2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER winter tires

Bar marking 0046 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
(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 ⅛ 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
Permissible wheel/tire combinations and
instructions for tires can be found under
"Tires and wheels" in the "Technical data"
section ( Y page 280). Operation in winter
Please bear the following in mind
Have your vehicle

winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized
Sprinter Dealer, at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes under "Winter driving" in
the "Operation" section (Y page 271). Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below

45 ‡(+7 †), summer
tires lose a lot of their elasticity, and thus also
lose grip and braking effect – equip your
vehicle with M+S tires. Summer tires may
develop cracks leading to permanent damage
if they are used at very low temperatures. We
cannot accept responsibility for this type of
damage. M+S tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), use
winter tires or all-season tires — both are
marked M+S.
In wintry road conditions, only winter tires
with the snowflake symbol 004D in addition
to the M+S marking offer the best possible
grip. Only these tires allow driving safety
systems such as ABS and ESP ®
to continue
to work optimally in winter, as these tires
have been

designed specifically for driving on
snow.
For safe driving, use M+S tires of the same
make and tread pattern on all wheels. G
Warning
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
mounted. 254
Operation in winter
Wheels and tires

Tire code:
tire code 0088 specifies the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires. "D" represents
diagonal tires, "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Rim diameter: rim diameter 0086 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 0087
is a numerical code which specifies the
maximum load-bearing capacity of a tire. G
Warning
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. G
Warning
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.
Example:
The load bearing index 120 is equivalent to a
maximum load of 3042 lbs (1380 kg) that the
tire can carry. If two load-bearing capacity
indices are specified (as shown above), the
first number states the load-bearing capacity
for single tires, the second number the load-
bearing capacity for twin tires. For further
information on the maximum tire load in
kilograms and pounds, see ( Y page 265).
Speed index: speed index 006E specifies the
approved maximum speed of the tire. G
Warning
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum
speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum

speed for which tires
are rated can lead to sudden tire failure,
causing loss of vehicle control and possibly
resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury and possible death, for you
and for others.
Regardless of the speed index always observe
the speed limits. Drive carefully and adapt
your driving style to the traffic conditions. Index Speed rating
F up to 50 mph (80 km/h)
G up to 56 mph (90 km/h)
J up to 62 mph (100 km/h)
K up to 68 mph (110 km/h)
L up to 74 mph (120 km/h)
M up to 80 mph (130 km/h)
N up to 87 mph (140 km/h)
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
R above 106 mph (170 km/h)
i
Not all tires that have the M+S
identification offer the driving
characteristics of winter tires. Winter tires
have, in addition

to the M+S identification,
the 004D snow flake symbol on the tire
sidewall. Tires with this identification fulfill
the requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC)
regarding the tire traction on snow and
have been especially developed for driving
on snow.
More information on reading the tire data can
be obtained at any qualified specialist Tire labeling
267
Wheels and tires Z

Overview
Vehicle type 2500 3500
Rim size (pressed-steel rim) 6.5 J x 16 5.5 J x 16
Rim size (alloy rim) 6.5 J x 16 —
Offset 2.13 in (54 mm) —
Half distance from center to
center — 4.82 in (122.5 mm)
Wheel attachment Wheel bolts Wheel nuts
Tightening torques (pressed-
steel rim) 177 lb-ft (240 Nm) 133 lb-ft (180 Nm)
Tightening torques (alloy rim) 133 lb-ft (180 Nm) —
Summer tires — —
All-weather tires
16 LT 245/75 R16 120/116N LT 215/85 R16 115/112N
LT 215/85 R16 115/112Q
Winter tires
16 LT 245/75 R16 120/116N
M+S 004D LT 215/85 R16 115/112N
M+S 004D
Tire pressure
Take note of the information on tire pressure
in the "Wheels and tires" section
(Y page 255).
G
Warning
Underinflated tires:
R jeopardize driving safety
R damage or destroy the tires
R lead to overheating of tires, even to the
point of catching fire
You could thereby lose control of the vehicle
and injure yourself and others.
For this reason, check the tire pressure
regularly before starting
a journey and correct
it if necessary.
Correct the tire pressure before loading. If the
vehicle is loaded, check the tire pressure, and
correct it if necessary. While driving, dependent on driving speeds
and
load, the

tire temperature and with it, the
tire pressure rise.
You should thus only correct tire pressures
when the tires are cold. If the tires are warm,
you may only correct tire pressures when:
R taking the respective tire temperatures into
consideration with the vehicle laden, the
values apparent from the tire pressure
table are not exceeded.
R taking the respective tire temperatures into
consideration with the vehicle unladen, the
values apparent from the tire pressure
table are not met.
The tires are considered cold if the vehicle has
been parked for at least 3 hours or been
driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) with an
outside temperature of about 68 ‡ (20 †).
i The tire pressure changes by
approximately 10 kPa (0.1 bar/1.5 psi) per
16 Radial tires. Operating data
281
Technical data Z

18 ‡ (10 †) in air temperature. This must
be observed when checking tire pressure
inside a building – especially in winter.
Example:
Room temperature = approximately 68 ‡
(20 †)
Outside
temperature
= approximately 32 ‡
(0 †)
Tire pressure to be set: prescribed tire
pressure +20 kPa (+0.2 bar/+3 psi).
! The difference in pressures in the tires of
an axle must not be greater than
10 kPa (0.1 bar/1.5 psi).
A tire pressure less than 300 kPa (3.0 bar/
43.6 psi) is not permissible.
The tire pressure values in the following table
apply to all load conditions up to the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
and only to the specified original tires in cold
condition. The values are determined by the
permissible axle loads found on the vehicle
identification plate on the driver seat frame
(Y page 277).
i Additionally, you will find the stipulated
tire pressure values on the tire data label
on the B-pillar on the driver's side of your
vehicle ( Y page 279).282
Operating data
Technical data