Example:
R Treadwear grade: 200
R Traction grade: AA
R Temperature grade: A
All passenger car tires must conform to the
statutory safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and may deviate from the values in
the illustration.
Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
U.S. government course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half
times as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, how-
ever, and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, ser-
vice practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate conditions.
Traction G
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cor- nering, hydroplaning, or peak traction char-
acteristics.
! Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage
to the drive train.
The traction grades – from highest to lowest –
are AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on dry road surfa-
ces.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freez-
ing point.
Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum
tread depth of 00CFin (4 mm) on all four winter
tires. Observe the legally required minimum
tire tread depth (Y page 363). Winter tires can
reduce the braking distance on snow-covered surfaces in comparison with summer tires.
The braking distance is still much further thanon surfaces that are not icy or covered with
snow. Take appropriate care when driving.
Further information on winter tires (M+S
tires) (Y page 364).
Temperature G
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause excessive heat
build-up and possible tire failure.
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C. They represent the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissi-pate heat when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law. All about
wheels and tires
377Wheels and tires Z
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the num-
ber of seats in the vehicle. Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(Y page 345) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. Information on
driving with MOExtended tires in the event of
a flat tire can be found under "MOExtended
tires (tires with run-flat characteristics"
(Y page 345).
Vehicle with emergency spare wheel: in
the event of a flat tire, the emergency spare
wheel is mounted as described under "Mount- ing a wheel" (Y page 385). Rotating the wheels
G
WARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec- tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-cialist workshop. Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(Y page 385).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you can rotate the wheels according to the inter-
vals in the tire manufacturer's warranty book
in your vehicle documents. If no warranty
book is available, the tires should be rotated
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if tire wear requires. Do not change the direction of wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated. Check the tire pressure and reac-
tivate the tire pressure monitor if necessary
(Y page 371). Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydroplaning. You will only gain these ben-
efits if the correct direction of rotation is
maintained.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool, dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. Cleaning the wheels
G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage to the tires or chassis components. Compo- 384
Changing a wheelWheels and tires
Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
(example: Sedan)
X On light downhill gradients: place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
! The jack is designed exclusively for jack-
ing up the vehicle at the jacking points.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
Observe the following when raising the vehi-
cle:
R To raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If used incor-
rectly, the jack could tip over with the vehi- cle raised.
R The jack is designed only to raise and hold
the vehicle for a short time while a wheel
is being changed. It is not suited for per-
forming maintenance work under the vehi- cle.
R Avoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes. R
Before raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and inserting wheel chocks. Never disen-
gage the parking brake while the vehicle is
raised.
R The jack must be placed on a firm, flat and
non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a
large, flat, load-bearing underlay must be
used. On a slippery surface, a non-slip
underlay must be used, e.g. rubber mats.
R Do not use wooden blocks or similar
objects as a jack underlay. Otherwise, the
jack will not be able to achieve its load-
bearing capacity due to the restricted
height.
R Make sure that the distance between the
underside of the tires and the ground does
not exceed 1.2 in (3 cm).
R Never place your hands and feet under the
raised vehicle.
R Do not lie under the vehicle.
R Do not start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
R Do not open or close a door or the trunk lid/
tailgate when the vehicle is raised.
R Make sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised.
AMG vehicles with Performance Studio
equipment: the wheel bolts are covered by a
hub cap. Before you can unscrew the wheel
bolts, you must remove the hub cap. 386
Changing a wheelWheels and tires
X
Unscrew the alignment bolt.
X Tighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
X Vehicles with a collapsible spare wheel:
inflate the collapsible spare wheel
(Y page 405).
Only then lower the vehicle.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed.
! Vehicles with a collapsible spare
wheel: before lowering the vehicle, inflate
the collapsible spare wheel with the tire
inflation compressor. The wheel rim could
otherwise be damaged. Tightening the wheel nuts (example: vehicle with
an emergency spare wheel)
X Turn the crank of the jack counter-clock-
wise until the vehicle is once again standing
firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated ( 0043
to 0083). The specified tightening torque is
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
X Turn the jack back to its initial position. X
Stow the jack and the rest of the vehicle
tools in the trunk/cargo compartment
again.
X AMG vehicles and vehicles with AMG
equipment: insert the cover into the outer
sill.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly moun-
ted wheel and adjust it if necessary.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
(Y page 366).
i All wheels mounted must be equipped
with functioning sensors. Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tires and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehi-
cle.
These tires have been specially adapted for use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only cer-
tain AMG tires)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tires
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories tes-
ted and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Cer-
tain characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle
noise emissions or fuel consumption, may
otherwise be adversely affected. In addi-
tion, when driving with a load, tire dimen-
sion variations could cause the tires to
come into contact with the bodywork and
axle components. This could result in dam- age to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires, Wheel and tire combinations
389Wheels and tires Z
wheels or accessories other than those tes-
ted and approved.
