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
Bar
Metric unit for tire pressure. 14.5038 pounds
per square inch (psi) and 100 kilopascals
(kPa) are the equivalent of 1 bar.
DOT (Department of Transportation) DOT-marked tires fulfill the requirements of
the U S Department of Transportation.
Normal occupant weight The number of occupants for which the vehi-
cle is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lbs).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards A uniform standard to grade the quality of
tires with regards to tread quality, tire traction
and temperature characteristics. The quality
grading assessment is made by the manufac- turer following specifications from the U.S.
government. The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressures The recommended tire pressure applies to
the tires mounted at the factory.
The Tire and Loading Information placard con- tains the recommended tire pressures for
cold tires on a fully loaded vehicle and for themaximum permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recom-
mended pressures for cold tires for various
operating conditions, i.e. differing load and
speed conditions.
Increased vehicle weight due to
optional equipment The combined weight of all standard and
optional equipment available for the vehicle,
regardless of whether it is actually installed
on the vehicle or not. Rim This is the part of the wheel on which the tire
is mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight
rating. The actual load on an axle must never
exceed the gross axle weight rating. The
gross axle weight rating can be found on the
vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on
the driver's side.
Speed rating The speed rating is part of the tire identifica-
tion. It specifies the speed range for which the
tire is approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight) The GTW is the weight of a trailer including the
weight of the load, luggage, accessories etc.
on the trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, the spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants, lug-
gage and the drawbar noseweight, if applica-
ble. The gross vehicle weight must not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating GVWR as
specified on the vehicle identification plate on
the B-pillar on the driver's side.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) The GVWR is the maximum permissible gross
weight of a fully loaded vehicle (the weight of the vehicle including all accessories, occu-
pants, fuel, luggage and the drawbar nose-
weight, if applicable). The gross vehicle
weight rating is specified on the vehicle iden-
tification plate on the B-pillar on the driver's
side. Tire labeling
325Wheels 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
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
G 550
Vehicle length
183.5 in
(4662 mm) Vehicle width including
exterior mirrors
80.9 in
(2055 mm) Vehicle height
76.8 in
(1951 mm) Wheelbase
112.2 in
(2850 mm) Minimum ground clear-
ance
8.1 in
(205 mm) Turning radius
44.6 ft
(13.60 m) Gross vehicle weight rat-
ing (GVWR)
7054.8 lb
(3200 kg) Gross axle weight rating
(GAWR), front
3196.7 lb
(1450 kg) Gross axle weight rating
(GAWR), rear
4188.8 lb
(1900 kg) G 63 AMG
Vehicle length
187.8 in
(4769 mm) Vehicle width including
exterior mirrors
80.9 in
(2056 mm) Vehicle height
76.3 in
(1938 mm) Wheelbase
112.2 in
(2850 mm) Minimum ground clear-
ance
7.7 in
(196 mm) Turning radius
44.6 ft
(13.60 m) Gross vehicle weight rat-
ing (GVWR)
7054.8 lb
(3200 kg) G 63 AMG
Gross axle weight rating
(GAWR), front
3417.1 lb
(1550 kg) Gross axle weight rating
(GAWR), rear
4122.6 lb
(1870 kg) i
GVWR is the maximum permissible gross
weight of the vehicle. Gross vehicle weight (GVW) is the vehicle weight including fuel,
service products, spare wheel, accessoriesinstalled, load and, if applicable, trailer
drawbar load. The GVW must never exceed
the GVWR.
i The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. Vehicle data for off-road driving
Fording depth
! The depth of water must not exceed the
value specified in the table. Note that the
possible fording depth is less in flowing
water. The table shows fording depth
:when loa-
ded and ready to drive. Fording depth 24 in (60 cm)
For more information about off-road fording,
see (Y page 156). Vehicle data for off-road driving
345Technical data Z
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