
Example: Steps 1 to 3
The following table shows examples of how to calculate total load and cargo capacities with
varying seating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples use a maximum load of 1500 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 . Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Step 1 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)
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Step 2 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)298
Loading the vehicleWheels and tires

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Step 3 Permissible cargo
and trailer load/
noseweight (maxi-
mum gross vehicle
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) The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Further information can be found under "Towing a trailer" (Y page 177).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 about
this can be found on the vehicle identification plate on the driver seat frame of your vehicle
(Y page 316).
Gross vehicle weight: the gross weight of
the vehicle, all passengers, cargo and trailer
load/noseweight (if applicable) must not
exceed the permissible gross vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum per-
missible load 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 10% of the gross weight of the trailer
and its load. What you should know about wheels
and tires Tire labeling
Overview 0043
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 302)
0044 Maximum tire load (Y page 301) What you should know about wheels and tires
299Wheels and tires Z

Speed rating:
speed rating006Bspecifies the
approved maximum speed of the tire.
Regardless of the speed index always observe the speed limits. Drive carefully and adapt
your driving style to the traffic conditions.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example. Index Speed rating
F up to 50 mph (80 km/h)
G up to 56 mph (90 km/h)
J up to 62 mph (100 km/h)
K up to 68 mph (110 km/h)
L up to 74 mph (120 km/h)
M up to 80 mph (130 km/h)
N up to 87 mph (140 km/h)
P up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
R over 106 mph (170 km/h)
i
Not all tires that have the M+S identifica-
tion offer the driving characteristics of win-
ter tires. In addition to the M+S marking,
winter tires also have the 004Dsnowflake
symbol on the tire wall. Tires with this mark- ing fulfill the requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC)
regarding the tire traction on snow. They
have been especially developed for driving
on snow.
Further information on the reading of tire
information can be obtained at any qualified
specialist workshop. Load index In addition to the load-bearing index, load rat-
ing 0043may be imprinted after the letters that
identify speed rating on the sidewall of the tire (Y page 300).
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 tire load 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-
ble load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and What you should know about wheels and tires
301Wheels and tires Z

DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of
the United States Department of Transporta- tion.
Average weight of vehicle occupants
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 regard to tread quality, traction and
temperature characteristics. The quality
grading assessment is made by the manufac- turer following specifications from the U.S
government. The quality grade of a tire is
imprinted on the sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure
The recommended tire pressures are the
pressures specified for the tires mounted on
the vehicle at the factory.
The tire and load information table 9
contains
the recommended tire pressures for cold
tires, the maximum permissible load and the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recom-
mended tire pressure for cold tires under var- ious operating conditions, i.e. loading and/orspeed of the vehicle.
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.
Wheel rim
The part of the wheel on which the tire is
mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rat-
ing. 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 driver seat
frame (Y page 316).
Speed index
The speed index is part of the tire identifica-
tion. It specifies the speed range for which the tire is approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
GTW is the total of weight of a trailer and the
weight of the load, accessories etc. on the
trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants, lug-
gage and the drawbar noseweight if applica-
ble. The gross vehicle weight may never
exceed the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) specified on the vehicle identification
plate at the base of the driver's seat
(Y page 316).
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The GVWR is the maximum permitted gross
weight of the fully laden vehicle (weight of the
vehicle including all accessories, occupants,
fuel, luggage and the drawbar noseweight if
applicable). The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
is specified on the vehicle identification plate on the driver seat frame (Y page 316).
Maximum weight of the laden vehicle
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 are the
equivalent of 1 psi. Another tire pressure unit
9 Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg). What you should know about wheels and ti
res
303Wheels and tires Z

is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equiva-
lent of 1 bar.
Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, a load
index can be stamped onto the sidewall of the
tire. It specifies the load-bearing capacity of
the tire more precisely.
Curb weight
The weight of a vehicle with standard equip-
ment including the maximum filling capacity
of fuel, oil, and coolant. It also includes the
air-conditioning system and optional equip-
ment if these are installed on the vehicle, but
does not include passengers or luggage.
Maximum tire load
The maximum tire load 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)
Standard unit of measurement for tire pres-
sure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and width in
percent.
tire pressure
Pressure inside the tire applying an outward
force to every square inch of the tire's sur-
face. Tire pressure is specified in pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in bar.
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 for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1 mile (1.6 km)
Tire tread
The part of the tire th at comes into contact
with the road.
Tire 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
tire 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 kg (5lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, a roof rack or a high-performance
battery, are not included in the curb weight
and the weight of the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
A unique identification number 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 composed of the manufacturer identification code, tire
size, tire model code and 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. 304
What you should know about wheels and tiresWheels and tires

