Page 345 of 374

adapt your driving style to the traffic condi-
tions. Summer tires
Index Speed rating
Q up to 100mph (160 km/h)
R up to 106mph (170 km/h)
S up to 112mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118mph (190 km/h)
H up to 130mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149mph (240 km/h)
W up to 168mph (270 km/h)
Y up to 186mph (300 km/h)
ZR...Y up to 186mph (300 km/h)
ZR...(..Y) over 186mph
(300 km/h) ZR over 149mph
(240 km/h) R
Option ally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240km/h) may have "ZR" in the size description, depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).
The service specifications consist of load
bearing index 0083and speed rating 0084.
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 ZR 18 97 Y. In this exam-
ple, "97 Y" is the service specification. The letter "Y" represents the speed rating and
the maximum speed of the tire is limited to
186 mph (300km/h).
R The size description for all tires with maxi-
mum speeds of over 186mph (300km/h)
must include "ZR", andthe service specifi-
cation must be given in brackets. Example: 275/40 ZR 18 (99 Y). The speed rating "(Y)"
indicates that the maximum speed of the
tire is over 186mph (300km/h). Ask the
tire manufacturer about the maximum
speed. All-weather tires and winter tires
Index Speed rating
Q M+S
5 up to 100mph (160 km/h)
T M+S
5 up to 118mph (190 km/h)
H M+S
5 up to 130mph (210 km/h)
V M+S
5 up to 149mph (240 km/h)
i
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide
the driving characteristics of winter tires.
Winter tires have, in addition to the M+S
identification, the 004Dsnow flake symbol
on the tire sidewall. Tires with this marking
fulfill the requirements of the Rubber Man- ufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rub-
ber Association of Canada (RAC) regarding
the tire traction on snow. They have been
especially developed for driving on snow.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 130mph
(210km/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 352).
Further information about reading tire data
can be obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop.
5 Or M+S 004Dfor winter tires. Tire labeling
343Wheels and tires Z
Page 346 of 374

Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, load
index 0043may be imprinted after the letters
that identify speed index 0084(Ypage 342) on
the sidewall of the tire.
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. DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Canadian tire regulations prescribe that every
new tire manufacturer or retreader has to
imprint a TIN in or on the sidewall of each tire
produced. The TIN is a unique identification number. The
TIN makes it easier for tire manufacturers or
retreaders to notify customers of recalls or
other safety-related matters. It makes it pos- sible for the purchaser to easily identify the
affected tires.
The TIN consists of the manufacturer identi-
fication code 0044, tire size0087, tire type
code 0085and manufacturing date 0083.
DOT (Department of Transportation): tire
symbol 0043indicates that the tire complies
with the requirements of the Canadian Trans-
port Ministry.
Manufacturer identification code: manu-
facturer identification code 0044provides
details on the tire manufacturer. New tires
have a code with two symbols. Retreaded
tires have a code with four symbols.
Further information about retreaded tires
(Y page 324).
Tire size: identifier0087describes the tire size.
Tire type code: tire type code0085can be used
by the manufacturer as a code to describe
specific characteristics of the tire.
Date of manufacture: date of manufacture
0083 provides information about the age of a
tire. The first and second positions represent
the week of manufacture, starting with "01"
for the first calendar week. Positions three
and four represent the year of manufacture.
For example, a tire that is marked with
"3208", was manufactured in week 32 in
2008.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example. 344
Tire labelingWheels and tires
Page 347 of 374

Tire characteristics
This information describes the tire cord and
the number of layers in sidewall 0043and under
tire tread 0044.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example. Definition of terms for tires and load-
ing
Tire ply composition and material
used
Describes the number of plies or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire
tread and sidewall. These are made of steel,
nylon, polyester and other materials. 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 Canadian Transport Ministry. Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants for which the vehi-
cle is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lb). Uniform Tire Quality Grading Stand-
ards
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. Definition of
terms for tires and loading
345Wheels and tires Z
Page 348 of 374

Speed rating
The speed rating is part of the tire identifica-
tion. It specifies the speed range for which the tire is approved. 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. 100 kilopascal (kPa) is the equivalent
of 1 bar. Load index
In addition to the load-bearing index, the load
index may also be imprinted on the sidewall of 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 not
include passengers or luggage. Maximum load rating
The maximum load rating in kilograms or
pounds is the maximum weight 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. 346
Definition of terms for tires and loadingWheels and tires
Page 349 of 374

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. Tire pressure of cold tires
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 not been driven further
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
part and more than 2.3 kg (5 lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
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. 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 00CDin
(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
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the num-
ber of seats in the vehicle. Changing a wheel
Flat tire
You can find information on what to do in the
event of a flat tire in the "Flat tire" section
(Y page 306). Information on driving with
MOExtended tires in the event of a flat tire can Changing a
wheel
347Wheels an d tires Z
Page 350 of 374

be found under "MOExtended tires (tires with
run-flat characteristics" (Y page 307).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.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes when changing a wheel
(Y page 347).
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
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if tire wear requires. Do not change the direction of wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated. Check the tire pressure and, if nec- essary, restart the tire pressure loss warning
system or the tire pressure monitor. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydroplaning. You will only gain these ben-
efits if the correct direction of rotation is
maintained.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool, dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. Cleaning the wheels
G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately. Mounting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually
(Y page 160).
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Move the DIRECT SELECT lever to position
P.
X Switch off the engine. 348
Changing a wheelWheels and tires
Page 351 of 374

X
Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
X If included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tire-change tool kit from the
vehicle.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock,
it can be found in the tire-change tool kit
(Y page 306).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
safety measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, for example when changing a
wheel.
X Fold both plates upwards 0043.
X Fold out lower plate 0044.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate 0087.Securing the vehicle on level ground X
On level ground: place chocks or other
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel you wish to change. Securing the vehicle on slight downhill gradients
X On light downhill gradients: place
chocks or other suitable items in front of
the wheels of the front and rear axle.
Raising the vehicle G
WARNING
If you do not position the jack correctly at the appropriate jacking point of the vehicle, the
jack could tip over with the vehicle raised.
There is a risk of injury.
Only position the jack at the appropriate jack-
ing point of the vehicle. The base of the jack
must be positioned vertically, directly under
the jacking point of the vehicle.
! The jack is designed exclusively for jack-
ing up the vehicle at the jacking points.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged.
Observe the following when raising the
vehicle:
R To raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If used incor-
rectly, the jack could tip over with the vehi- cle raised.
R The jack is designed only to raise and hold
the vehicle for a short time while a wheel
is being changed. It is not suited for per- Changing a wheel
349Wheels andtires Z
Page 352 of 374

forming maintenance work under the vehi-
cle.
R Avoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes.
R Before raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and inserting wheel chocks. Never disen-
gage the parking brake while the vehicle is
raised.
R The jack must be placed on a firm, flat and
non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a
large, flat, load-bearing underlay must be
used. On a slippery surface, a non-slip
underlay must be used, e.g. rubber mats.
R Do not use wooden blocks or similar
objects as a jack underlay. Otherwise, the
jack will not be able to achieve its load-
bearing capacity due to the restricted
height.
R Make sure that the distance between the
underside of the tires and the ground does not exceed 1.2 in (3 cm).
R Never place your hands and feet under the
raised vehicle.
R Do not lie under the vehicle.
R Do not start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
R Never open or close a door or the tailgate
when the vehicle is raised.
R Make sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised. X
Using lug wrench 0043, loosen the bolts on
the wheel you wish to change by about one full turn. Do not unscrew the bolts com-
pletely.
The jacking points are located just behind the
wheel housings of the front wheels and just in front of the wheel housings of the rear wheels(arrows).
X Take the ratchet wrench out of the tire-
changing tool kit and place it on the hexa-
gon nut of the jack so that the letters AUF
are visible. X
Position jack 0087at jacking point 0044. Example350
Changing a wheelWheels and tires