
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
When driving with snow chains installed, do not
exceed the maximum permissible speed of
30 mph (50 km/h). Observe the country-spe-
cific laws and regulations for operation with
snow chains.
!Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
Rwheel
Rwheel housing
Rwheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
!Vehicles with steel wheels: if you mount
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps from
the relevant wheels before mounting the
snow chains.
Snow chains increase traction on roads in wintry
conditions.
For reasons of safety we only recommend using
snow chains or traction aids that are approved
for the Sprinter. The snow chains or traction aids
must be of class U or meet the SAE type U
specification. Information on snow chains is
available at any qualified specialist workshop.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
RSnow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting the snow chains, note the permissible tire and
snow chain dimensions.
RMount snow chains only in pairs and only to
the rear wheels. On vehicles with twin tires,
mount the snow chains to the outer wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's mounting
instructions.
RVehicles with all-wheel-drive: snow chains
are not permitted on the front axle. There is
not sufficient space for commercially-availa-
ble snow chains. Information about snow
chains for all-wheel-drive vehicles can be
obtained from an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
ROnly use snow chains when the road is cov-
ered by a layer of snow. Remove the snow chains as soon as possible when you come to
a road that is not snow-covered.
RThe use of snow chains may be restricted by
local regulations. Observe the appropriate
regulations before mounting snow chains.
RActivate all-wheel drive before driving off with
snow chains (Ypage 148).
RWhen driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h).
RCheck the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km).
You can deactivate ASR (
Ypage 53) when pull-
ing away with snow chains mounted. This allows
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel:
Rmonthly, at least
Rif the load changes
Rbefore beginning a long journey
Runder different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
iThe specifications shown on the sample Tire
and Loading Information placard and tire
250Tire pressure
Wheels and tires

The tires are cold:
Rif the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
Rif the vehicle has not been driven further than
1 mile (1.6 km)
Tire temperature changes depending on the
ambient temperature, driving speed and tire
load. If the tire temperature changes by 18 ‡
(10 †), the tire pressure changes by approx-
imately 10 kPa (0.1 bar/1.5 psi). Take this into
account when checking the pressure of warm
tires. Only correct the tire pressure if it is too low
for the current operating conditions. If you
check the tire pressures when the tires are
warm, the resulting values will be higher than if
the tires were cold. This is normal. Do not under
any circumstances release the air in order to
adjust the pressure to the prescribed value for
cold tires. The tire pressure would otherwise be
too low.
Observe the recommended tire pressures for
cold tires:
Ron the Tire and Loading Information placard5
on the B-pillar on the driver's side, or
Ron the tire pressure plate on the B-pillar on the
driver's side of the vehicle
R
Underinflated or overinflated tires
Underinflated tires:
GWARNING
Tires with pressure that is too low can over-
heat and burst as a consequence. In addition, they also suffer from excessive and/or irreg-
ular wear, which can severely impair the brak-
ing properties and the driving characteristics.
There is a risk of an accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too low in all the
tires, including the spare wheel.
Underinflated tires can:
Rfail from being overheated
Radversely affect handling
Rwear excessively and/or unevenly
Rhave an adverse effect on fuel consumption
Overinflated tires
GWARNING
Tires with excessively high pressure can burst
because they are damaged more easily by
road debris, potholes etc. In addition, they
also suffer from irregular wear, which can
severely impair the braking properties and the driving characteristics. There is a risk of an
accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too high in all the
tires, including the spare wheel.
Overinflated tires can:
Rincrease the braking distance
Radversely affect handling
Rwear excessively and/or unevenly
Radversely affect ride comfort
Rbe more susceptible to damage
Maximum tire pressures
:Maximum permitted tire pressure (example)
Never exceed the maximum permissible tire
inflation pressure. When adjusting the tire pres-
sures always observe the recommended tire
pressure for your vehicle (
Ypage 250).
iThe actual values for tires are specific to
each vehicle and may deviate from the values
in the illustration.
5Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg).
252Tire pressure
Wheels and tires

