Step 3
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Permissible load
(maximum gross vehi-
cle weight rating from
the Tire and Loading
Information placard
minus the gross
weight of all occu-
pants) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
00F8750 lbs (340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
00F8540 lbs (245 kg)
=960 lbs (435 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
00F8150 lbs (68 kg) =
1350 lbs (612 kg)
Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total cargo
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 418).
Permissible gross vehicle weight: the
gross weight of the vehicle, all passengers,
load and trailer load/noseweight (if applica-
ble) must not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum per-
missible weight that can be carried 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, cargo, 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 8% of the gross weight of the trailer
and its cargo. All about wheels and tires
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards
Overview of Tire Quality Grading Stand- ards 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: 0043tread wear grade, 0044
traction grade and 0087temperature grade.
These regulations do not apply to Canada.
Nevertheless, all tires sold in North America
are provided with the corresponding quality
grading markings on the sidewall of the tire.
Where applicable, the tire grading informa-
tion can be found on the tire sidewall between
the tread shoulder and maximum tire width. All about wheels and tires
421Wheels and tires Z
All-weather tires and winter tires
Index Speed rating
Q M+S
2 up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S
2 up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S
2 up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V M+S
2 up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
i
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide
the driving characteristics of winter tires. In
addition to the M+S marking, winter tires
also have the 004Dsnowflake symbol on
the tire wall. Tires with this marking fulfill
the requirements of the Rubber Manufac-
turers Association (RMA) and the Rubber
Association of Canada (RAC) regarding the
tire traction on snow. They have been espe- cially developed for driving on snow.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding the following speeds:
R all vehicles (except AMG vehicles):
130 mph (210 km/h)
R AMG vehicles: 155 mph (250 km/h)
R AMG vehicles with increased top speed:
174 mph (280 km/h)
The speed rating of tires mounted at the fac- tory may be higher than the maximum speed
that the electronic speed limiter permits.
Make sure that your tires have the required
speed rating, e.g. when buying new tires. The required speed rating for your vehicle can be
found in the "Tires" section (Y page 434).
Further information about reading tire data
can be obtained from any qualified specialist workshop. Load index In addition to the load bearing index, load
index
0043may be imprinted after the letters
that identify the speed index 0084on the side-
wall of the tire (Y page 423).
R If no specification is given: no text (as in the
example above), represents a standard
load (SL) tire
R XL or Extra Load: represents a reinforced
tire
R Light Load: represents a light load tire
R C, D, E: represents a load range that
depends on the maximum load that the tire
can carry at a certain pressure
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example.
Maximum load rating Maximum tire load
0043is the maximum per-
missible weight for which the tire is approved.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit. The maximum permissi-
2 Or M+S 004Dfor winter tires. All about wheels and tires
425Wheels and tires Z
DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of
the United States Department of Transporta- tion.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants which the vehicle is
designed for, multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lb).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A uniform standard to grade the quality of
tires with regards to tread quality, tire traction and temperature characteristics. Ratings are determined by tire manufacturers using U.S.
government testing procedures. The ratings
are molded into the sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure
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 the maximum 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
This is the combined weight of all standard
and optional equipment available for the vehi-
cle, regardless of whether it is actually instal-
led 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.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The maximum weight is the sum of:
R the curb weight of the vehicle
R the weight of the accessories
R the load limit
R the weight of the factory installed optional
equipment
Kilopascal (kPa)
Metric unit for tire pressure. 6.9 kPa corre-
sponds to 1 psi. Another unit for tire pressure is bar. There are 100 kilopascal s(kPa) to
1 bar.
Load index
In addition to the load-bearing index, the load
index may also be imprinted on the sidewall of All about wheels and tires
427Wheels and tires Z
the tire. This specifies the load-bearing capa-
city more precisely.
Curb weight
The weight of a vehicle with standard equip-
ment including the maximum capacity of fuel,
oil and coolant. It also includes the air-condi- tioning system and optional equipment if
these are installed in the vehicle, but does notinclude passengers or luggage.