Information on tires, wheels and approved
combinations can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop.
Overview of abbreviations used in the follow- ing tire tables:
R BA: both axles
R FA: front axle
R RA: rear axle
The recommended pressures for various
operating conditions can be found:
R on the Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures on
the B-pillar on the driver's side
R in the tire pressure table on the inside of the
fuel filler flap
Observe the notes on recommended tire
pressures under various operating conditions (Y page 366).
Check tire pressures regularly, and only when the tires are cold. Comply with the mainte-
nance recommendations of the tire manufac-
turer in the vehicle document wallet.
Notes on the vehicle equipment – always
equip the vehicle with:
R tires of the same size on a given axle (left/
right)
R the same type of tires at a given time (sum-
mer tires, winter tires, MOExtended tires)
i Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the
factory. It is therefore recommended that
you additionally equip your vehicle with a
TIREFIT kit if you mount tires that do not
feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires. A TIREFIT kit may be obtained from a quali- fied specialist workshop.
i Not all wheel and tire combinations are
available at the factory for all countries.
i On the following pages, you can find infor-
mation on approved wheel rims and tire
sizes for equipping your vehicle with winter tires. Winter tires are not available at the
factory as standard equipment or optional
extras.
If you would like to equip your vehicle with
approved winter tires, you may also, in cer-
tain circumstances, require rims of the
appropriate size. The size of the approved
winter tires may deviate from that of the
standard tires. This is dependent on the
model and the equipment installed at the
factory.
The tires and wheel rims, as well as further information, can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop. 390
Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and tires
X
Remove vehicle tool kit tray 0043.
X Turn stowage tray 0044counter-clockwise
and remove it.
X Remove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel 0087.
Removing the emergency spare wheel
(Wagon) Example: emergency spare wheel
X Remove vehicle tool kit tray 0043by
recess 0044.
X Remove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel 0087.
Removing the emergency spare wheel
(AMG vehicles) X
Reach into cutout 0043in the tool holder and
lift it up.
X Remove collapsible spare wheel 0044.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(Y page 385). Stowing a used collapsible spare
wheel
! Only place the collapsible spare wheel in
the vehicle when it is dry. Otherwise, mois-
ture may get into the vehicle.
Take the following steps to stow a used col-
lapsible spare wheel. It will not otherwise fit
into the spare wheel well. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you have this work per-
formed at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
X Unscrew the valve cap from the valve.
X Use the back of the valve cap to unscrew
the valve insert from the valve and release
the air.
i Fully deflating the tires can take a few
minutes.
X Screw the valve insert back into the valve.
X Screw the valve cap back on.
X Remove the protective sheet from the vehi-
cle tool kit and pull it over the collapsible
spare wheel.
X Stow the collapsible spare wheel in the
emergency spare wheel well under the
trunk/cargo compartment. Inflating the collapsible spare wheel
! Inflate the collapsible spare wheel using
the tire inflation compressor before lower-
ing the vehicle. The wheel rim could other-
wise be damaged.
! Do not operate the tire inflation compres-
sor for longer than eight minutes at a time
without a break. It may otherwise overheat.
The tire inflation compressor can be oper-
ated again once it has cooled down. Emergency spare wheel
405Wheels andtires Z
X
Mount the collapsible spare wheel as
described (Y page 384).
The collapsible spare wheel must be moun-
ted before it is inflated.
X Pull connector 0085and the hose out of the
housing.
X Remove the cap from the valve on the col-
lapsible spare wheel.
X Screw union nut 0043of the hose onto the
valve.
X Make sure on/off switch 0083of the tire
inflation compressor is set to 0.
X Insert connector 0085into a 12 V socket
(Y page 314) in your vehicle.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 1in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 157).
X Press on/off switch 0083on the tire inflation
compressor to I.
The tire inflation compressor is switched
on. The tire is inflated. The tire pressure is
shown on pressure gauge 0087.
X Inflate the tire to the specified tire pres-
sure.
The specified tire pressure is printed on the
yellow label of the emergency spare wheel.
X When the specified tire pressure has been
reached, press on/off switch 0083on the
electric air pump to 0.
The tire inflation compressor is switched
off.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0in the igni-
tion lock.
X If the tire pressure is higher than the speci-
fied pressure, press pressure release valve button
0044until the correct tire pressure has
been reached.
X Unscrew air hose union nut 0043from the
valve.
X Screw the cap onto the valve of the col-
lapsible spare wheel again.
X Stow connector 0085and the hose in the
lower section of the tire inflation compres-
sor.
X Stow the tire inflation compressor in the
vehicle. 406
Emergency spare wheelWheels and tires