When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try
to do so slowly and not at a sharp angle. Oth-
erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
can get damaged. Regular wheel and tire checks
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control
of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check the wheels and tires of your vehicle for
damage regularly, i.e. at least every two
weeks, as well as after driving off-road or on
rough roads. Damaged wheels can cause a
loss of tire pressure. Pay particular attention
to damage such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width
of the tire (Y page 287). If necessary, turn
the front wheels to full lock in order to inspect
the inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved for your vehicle by dealers listed on
the inside of the front cover. Do not install any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitor systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure if necessary (Y page 290).The service life of tires depends on various
factors, including the following:
R
driving style
R tire pressure
R mileage Tire tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: 00CEin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: 00CFin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Bar marking
0043for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
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 00CDin (1.6 mm). If this is the Operation
287Wheels and tires Z
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
R the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel:
R monthly, at least
R if the load changes
R before beginning a long journey
R under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
i The specifications shown on the sample
Tire and Loading Information placard and
tire pressure table are examples. Tire pres-
sure data are vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data illustrated here. The tire
pressure data applicable to your vehicle
can be found on the Tire & Loading Infor-
mation placard or tire pressure plate of
your vehicle. H
Environmental note
Check the tire pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days. General notes You will find information on tire pressure for
the vehicle's factory-mounted tires on the
plates described here.
You will find a table of recommended tire
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information
placard
5
or on the tire pressure table on the
B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle.
Further information on tire pressure can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard Tire and Loading Information placard
5
The Tire and Loading Information placard is
on the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehi-
cle (Y page 298).
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains recommended tire pressures 0043for cold
tires. Recommended tire pressures 0043are
valid for the maximum permissible load and
up to the maximum permissible speed of the
vehicle.
5 Only for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg). 290
Tire pressureWheels and tires
ing properties and the driving characteristics.
There is a risk of an accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too low in all the
tires, including the spare wheel.
Underinflated tires can:
R fail from being overheated
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R have an adverse effect on fuel consumption
Overinflated tires G
WARNING
Tires with excessively high pressure can burst
because they are damaged more easily by
road debris, potholes etc. In addition, they
also suffer from irregular wear, which can
severely impair the braking properties and the
driving characteristics. There is a risk of an
accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too high in all the
tires, including the spare wheel.
Overinflated tires can:
R increase the braking distance
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R adversely affect ride comfort
R be more susceptible to damage
Maximum tire pressures 0043
Maximum permitted tire pressure (exam-
ple) Never exceed the maximum permissible tire
inflation pressure. When adjusting the tire
pressures always observe the recommended
tire pressure for your vehicle (Y
page 290).
i The actual values for tires are specific to
each vehicle and may deviate from the val-
ues in the illustration. Tire valve (snap-in valve)
G
WARNING
Tire valve that are not approved for your vehi-
cle by the distributor named on the inside
cover page may result in a loss of tire pres-
sure. This may affect road safety. There is a
risk of an accident.
Only use tire valve that are approved for your
vehicle by the distributor named on the inside
cover page. Always make sure you have the
correct tire valve type for the tires on your
vehicle.
! Do not screw additional weights (check
valves, etc.) onto the tire valves. The elec-
tronic components could thus be damaged.
Only for vehicles without a tire pressure mon-
itor:
For safety reasons, we recommend that you
only use tire valves that have been tested for
use on your vehicle, e.g. those manufactured
by Wonder:
R type TR 600 for the vehicle types 2500
R type TR 418 for the vehicle types 3500 Checking the tire pressure manually
In order to determine and adjust the tire pres-
sures, proceed as follows:
X Remove the valve cap of the tire you wish
to check.
X Press the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.
X Read the tire pressure and compare it with
the recommended value on the loading 292
Tire pressureWheels and tires
information table or the tire pressure table
(Y
page 290).
X If the tire pressure is too low, increase it to
the recommended value.
X If the tire pressure is too high, release air
by pressing down the metal pin in the valve.
Use 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 the steps for the other tires. Tire pressure monitor
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the pressure rec-
ommended 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 Infor-
mation 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 pres-
sure 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 underin-
flated 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 stop-
ping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er'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 if 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 warning lamp will
flash for approximately a minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will be repeated every time the vehi-
cle 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 malfunc-
tions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the mounting of incompatible
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from func-
tioning properly. Always check the TPMS mal-
function 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 prop-
erly.
Vehicles with a tire pressure monitor are
equipped with sensors in the wheels that
monitor the tire pressure of all four tires. The
tire pressure monitor monitors the pressure
in all four tires; you set this pressure when
you activate the tire pressure monitor. 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
corresponding sensors are installed to all
wheels.
You should always adjust the tire pressure
according to the vehicle load. Restart the tire
pressure monitor if you change the tire pres-
sure.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you
if a tire pressure is incorrect. Observe the Tire pressure
293Wheels and tires Z