. If the tire temperature changes
by 18 ‡ (10 †), the tire pressure changes 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.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
specifications for cold tires on the Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on
the driver's side.
i The specifications given on the following
Tire and Loading Information placard are
examples. 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.
You will find recommended tire pressure
specifications
: for

cold tires and for a fully
loaded vehicle's Tire and Loading Information
placard. The tire pressure information is
applicable to all tires mounted at the factory. Important notes on tire pressure
G
WARNING
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 tires 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.
i Driving comfort can be impaired if the tire
pressure value recommended in the tire
pressure table for speeds over 100 mph
(160 km/h) is adopted. 246
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires

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 Specifications shown in the examples of
tire pressure tables are for illustration
purposes only. Tire pressure specifications
are vehicle-specific and may deviate from
the data shown here. Tire pressure
specifications applicable to your vehicle
are located in your vehicle's tire pressure
table.
Unless stated otherwise, the tire pressures
specified on the fuel filler flap apply for all
tires approved for this vehicle. Tire pressure table for all tires permitted for this
vehicle by 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. Tire pressure table with tire dimensions (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 259).
Underinflated or overinflated tires
Underinflation G
WARNING
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 pressure
247
Wheels and tires Z

Overinflation
G
WARNING
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 may:
R have an adverse effect on handling
characteristics
R wear quickly and unevenly
R be more susceptible to damage
R have an adverse effect on ride comfort
R increase the braking distance
Maximum tire pressure G
WARNING
Never exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure. 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. :
Maximum permissible tire pressure
(example)
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and

may deviate from the values in
the illustration.
Always observe the recommended tire
pressure for your vehicle when adjusting the
tire pressure ( Y page 245). Checking the tire pressures
Important safety notes G
WARNING
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. 248
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires

Check the tire pressures at least once a
month.
Only check and correct tire pressures when
the tires are cold (
Y page 245).
Checking tire pressures manually To determine and set the correct tire
pressure, proceed as follows:
X
Remove the valve cap of the tire that is to
be checked.
X Press the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.
X Read 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.
X If necessary, increase the tire pressure to
the recommended value ( Y page 245).
X If 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.
X Screw the valve cap onto the valve.
X Repeat 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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver's door B-pillar or the tire
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 pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire 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 Tire pressure
249
Wheels and tires
Z

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.
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 combined 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 be repeated every time the
vehicle is started 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.
i USA only:
If the tire pressure monitor is
malfunctioning, it may take more than
10 minutes for the tire pressure warning
lamp to inform you of the malfunction by flashing for 60 seconds and then remaining
lit.
When the malfunction has been rectified,
the tire pressure warning lamp goes out
after driving for a few minutes.
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 indicated by the
on-board computer may differ from those
measured at a gas station with a pressure
gauge. The tire pressures shown by the on-
board computer refer to those measured at
sea level. At high altitudes, the tire pressure
values indicated by a pressure gauge are
higher than those shown by the on-board
computer. In this case, do not reduce the
tire pressures.
i The operation of the tire pressure monitor
can be affected by interference from radio
transmitting equipment (e.g. radio
headphones, two-way radios) that may be
being operated in or near the vehicle.
i USA only:
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 accept 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.
i Canada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of
Industry Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference,
and 250
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires