204Vehicle careWheels and tyres
Wheels
On vehicles with Diesel engines no
steel rims and only special, for this
vehicle approved alloy wheels are
permitted.
Tyre condition, wheel condition
Drive over edges slowly and at right
angles if possible. Driving over sharp
edges can cause tyre and wheel
damage. Do not trap tyres on the kerb when parking.
Regularly check the wheels for
damage. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in the event of damage or
unusual wear.
Winter tyres Winter tyres improve driving safety attemperatures below 7 °C and should
therefore be fitted on all wheels.
All tyre sizes are permitted as winter
tyres 3 239.Use tyre size 225/55 R17 only as
winter tyres.
On vehicles with Diesel engines, no
steel rims and only special, vehicle-
approved alloy wheels are permitted.
In accordance with country-specific
regulations, affix the speed sticker in
the driver's field of view.
Tyre designationsE.g. 235/55 R 17 99 V235=Tyre width, mm55=Cross-section ratio (tyre height
to tyre width), %R=Belt type: RadialRF=Type: RunFlat17=Wheel diameter, inches99=Load index e.g. 99 is
equivalent to 775 kgV=Speed code letter
Speed code letter:
Q=up to 160 km/hS=up to 180 km/hT=up to 190 km/hH=up to 210 km/hV=up to 240 km/hW=up to 270 km/hDirectional tyres
Fit directional tyres such that they roll in the direction of travel. The rolling
direction is indicated by a symbol
(e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
Tyre pressure Check the pressure of cold tyres atleast every 14 days and before any
long journey. Do not forget the spare
wheel. This also applies to vehicles
with tyre pressure monitoring system.
Unscrew the valve cap.
Tyre pressure 3 239.
Vehicle care205
The tyre pressure information label
on the left door frame indicates the
original equipment tyres and the
correspondent tyre pressures.
The tyre pressure data refers to cold
tyres. It applies to summer and winter tyres.
Always inflate the spare tyre to the
pressure specified for full load.
The ECO tyre pressure serves to achieve the smallest amount of fuel
consumption possible.
Incorrect tyre pressures will impair
safety, vehicle handling, comfort and fuel economy and will increase tyre
wear.
Tyre pressures differ depending on
various options. For the correct tyre
pressure value, follow the procedure
below:
1. Identify the engine identifier code.
Engine data 3 234.
2. Identify the respective tyre.
The tyre pressure tables show all possible tyre combinations 3 239.For the tyres approved for your
vehicle, refer to the EEC Certificate of Conformity provided with your vehicle
or other national registration
documents.
The driver is responsible for correct
adjustment of tyre pressure.9 Warning
If the pressure is too low, this can
result in considerable tyre warm-
up and internal damage, leading to tread separation and even to tyre
blow-out at high speeds.
If the tyre pressure must be reduced
or increased on a vehicle with tyre
pressure monitoring system, switch
off ignition. After adjusting tyre
pressure switch on ignition and select the relevant setting on the page Tyre
load on the Driver Information Centre,
3 96.
Tyre pressure monitoring
system The tyre pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) checks the pressure of all
four wheels once a minute when
vehicle speed exceeds a certain limit.Caution
Tyre pressure monitoring system
warns only about low tyre pressure
condition and does not replace
regular tyre maintenance by the
driver.
All wheels must be equipped with pressure sensors and the tyres must
have the prescribed pressure.
Note
In countries where the tyre pressure
monitoring system is legally
required, the use of wheels without
pressure sensors will invalidate the
vehicle type approval.
206Vehicle care
The current tyre pressures can be
shown in the Vehicle Information
Menu in the Driver Information Centre
(DIC).
The menu can be selected by the
buttons on the turn signal lever.
Press the MENU button to select the
Vehicle Information Menu X.
Turn the adjuster wheel to select the
tyre pressure monitoring system.
System status and pressure warnings
are displayed by a message with the
corresponding tyre flashing in the
DIC.A detected low tyre pressure
condition is indicated by the control
indicator w 3 94.
If w illuminates, stop as soon as
possible and inflate the tyres as
recommended 3 239.
If w flashes for 60-90 seconds and
then illuminates continuously, there is a fault in the system. Consult a
workshop.
After inflating, driving may be
required to update the tyre pressure
values in the DIC. During this time w
may illuminate.
