Selecting, mounting and replacing
tires
R Only mount tires and wheels of the same
type and make.
R Only mount approved tires of the correct
size onto the wheels.
R Tires are supplied with a protective layer
from the factory. Break in new tires at mod-
erate speeds for the first 60 miles
(100 km). They only reach their full per-
formance after this distance.
R Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces
the traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
R Replace the tires after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to the spare wheel. Winter operation
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 327). Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and braking power. Change the tires on your vehi-cle to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very
cold temperatures could cause cracks to
form, thereby damaging the tires perma-
nently. Mercedes-Benz cannot accept
responsibility for this type of damage. M+S tires
G
WARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident. M+S tires with a tread depth of less than
ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately. G
WARNING
Wheel and tire dimensions as well as the type of tire can vary between the spare wheel and
the wheel to be replaced. When the spare
wheel is mounted, driving characteristics may be severely affected. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
In order to reduce risks:
R you should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
R never mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
R only use a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel to be replaced for a short time.
R do not deactivate ESP ®
.
R have a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel that has been changed replaced at
the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
You must observe the correct wheel and
tire dimensions as well as the wheel type.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h) if a spare wheel of a different size is installed.
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), use all-
season tires or winter tires. Both types of tire
are identified by the M+S marking.
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide the
driving characteristics of winter tires. In addi-
tion to the M+S marking, winter tires also
have the isnowflake symbol on the tire
wall. Tires with this marking fulfill the require-
ments of the Rubber Manufacturers Associa-
tion (RMA) and the Rubber Association of
Canada (RAC) regarding snow traction, and
were specially developed for driving on snow.
Only these tires will allow driving safety sys-
tems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function opti-
mally in winter, since these tires have been
designed specifically for driving on snow.
Use M+S tires of the same make and tread on all wheels to maintain safe handling charac-
teristics. 308
Winter operationWheels and tires
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tire s you have
mounted.
When you have mounted the M+S tires:
X Check the tire pressures (Y page 309).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 315).
i You can obtain information about winter
tires that have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz especially for your vehicle
at any Mercedes-Benz Service center.
i For further information about tires, see
(Y page 333). Snow chains
! Information about the use of snow chain
compatible AMG winter tires is applicable
for AMG tires. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tires.
! On some tire sizes there is not enough
space for snow chains. To avoid damage to
the vehicle or tires, observe the "Wheel and tire combinations" section under "Tires and
wheels".
! 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.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains that
have been specially approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality.
R Only use snow chains when driving on
roads completely covered by snow.
Remove the snow chains as soon as possi- ble when you come to a road that is not
snow-covered.
R Local regulations may restrict the use of
snow chains. Observe the appropriate reg-
ulations if you wish to mount snow chains.
R Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
If you intend to mount snow chains, please
bear the following points in mind:
R Snow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations (Y page 331).
R Mount snow chains only in pairs and only
on the rear wheels. Observe the manufac-
turer's mounting instructions.
i You can deactivate ESP ®
(Y page 63)
when pulling away with snow chains instal-
led. You can thereby allow the wheels to
spin in a controlled manner, achieving an
increased driving force (cutting action). 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 Tire pressure
309Wheels and tires
Z
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 on the sample Tire and
Loading Information placard and tire pres-
sure tables are examples. Tire pressure
specifications are vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data shown here. The tire pressure specifications that are valid for
your vehicle can be found on the Tire and
Loading Information placard and tire pres-
sure table on the vehicle.
General notes The recommended tire pressures for the tires
mounted at the factory can be found on the
labels described here.
Operation with a trailer: the applicable
value for the rear tires is the maximum tire
pressure value stated in the table inside the
fuel filler flap.
Further information on tire pressures can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard :
Recommended tire pressures
The Tire and Loading Information placard is
on the B-pillar on the driver's side
(Y page 316).
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains the recommended tire pressures for
cold tires. The recommended tire pressures are valid for the maximum permissible load
and up to the maximum permissible vehicle
speed.
Tire pressure table Example: tire pressure table for all tires permitted
for this vehicle by the factory
The tire pressure table is on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The tire pressure table contains the recom-
mended pressures for cold tires for various
operating conditions, i.e. differing load and
speed conditions.
If a tire size precedes a tire pressure, the tire
pressure information following is only valid
for that tire size. The load conditions "partially laden" and "fully laden" are defined in the
table for different numbers of occupants and
amounts of luggage. The actual number of
seats may differ.
Some tire pressure tables only show the rim
diameter instead of the complete tire size,
e.g. R16. Rim diameter is part of the tire size
and can be found on the tire sidewall
(Y page 321).
If the tire pressures have been set to the
lower values for lighter loads and/or lower
road speeds, the pressures should be reset to
the higher values:
R if you want to drive with an increased load
and/or
R if you want to drive at higher road speeds
i The tire pressures for increased loads
and/or higher road speeds, shown in the 310
Tire pressureWheels and 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, andmay 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.
It is the driver's responsibility to set the tire
pressure to the recommended cold tire pres-
sure suitable for the operating situation
(Y page 309). Note that the correct tire pres-
sure for the current operating situation must
first be taught-in to the tire pressure monitor. If there is a substantial loss of pressure, the
warning threshold for the warning message is aligned to the reference values taught-in.
Restart the tire pressure monitor after adjust-
ing to the cold tire pressure (Y page 315).
The current pressures are saved as new ref-
erence values. As a result, a warning message will appear if the tire pressure drops signifi-
cantly.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you
of an incorrectly set tire pressure. Observe
the notes on the recommended tire pressure
(Y page 309).
