2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class snow chains

Suspension tuning
The electronically controlled ABC suspension
system works continuously. This improves
driving safety and comfort.
The ABC suspension system is tuned
individually to each wheel and depends on:
R your driving style, e.g. sporty
R the road surface condition, e.g. bumps
R your individual selection, i.e. sports or
comfort
R the vehicle load
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning
The firmer suspension tuning in Sport mode
ensures even better contact with the road.
Select this mode if you prefer a firmer
suspension tuning.
XIf indicator lamp ; is not lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up. You have
selected the suspension for a sporty driving
style.
The ABC Active Body Control SPORT
message appears in the multifunction
display.
Comfort tuning
In Comfort mode, the driving characteristics
of your vehicle are more comfortable. Select
this mode if you prefer a more comfortable
driving style.
XIf indicator lamp ; is lit: press
button :.
Indicator lamp ; goes out. You have
selected the suspension for a comfortable
driving style.
The ABC Active Body Control
COMFORT message appears in the
multifunction display.
4MATIC (permanent four-wheel drive)
4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are
permanently driven. Together with ESP ®
, it
improves the traction of your vehicle
whenever a drive wheel spins due to
insufficient grip.
GWARNING
If a drive wheel is spinning due to insufficient
traction:
R While driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R While driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4MATIC cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle
raised. This may damage the transfer case.
Damage of this sort is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. All
wheels must remain either on the ground
or be fully raised. Observe the instructions
for towing the vehicle with all wheels in full
contact with the ground.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if
you use winter tires ( M+S tires), with snow
chains if necessary.
346Driving systemsDriving and parking

GWARNING
Objects located above the height range of
Parking Guidance will not be detected when
the parking space is measured. These objects
are not taken into account when the parking
procedure is calculated, e.g. overhanging
loads, tail sections or loading ramps of goods
vehicles. Under some circumstances, Parking
Guidance might therefore issue steering
instructions too soon. This may lead to a
collision. For this reason, you should avoid
using Parking Guidance in such situations.
GWARNING
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the maneuvering range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
! Pay particular attention to low objects or
objects with flat surfaces, such as trailer
drawbars, posts, cross beams and curbs.
These types of objects cannot be detected
by Parking Guidance and may damage the
vehicle.
When PARKTRONIC is deactivated, Parking
Guidance is also unavailable.
Use Parking Guidance for parking spaces:
R that are parallel to the direction of travel
R that are on straight roads, not bends
R that are on the same level as the road, i.e.
not on the pavement, for example. Parking
Guidance may not detect flat curbs
Parking tips:
R on narrow roads, drive past the parking
space as close as possible.
R parking spaces that are littered, overgrown
or partially occupied by trailer drawbars
might be identified incorrectly or not at all.
R snowfall or heavy rain may lead to a parking
space being measured inaccurately.
R pay attention to the PARKTRONIC
( Y page 348) warning messages during the
parking procedure.
R when transporting a load which protrudes
from your vehicle, you must not use Parking
Guidance.
R never use Parking Guidance with snow
chains or an emergency spare wheel
installed.
R make sure that the tire pressures are
always correct. This has a direct effect on
the steering instructions.
R the way your vehicle is positioned in the
parking space after parking is dependent
on various factors. These include the
position and shape of the vehicles parked
in front and behind it and the conditions of
the location. In some cases, Parking
Guidance may guide you too far or not far
enough into a parking space. In some
cases, it may also lead you across or onto
the curb. If necessary, cancel the parking
procedure with Parking Guidance.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at
a sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Detecting a parking space:Detected parking space on the left;Parking symbol=Detected parking space on the right
Parking Guidance is automatically activated
when you drive forwards. The system is
operational at speeds of up to approximately
22 mph (35 km/h). While in operation, the
system independently locates and measures
parking spaces on both sides of the vehicle.
At speeds below 19 mph (30 km/h), you see
white parking symbol ; in the instrument
cluster as a status indicator. Parking
Driving systems351Driving and parkingZ

impairs cornering ability and reduces driving
stability. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare wheel replaced by a normal
wheel with an M+S tire at the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Center.
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
"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.
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
information under "Wheel and tire
combinations" in the "Wheels and tires"
section.
R mount snow chains only in pairs and only
to 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 on 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 71) 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
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.
The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Tire pressure493Wheels and tiresZ

TiresSummer tiresAlloy wheelsV1V2V3V4BA255/45 R18 99 Y
MOExtended 318.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)###—FA


RA255/45 R18 99 Y
MOExtended 31

275/45 R18 103 Y
MOExtended 31, 328.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)

9.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)#—#—BA255/40 R19 100 Y XL8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)###—FA

RA255/40 R19 100 Y XL

275/40 R19 101 Y 328.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
9.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)#—#—FA

RA255/40 ZR 19 XL

275/40 ZR 19 XL 328.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
9.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)———#BA255/35 ZR 20 XL 328.5 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)###—FA

RA255/35 ZR 20 XL

275/35 ZR 20 XL 328.5 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
9.5 J x 20 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)#—##All-weather tiresAlloy wheelsV1V2V3V4BA255/45 R18 99 H M+S8.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)###—FA

RA255/45 R18 99 H M+S

275/45 R18 103 H M+S 328.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
9.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)#—#—31 MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat properties) only in combination with an activated tire pressure monitor.
32 Use of snow chains is not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.516Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and tires

All-weather tiresAlloy wheelsV1V2V3V4BA255/40 R19 100 V XL M+S8.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)###—FA

RA255/40 R19 100 V XL M+S

275/40 R19 101 V M+S 328.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)
9.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)#—#—Winter tiresAlloy wheelsV1V2V3V4BA255/45 R18 99 V
M+S i 338.5 J x 18 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)###—BA255/40 R19 100 V XL
M+S i 338.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)####FA


RA255/40 R19 100 V XL
M+S i

275/40 R19 105 V XL
M+S i 328.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)

9.5 J x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.69 in (43 mm)———#"Minispare" emergency spare wheel 32TiresWheelsV1V2V3V4T 155/70 R19 113 M
Tire pressure: 420 kPa (4.2 bar/
61 psi)4.5 B x 19 H2
Wheel offset: 1.38 in (35 mm)####
i The specified tire pressure is printed in yellow on the emergency/collapsible spare wheel.
32
Use of snow chains is not permitted. Observe the notes in the "Snow chains" section.
33 Only fine-link snow chains are permitted.Wheel and tire combinations517Wheels and tiresZ