Maximum load rating
The maximum tire load is the maximum per-
missible weight in kilograms or lbs for which a
tire is approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure
Maximum permissible tire pressure for one
tire.
Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle
by two.
PSI (pounds per square inch)
A standard unit of measure for tire pressure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and tire
width in percent.
Tire pressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an
outward force to each square inch of the tire's surface. The tire pressure is specified in
pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal
(kPa) or in bar. The tire pressure should only
be corrected when the tires are cold.
Cold tire pressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked without
direct sunlight on the tires for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has been driven for less than
1 mile (1.6 km). Tread
The part of the tire that comes into contact
with the road.
Bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kilograms (5 lbs).
These optional extras, such as high-perform-
ance brakes, level control, a roof rack or a
high-performance battery, are not included in the curb weight and the weight of the acces-
sories.
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. 428
All about
wheels and tiresWheels and tires
Vehicle data
General notes
Please note that for the specified vehicle
data:
R the heights specified may vary as a result
of:
- tires
- load
- condition of the suspension
- optional equipment
R optional equipment reduces the maximum
payload. Dimensions and weights
Model
0043
0043
Opening height 0044
0044
Max.
headroom AMG vehicles
84.1 in -
86.6 in
2136 mm - 2199 mm 78.8 in
2002 mm All other mod-
els with:
0043 0043
Opening height 0044
0044
Max.
headroom AIRMATIC
package
83.9 in -
86.9 in
(2132 mm - 2207 mm) 76.1 in -
79.1 in
(1934 mm - 2009 mm) ON&OFF-
ROAD pack-
age
83.9 in -
88.1 in
2132 mm - 2237 mm 76.1 in -
80.3 in
(1934 mm - 2039 mm) AMG vehicles
Vehicle length
202.6 in
(5146 mm) Vehicle width including
exterior mirrors
84.3 in
(2141 mm) Vehicle width without
exterior mirrors
78.0 in
(1982 mm) Maximum vehicle height
74.9 in
(1902 mm) Minimum vehicle height
72.4 in
(1839 mm) Wheelbase
121.1 in
(3075 mm) Maximum ground clear-
ance
9.8 in
(249 mm) Minimum ground clear-
ance
7.4 in
(188 mm) Turning radius
40.8 ft
(12.45 m) Maxi
mum roof load 220 lb
(100 kg) Vehicle data
455Technical data Z
Trailer loads
Trailer loads, trailer drawbar noseweights and axle loads Missing values were not available at time of going to print.
GL 450
Permissible trailer load, unbraked
Permissible trailer load, braked (at a minimum gradient-
climbing capability of 12% from a standstill) 6613 lbs (3000 kg)
Maximum drawbar noseweight (the drawbar nose-
weight is not included in the trailer load)
529 lbs (240 kg)
Permissible rear axle load when towing a trailer
3970 lbs (1800 kg)
GL 450 4MATIC, GL 550
4MATIC and GL 350 Blue- TEC 4MATIC Permissible trailer load, unbraked
Permissible trailer load, braked (at a minimum gradient-
climbing capability of 12% from a standstill) 7500 lbs (3402 kg)
Maximum drawbar noseweight (the drawbar nose-
weight is not included in the trailer load)
600 lbs (272 kg)
Permissible rear axle load when towing a trailer
3970 lbs (1800 kg)
GL 63 AMG 4MATIC
Permissible trailer load, unbraked
Permissible trailer load, braked (at a minimum gradient-
climbing capability of 12% from a standstill) 7165 lbs (3250 kg)
Maximum drawbar noseweight (the drawbar nose-
weight is not included in the trailer load)
309 lbs (140 kg)
Permissible rear axle load when towing a trailer
4189 lbs (1900 kg)
The actual noseweight may not be higher than the value which is given. The value can be found
on the trailer tow hitch or trailer identification plates. The lowest weight applies.
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar noseweight is the maximum weight with which the
trailer drawbar can be loaded. Limit for Mercedes-Benz-approved trailer couplings. Trailer tow hitch
459Technical data Z