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tire is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Avoid
sudden steering movements.
In order to check the tire pressure, the vehi-
cle's wheels are installed with sensors that
monitor the tire pressure in all four tires. The tire pressure monitor warns you if the pres-
sure drops in one or more of the tires. The tire Tire pressure
313Wheels and tires Z
If you wish to cancel the restart:
X Press the %button.
The tire pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Loading the vehicle
Instruction labels for tires and loads
G
WARNING
Overloaded tires can overheat, causing a
blowout. Overloaded tires can also impair the steering and driving characteristics and lead
to brake failure. There is a risk of accident.
Observe the load rating of the tires. The load
rating must be at least half of the GAWR of
your vehicle. Never overload the tires by
exceeding the maximum load. :
B-pillar, driver's side
Two instruction labels on your vehicle show
the maximum possible load.
(1) The Tire and Loading Information placard is on the B-pillar on the driver's side. The
Tire and Loading Information placard
shows the maximum permissible number
of occupants and the maximum permis-
sible vehicle load. It also contains details
of the tire sizes and corresponding pres-
sures for tires mounted at the factory.
(2) The vehicle identification plate is on the B-pillar on the driver's side. The vehicle
identification plate informs you of the
gross vehicle weight rating. It is made up
of the vehicle weight, all vehicle occu- pants, the fuel and the cargo. You can
also find information about the maximum gross axle weight rating on the front and
rear axle.
The maximum gross axle weight rating is the maximum weight that can be carried
by one axle (front or rear axle). Do not
exceed the maximum gross vehicle
weight or the maximum gross axle weight
rating for the front or rear axle. Maximum permissible gross mass
X
Specification for maximum permissible
load :is listed on the Tire and Loading
Information placard: "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kilograms or XXX lbs."
The gross weight of all vehicle occupants,
cargo, luggage and trailer load/noseweight (if
applicable) must not exceed the specified
value.
i The specifications shown on the Tire and
Loading Information placard in the illustra- tion are examples. The maximum permis-
sible load is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data shown here. The maxi-
mum permissible load that applies for your vehicle can be found on your vehicle's Tire
and Loading Information placard. 316
Loading the vehicleWheels and ti
res
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
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. Tire labeling
Overview of tire labeling
:
Uniform tire Quality Grading Standard
(Y page 325)
; DOT tire Identification Number
(Ypage 324)
= Maximum tire load (Y page 323)
? Maximum tire pressures (Y page 312)
A Manufacturer
B Tire material (Y page 324)
C Tire size designation, load-bearing capa-
city and speed rating (Y page 321)
D Load identification (Y page 323)
E Tire name
The markings described above are on the tire in addition to the tire name (sales designa-
tion) and the manufacturer's name.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example. Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity and speed rating
G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle. :
Tire width
; Height-width ratio in percentage
= Tire code
? Rim diameter
A Load bearing index
B Speed rating
General: depending on the manufacturer's
standards, a letter is imprinted into the tire
wall before the size description.
If there is no letter preceding the size descrip-
tion (as shown above): these are passenger
vehicle tires according to European manufac-
turing standards.
If "P" precedes the size description:
passenger vehicle tires according to U.S.
manufacturing standards.
If "P" precedes the size description: light
truck tires according to U.S. manufacturing
standards.
If "T" precedes the size description: these are
compact emergency spare wheels at high tire Tire labeling
321Wheels and tires Z
pressure, to be used only temporarily in an
emergency.
Tire width: tire width:shows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Height-width ratio: height-width ratio;is
the ratio between tire height and tire width.
The aspect ratio is calculated by dividing the
tire width by the tire height. The resulting
quotient is given as a percentage.
Tire code: tire code=shows the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires; "D" represents
diagonal tires; "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240 km/ h)may have "ZR" in
the size description, depending on the man-
ufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).
Rim diameter: rim diameter?is the diam-
eter of the bead seat, not the diameter of the
rim flange. The rim diameter is specified in
inches (in).
The load-bearing index: load-bearing index
A (also load index), is a code that contains
the maximum load-bearing capacity of a tire.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit. The maximum permissi-
ble load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side (Y page 316).
Example:
Load-bearing index 91 indicates a maximum
load of 1,356 lb (615 kg) that the tires can
bear. For further information on the maximum tire load in kilograms and pounds, see
(Y page 323).
For further information on the load bearing
index, see "Load index" (Y page 323).
Speed rating: speed ratingBspecifies the
approved maximum speed of the tire.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example.
Regardless of the speed rating, always
observe the speed limits. Drive carefully and
adapt your driving style to the traffic condi-
tions. i
Since 2009, tires in Europe which corre-
spond to the noise limitations of Directive
ECE-R 117 show an >>S<< (Sound) mark.
This identification follows the type approval number and has no connection with the
speed rating.
Summer tires Index Speed rating
Q up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
S up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)
Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR...Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR...(..Y) over 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR over 149 mph (240 km/h)
R
Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR" in the size description, depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR18).
The service specification is made up of
load-bearing index Aand speed rating B.
R If the size description of your tire includes
"ZR" and there are no service specifica-
tions, ask the tire manufacturer in order to
find out the maximum speed.
If a service specification is available, the
maximum speed is limited according to the
speed rating in the service specification.
Example: 245/40 ZR18 97 Y.In this exam-
ple, "97 Y" is the service specification. The letter "Y" represents the speed rating and 322
Tire labelingWheels and tires