
Example: steps 1 to 3
The following table shows examples on how to calculate total and cargo load capacities with
varying seating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples usea maximum load of 1,500 lbs (680 kg). This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you
are using the actual load limit for your vehicle stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Infor- mation placard (Y page 316).
The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Additional information when towing a trailer (Y page 347).
Step 1 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Combined maximum weight of
occupants and cargo (data from
the Tire and Loading Information
placard) 1500 lbs
(680 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg)
Step 2
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Number of people in
the vehicle (driver
and occupants) 5 3 1
Distribution of the
occupants
Front: 2
Rear: 3 Front: 1
Rear: 2 Front: 1
Weight of the occu-
pants
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
(68 kg)
Occupant 2: 180 lbs
(82 kg)
Occupant 3: 160 lbs
(73 kg)
Occupant 4: 140 lbs
(63 kg)
Occupant 5: 120 lbs
(54 kg) Occupant 1: 200 lbs
(91 kg)
Occupant 2: 190 lbs
(86 kg)
Occupant 3: 150 lbs
(68 kg) Occupant 1:
150 lbs
(68 kg)
Gross weight of all
occupants
750 lbs (340 kg) 540 lbs (245 kg) 150 lbs
(68 kg)318
Loading the vehicleWheels and tires

Step 3
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Permissible load
(maximum gross
vehicle weight rat-
ing from the Tire
and Loading Infor-
mation placard
minus the gross
weight of all occu-
pants)
1500 lbs (680 kg)
Ò
750 lbs (340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
Ò
540 lbs (245 kg)
=960 lbs (435 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
Ò
150 lbs (68 kg) =
1350 lbs (612 kg) Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total load
carefully, you should still make sure that the
gross vehicle weight rating and the gross axle weight rating are not exceeded. Details can
be found on the vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle
(Y page 316).
Gross vehicle weight rating: the gross
weight of the vehicle, all passengers, load and
trailer load/noseweight (if applicable) must
not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): the
maximum permissible weight that can be car- ried by one axle (front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed
the maximum permissible values (gross vehi-
cle weight and maximum gross axle weight
rating), have your loaded vehicle (including
driver, occupants, load and full trailer load if
applicable) weighed on a suitable vehicle
weighbridge. Trailer load/noseweight
The trailer load/noseweight affects the gross
weight of the vehicle. If a trailer is attached,
the trailer load/noseweight is included in the
load along with occupants and luggage. The
trailer load/noseweight is usually approx-
imately 10 % of the gross weight of the trailer and its load. Only use a trailer tow hitch that has been
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Comply with the manufacturer's operating
instructions for operation, care and mainte-
nance. Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards Overview of Tire Quality Grading
Standards Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are
U.S. government specifications. Their pur-
pose is to provide drivers with uniform relia-
ble information on tire performance data. Tire
manufacturers have to grade tires using three
performance factors: :tread wear grade, ;
traction grade and =temperature grade.
These regulations do not apply to Canada.
Nevertheless, all tires sold in North America Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
319Wheels and tires Z

brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-
performance battery, are not included in the
curb weight and the weight of the accesso-
ries.
TIN (Tire Identification Number) This is a unique identifier which can be used
by a tire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example for a product recall, and thus identify the purchasers. The TIN is made up of the
manufacturer's identity code, tire size, tire
type code and the manufacturing date.
Load bearing index The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of a tire.
Traction Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) The TWR specifies the maximum permissible
weight that the ball coupling of the trailer tow
hitch can support.
Treadwear indicators Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are dis-
tributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread is
level with the bars, the wear limit of áin
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Occupant distribution The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit Nominal load and luggage load plus 150 lb
(68 kilograms) multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle. Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(Y page 292) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. 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.
Rotating front and rear wheels of differing
dimensions can render the general operating permit invalid.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notices in the section on "Changing a
wheel and mounting a spare wheel"
(Y page 328).
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 Changing a wheel
327Wheels and tires Z

