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 identifythe 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 islevel 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 216) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire.
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
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 251).
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
250Changing a wheel
Wheels and tires
XOpen the pressure release screw on the
jack using the pump lever ( Ypage 251) 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 ( Ypage 215).
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
GWARNING
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 originalpart.
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
GWarning
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
254Wheel and tire combinations
Wheels and tires