Vehicle care207
If w illuminates at lower temperatures
and extinguishes after some driving,
this could be an indicator for getting
low pressure. Check tyre pressure.
Vehicle messages 3 102.
If the tyre pressure must be reduced
or increased, switch off ignition.
Only mount wheels with pressure
sensors, otherwise the tyre pressure
will not be displayed and w
illuminates continuously.
A temporary spare wheel is not
equipped with pressure sensors. The
tyre pressure monitoring system is
not operational for these wheels.
Control indicator w illuminates. For
the further three wheels the system
remains operational.
The use of commercially available
liquid tyre repair kits can impair the
function of the system. Factory-
approved repair kits can be used.
External high-power radio equipment
could disrupt the tyre pressure
monitoring system.Each time the tyres are replaced, tyre pressure monitoring system sensors
must be dismounted and serviced.
For the screwed sensor: replace
valve core and sealing ring. For
clipped sensor: replace complete
valve stem.
Vehicle loading status Adjust tyre pressure to load condition according to tyre information label or
tyre pressure chart 3 239, and select
the relevant setting in the menu Tire
Load in the DIC, Vehicle Information
Menu 3 96.Select:
■ Light for comfort pressure up to
3 people
■ Eco for Eco pressure up to
3 people
■ Max for full loading
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code must be matched to a new tyre/
wheel position after rotating the tyres
or exchanging the complete wheel set and if one or more TPMS sensors
were replaced. The TPMS sensor matching process should also be
performed after replacing a spare tyre
with a road tyre containing the TPMS
sensor.
The malfunction light and the warning
message or code should go off at the
next ignition cycle. The sensors are
matched to the tyre/wheel positions,
using a TPMS relearn tool, in the
following order: left side front tyre,
right side front tyre, right side rear tyre
208Vehicle care
and left side rear tyre. The turn signal
light at the current active position is
illuminated until sensor is matched.
Consult your workshop for service or
to purchase a relearn tool. There are two minutes to match the first tyre/wheel position, and five minutes
overall to match all four tyre/wheel
positions. If it takes longer, the
matching process stops and must be
restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching process is:
1. Apply the parking brake; on vehicles with automatic
transmission set the selector lever
to P.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Use the MENU button on the turn
signal lever to select the Vehicle
Information Menu in the Driver
Information Centre (DIC).
4. Turn the adjuster wheel to scroll to
the tyre pressure menu.5. Press the SET/CLR button to
begin the sensor matching process. A message requesting
acceptance of the process should display.
6. Press the SET/CLR button again
to confirm the selection. The horn
sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode.
7. Start with the left side front tyre.
8. Place the relearn tool against the tyre sidewall, near the valve stem.Then press the button to activate
the TPMS sensor. A horn chirp
confirms that the sensor
identification code has been
matched to this tyre and wheel
position.
9. Proceed to the right side front tyre,
and repeat the procedure in
Step 8.
10. Proceed to the right side rear tyre,
and repeat the procedure in
Step 8.
11. Proceed to the left side rear tyre, and repeat the procedure in
Step 8. The horn sounds twice toindicate the sensor identification
code has been matched to the left side rear tyre, and the TPMS
sensor matching process is no
longer active.
12. Turn off the ignition.
13. Set all four tyres to the recommended air pressure level
as indicated on the tyre pressure label.
14. Ensure the tyre loading status is set according selected pressure
3 96.
Temperature dependency
Tyre pressure depends on the
temperature of the tyre. During
driving, tyre temperature and
pressure increase.
The tyre pressure value displayed in
the DIC shows the actual tyre
pressure. Therefore it is important to
check tyre pressure with cold tyres.
Tread depth
Check tread depth at regular
intervals.
Vehicle care209
Tyres should be replaced for safety
reasons at a tread depth of 2-3 mm
(4 mm for winter tyres).
For safety reasons it is recommended
that the tread depth of the tyres on
one axle should not vary by more than 2 mm.
The legally permissible minimum
tread depth (1.6 mm) has been
reached when the tread has worn
down as far as one of the tread wear
indicators (TWI). Their position is
indicated by markings on the
sidewall.
If there is more wear at the front than
the rear, swap round front wheels and rear wheels periodically. Ensure that
the direction of rotation of the wheels
is the same as before.