X
Open the pressure release screw on the
jack using the pump lever (Y page 328) by
approximately one turn.
X Lower the vehicle until it 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 ( :
to A). The specified tightening torque is
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
X Disassemble the pump lever.
X Push the jack piston back in and close the
drain plug.
X Use the bolts to secure the faulty wheel to
the spare wheel bracket (Y page 291).
X Stow the jack and the vehicle tools in the
vehicle again.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly instal-
led wheel and adjust it if necessary.
A table with the tire pressures for your vehi-cle can be found on the B-pillar on the driv-
er's side. Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
G
WARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used, the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is a risk of an acci-
dent. Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R model
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R model G
Warning
A flat tire severely impairs the driving, steer-
ing and braking characteristics of the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
do not drive with a flat tire. Immediately
replace the flat tire with your spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you only use tires, wheels
and accessories which have been approved by Mercedes-Benz specifically for your
vehicle. These tires have been specially
adapted for use with the driving safety sys-
tems, such as ABS or ESP ®
.
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,
wheels or accessories other than those tes- ted and approved.
Further information about wheels, tires and
approved combinations can be obtained Wheel and tire combinations
331Wheels and tires Z

Useful information
............................336
Identification plates .........................336
Service products and filling capaci- ties ..................................................... 337
Vehicle data ...................................... 344
Vehicle data for off-road driving .....345
Trailer tow hitch ................................ 346 335Technical data

Additives
! Operating the engine with fuel additives
added later can lead to engine failure. Do
not mix fuel additives with fuel. This does
not include additives for the removal and
prevention of residue buildup. gasoline
must only be mixed with additives recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz. Comply with
the instructions for use on the product
label. More information about recommen-
ded additives can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
branded fuels that have additives.
The quality of the fuel available in some coun- tries may not be sufficient. Residue could
build up in the fuel injection system as a
result. In such cases, and in consultation with
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, the
gasoline may be mixed with the cleaning addi-
tive recommended by Mercedes-Benz. You
must observe the notes and mixing ratios
specified on the container.
Fuel consumption information H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your
vehicle's CO 2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
R efficient use of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences, road conditions or
traffic flow
You can minimize your vehicle's CO 2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the following situations:
R at very low outside temperatures
R in city traffic R
on short journeys
R in mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer Engine oil
General notes !
Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to ful-
fill the prescribed service intervals. Do not
change the engine oil or oil filter in order to achieve longer replacement intervals than
those prescribed. You could otherwise
cause engine damage or damage to the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Follow the instructions in the service inter-
val display regarding the oil change. Other-
wise, you may damage the engine and the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
When handling engine oil, observe the impor- tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 337).
The engine oils are matched to the perform-
ance of Mercedes-Benz engines and service
intervals. For this reason, only use engine oils and oil filters that are approved for vehicles
with a service system.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com (USA
only).
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval
G 550 273 229.5
G 63 AMG 157 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers. 340
Service products and filling capacitiesTechnical data

Approach/departure angle
G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. For vehicles with steel springs, loaded and
ready to drive means: a full tank, all fluids
refilled and the driver is in the vehicle.
: : ;
;
G 550
34° 29°
G 63 AMG
27° 27°
For further information about approach/
departure angles, see (Y
page 161).Maximum gradient-climbing capabil-
ity
Note that the vehicle's gradient-climbing
capability depends on the off-road conditions and the road surface conditions.
On good road surfaces the maximum gradi-
ent-climbing capability of your vehicle is
100%, which corresponds to an approach/
departure angle of 45°.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep ter-
rain. i
If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
For further information about the maximum
gradient climbing ability, see (Y page 161). Trailer tow hitch
Mounting dimensions
Only have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the engine cooling system may
be necessary, depending on the vehicle
type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chas- sis frame. :
Anchorage points
; Overhang dimension
For trailer tow hitches installed at the factory, the overhang dimension including protective
covering is 35.2 in (895 mm). 346
Trailer tow hitchTechnical data

Trailer loads
G 550
G 63 AMG
Permissible trailer load, unbraked
1653 lbs (750 kg)
Permissible trailer load, braked (at a minimum gradient-
climbing capability of 12% from a standstill) 7000 lbs (3175 kg)
Permissible rear axle load when towing a trailer (the
drawbar noseweight is not included in the towing
weight) 4188 lbs (1900 kg)
Trailer drawbar noseweight
Number of people
150 lbs (68 kg)
each Seat occupancy Trunk load Maximum drawbar
noseweight
2 Front seats 220 lbs (100 kg) 562 lbs (255 kg)
3 2 front seats
1 rear seat 176 lbs (80 kg) 562 lbs (255 kg)
4 2 front seats
2 Rear seats 132 lbs (60 kg) 456 lbs (207 kg)
5 2 front seats
3 rear seats 0 lbs (0 kg) 423 lbs (192 kg)
Ball position
Ball position of the ball coupling
When choosing a ball coupling, the dimen-
sions stated in the illustration must not be
exceeded. Trailer tow hitch
347Technical data Z