TWR (permissible trailer drawbar load)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may act on the ball coupling of the trailer tow hitch.
Wear indicator
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.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over
designated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload weight
Nominal load and goods/luggage load plus
68 kg (150 lbs) multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle. Flat tire
General notes
If your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel, the spare wheel is under the rear of the vehi-
cle (Y page 312).
Information about installing a wheel can be
found in the "Wheel change" section
(Y page 306).
When you replace a tire, we recommend that
you also replace the tire valve. Please observe
the safety-relevant information on tire valve
(Y page 290). Changing wheels
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 observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(Y page 306).
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 rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire pressure monitor if necessary. Diagram showing tire rotation for single and dual
tires Changing wheels
305Wheels and tires Z

used tires if you have no information about
their previous usage.
The recommended tire pressures can be
found:
R on the Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard 10
on the B-pillar on the driver's side
R on the tire pressure table on the B-pillar on
the driver's side
The recommended tire pressure can also be
found in the "Tire pressure table" section in
this Operator's Manual (Y page 294). The
wheel/tire combination for your vehicle can
be found on the tire pressure table. Further
information on wheel/tire combination can
be obtained at any qualified specialist work-
shop.
Check tire pressures regularly and only when
the tires are cold. Observe the notes on the
recommended tire pressure (Y page 288).
Follow the maintenance recommendations in the tire manufacturer's warranty book in your
vehicle documents.
Notes on the vehicle equipment – always
equip the vehicle:
R with tires of the same size across an axle
(left/right)
R with the same type of tires on all wheels at
a given time (summer tires, winter tires)
Tires that have been specially designed and
approved for your vehicle are marked with
MO or MO1 (Mercedes-Benz Original). You
can find this identification on the tires them-
selves and in the following table.
i Not all wheel/tire combinations can be
installed at the factory in all countries. Spare wheel
Important safety notes
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.
When using a spare wheel of a different size,
do not exceed the maximum speed of
80 km/h. General notes
! Check the spare wheel regularly to see
that it is secure and has the prescribed tire
pressure.
The procedure for mounting the spare wheel
is described in "Mounting a wheel"
(Y page 306).
The following should be checked regularly,
particularly prior to long journeys:
R the tire pressure of the spare wheel, which
should then be corrected if necessary
(Y page 288).
R the fastenings of the spare wheel bracket.
The spare wheel is located in a spare wheel
bracket under the rear of the vehicle.
Replace the tires after 6 years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
spare wheel.
10 Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg). 312
Spare wheelWheels and ti
res

i
If you have mounted a spare wheel, the
tire pressure monitor (Y page 291) will not
function for this wheel. The spare wheel is
not equipped with a sensor for monitoring
tire pressure. Removing and installing the spare
wheel
Cargo Van/Passenger Van Bolt covers for the safety catches (example: Cargo
Van)
Removing
X Open the rear doors.
X Place a screwdriver into recesses 0044and
then pry off covers 0043.
X Using the lug wrench from the vehicle tool
kit (Y page 274), unscrew the now visible
bolts counter-clockwise by approximately
20 turns. Spare wheel carrier under the vehicle X
Slightly raise spare wheel bracket 0083and
unhook left-hand retaining hook 0087.
X Assemble the pump lever for the jack and
slide it into sleeve 0085on spare wheel
bracket 0083.
X Raise spare wheel bracket 0083with the
pump lever and unhook right-hand retain-
ing hook 0087.
X Slowly lower spare wheel bracket 0083down
to the ground.
X Lift spare wheel bracket 0083slightly and pull
the pump lever out of sleeve 0085. Spare wheel in the spare wheel carrier
X Use the pump lever to lift the spare wheel
beyond the rear edge of the spare wheel
carrier.
X Carefully remove the spare wheel from
spare wheel bracket 0083.
The spare wheel is heavy. When the spare
wheel is removed, the center of gravity
changes due to the heavy weight of the
wheel. The spare wheel may slip down or tip over.
Installing X Carefully place the spare wheel onto spare
wheel bracket 0083.
The spare wheel is heavy. When you place
the spare wheel onto spare wheel bracket
0083, the center of gravity changes due to the
weight of the wheel. The spare wheel may
slip down or tip over.
X Slide the pump lever for the jack into
sleeve 0085on spare wheel bracket 0083. Spare wheel
313Wheels and tires Z