Tyres age, even if they are not used.
We recommend tyre replacement
every 6 years.
Changing tyre and wheel
size If tyres of a different size than those
fitted at the factory are used, it may be necessary to reprogramme the
speedometer as well as the nominal
tyre pressure and make other vehicle
modifications.
After converting to a different tyre
size, have the label with tyre
pressures replaced.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheels
may lead to accidents and will
invalidate the vehicle type
approval.
Wheel covers
Wheel covers and tyres that are
factory approved for the respective
vehicle and comply with all of the
relevant wheel and tyre combination requirements must be used.
If the wheel covers and tyres used are
not factory approved, the tyres must
not have a rim protection ridge.
Wheel covers must not impair brake
cooling.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheel
covers could lead to sudden
pressure loss and thereby
accidents.
Vehicles with steel wheels: When
using locking wheel nuts, the wheel
covers might not be attached to the
steel wheels.
212Vehicle care
10. Set the rocker switch on thecompressor to I. The tyre is filled
with sealant.
11. The compressor pressure gauge briefly indicates up to 6 bar whilstthe sealant bottle is emptying
(approx. 30 seconds). Then the
pressure starts to drop.
12. All of the sealant is pumped into the tyre. Then the tyre is inflated.
13. The prescribed tyre pressure should be obtained within
10 minutes. Tyre pressure
3 239 . When the correct pressure
is obtained, switch off the
compressor.If the prescribed tyre pressure is
not obtained within 10 minutes,
remove the tyre repair kit. Move
the vehicle one tyre rotation.
Reattach the tyre repair kit and
continue the filling procedure for 10 minutes. If the prescribed tyre
pressure is still not obtained, the
tyre is too badly damaged. Seek
the assistance of a workshop.
Drain excess tyre pressure with
the button over the pressure indicator.
Do not run the compressor longer than 10 minutes.
14. Detach the tyre repair kit. Push catch on bracket to remove
sealant bottle from bracket. Screw
the tyre inflation hose to the free
connection of the sealant bottle.
This prevents sealant from
escaping. Stow tyre repair kit in
load compartment.
15. Remove any excess sealant using a cloth.
16. Take the label indicating maximum permitted speed from
the sealant bottle and affix in the
driver's field of view.
17. Continue driving immediately so that sealant is evenly distributedin the tyre. After driving approx.
10 km (but no more than
10 minutes), stop and check tyre
pressure. Screw compressor air
hose directly onto tyre valve and
compressor when doing this.
Vehicle care213
If tyre pressure is more than
1.3 bar , set it to the correct value.
Repeat the procedure until there
is no more loss of pressure.
If the tyre pressure has fallen
below 1.3 bar, the vehicle must
not be used. Seek the assistance
of a workshop.
18. Stow away the tyre repair kit in the
load compartment.
Note
The driving characteristics of the
repaired tyre are severely affected,
therefore have this tyre replaced.
If unusual noise is heard or the
compressor becomes hot, turn
compressor off for at least
30 minutes.
The built-in safety valve opens at a
pressure of 7 bar.
Note the expiry date of the kit. After
this date its sealing capability is no
longer guaranteed. Pay attention to
storage information on sealant
bottle.
Replace the used sealant bottle. Dispose of the bottle as prescribed
by applicable laws.
The compressor and sealant can be
used from approx. -30 °C.
The adapters supplied can be used
to pump up other items e.g.
footballs, air mattresses, inflatable
dinghies etc. They are located on the underside of the compressor. To
remove, screw on compressor air hose and withdraw adapter.
Wheel changing Some vehicles are equipped with a
tyre repair kit instead of a spare wheel 3 210.Make the following preparations and
observe the following information:
■ Park the vehicle on a level, firm and
non-slippery surface. The front wheels must be in the straight-
ahead position.
■ Apply the parking brake and engage first gear, reverse gear or
P .
■ Remove the spare wheel 3 216.
■ Never change more than one wheel
at once.
■ Use the jack only to change wheels
in case of puncture, not for
seasonal winter or summer tyre
change.
■ The jack is maintenance-free.
■ If the ground on which the vehicle is standing is soft, a solid board
(max. 1 cm thick) should be placed
under the jack.
■ Take heavy objects out of the vehicle before jacking up.
■ No people or animals may be in the
vehicle when it is jacked-up.