Tire valve
GWARNING
Tire valve that are not approved for your vehi-
cle by the distributor named on the inside
cover page may result in a loss of tire pres-
sure. This may affect road safety. There is a
risk of an accident.
Only use tire valve that are approved for your
vehicle by the distributor named on the inside
cover page. Always make sure you have the
correct tire valve type for the tires on your
vehicle.
!Do not screw additional weights (check
valves, etc.) onto the tire valves. The elec-
tronic components could thus be damaged.
Only for vehicles without a tire pressure moni-
tor:
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use tire valves that have
been tested for use on your vehicle.
Checking the tire pressure manually
In order to determine and adjust the tire pres-
sures, proceed as follows:
XRemove the valve cap of the tire you wish to
check.
XPress the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve.
XRead the tire pressure and compare it with the
recommended value on the loading informa-
tion table or the tire pressure table
(
Ypage 250).
XIf the tire pressure is too low, increase it to the
recommended value.
XIf the tire pressure is too high, release air by
pressing down the metal pin in the valve. Use
the tip of a pen, for example. Then, check the
tire pressure again using the tire pressure
gauge.
XScrew the valve cap onto the valve.
XRepeat the steps for the other tires.
Tire pressure monitor
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked at least once a month
when cold and inflated to the pressure rec-
ommended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the Tire and Loading Information placard on
the driver's door B-pillar or the tire pressure
label on the inside of the fuel filler flap. If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard or the tire pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire pressure for
those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pres-
sure telltale when one or more of your tires
are significantly underinflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as soon
as possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a significantly underin-
flated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle's handling and stop-
ping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a subs titute
fo
r proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate if the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the
low tire pressure telltale. When the system
detects a malfunction, the warning lamp will
flash for approximately a minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will be repeated every time the vehi-
Tire pressure253
Wheels and tires
Z

Tire pressure table
Front axle tire pressure values:the following tire pressure values only apply to vehicles with a
permissible front axle load of 3970 lbs (1801 kg), 4080 lbs (1851 kg) or 4410 lbs (2000 kg).
Tires/disc wheelFront axle load
3970 lbs
(1801 kg)4080 lbs
(1851 kg)4410 lbs
(2000 kg)
205/75 R 16 C 110/108R
6.5Jx16 ET626—400 kPa
(4.0 bar/58 psi)420 kPa
(4.2 bar/61 psi)
LT 215/85 R 16 115/112N
5.5Jx16
Half distance between centers: 4.94 in
(125.5 mm)—380 kPa
(3.8 bar/55 psi)420 kPa
(4.2 bar/61 psi)
LT 215/85 R 16 115/112Q
5.5Jx16
Half distance between centers: 4.94 in
(125.5 mm)—380 kPa
(3.8 bar/55 psi)420 kPa
(4.2 bar/61 psi)
LT 245/75 R 16 120/116N
6.5J x 16
Wheel offset: 2.13 in (54 mm)320 kPa
(3.2 bar/47 psi)——
235/65 R 16 C 121N (118 R)
6.5J x 16
Spare wheel for vehicles with
Super Single tires—380 kPa
(3.8 bar/55 psi)420 kPa
(4.2 bar/61 psi)
Rear axle tire pressure values: the following tire pressure values only apply to vehicles with a
permissible rear axle load of 5360 lbs (2431 kg), 7060 lbs (3202 kg) or 7720 lbs (3502 kg).
Tires/disc wheelRear axle load
5360 lbs
(2431 kg)7060 lbs
(3202 kg)7720 lbs
(3502 kg)
LT 215/85 R 16 115/112N
5.5Jx16
Half distance between centers: 4.94 in
(125.5 mm)—380 kPa
(3.8 bar/55 psi)420 kPa
(4.2 bar/61 psi)
LT 215/85 R 16 115/112Q
5.5Jx16
Half distance between centers: 4.94 in
(125.5 mm)—380 kPa
(3.8 bar/55 psi)420 kPa
(4.2 bar/61 psi)
LT 245/75 R 16 120/116N
6.5J x 16
Wheel offset: 2.13 in (54 mm)480 kPa
(4.8 bar/70 psi)——
6Vehicles with Super Single tires
Tire pressure257
Wheels and tires
Z

Tires/disc wheelRear axle load
5360 lbs
(2431 kg)7060 lbs
(3202 kg)7720 lbs
(3502 kg)
285/65 R 16 C 128/126N (121 R)
285/65 R 16 C 128/126 N (123 R)7
8.5J x 16 ET 63
—450 kPa
(4.5 bar/65 psi)—
235/65 R 16 C 121N (118 R)
6.5J x 16
Spare wheel for vehicles with
Super Single tires—520 kPa
(5.2 bar/75 psi)—
Loading the vehicle
Instruction labels for tires and loads
GWARNING
Overloaded tires can overheat, causing a
blowout. Overloaded tires can also impair the steering and driving characteristics and lead
to brake failure. There is a risk of accident.
Observe the load rating of the tires. The load
rating must be at least half of the GAWR of
your vehicle. Never overload the tires by
exceeding the maximum load.
The Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar
Two instruction labels on your vehicle show themaximum possible load.
(1) Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg):
Tire and Loading Information placard :is
on the B-pillar on the driver's side. Tire and Loading Information placard
:shows the
permissible number of occupants and the
maximum permissible load of the vehicle. It
also contains details of the tire sizes and
corresponding pressures for tires mounted
at the factory.
(2) The vehicle identification plate is located on the base of the driver's seat. The vehicle
identification plate informs you of the gross
vehicle weight rating. It is made up of the
vehicle weight, all vehicle occupants, the
fuel and the cargo. You can also find infor-
mation about the maximum Gross Axle
Weight Rating on the front and rear axle.
The maximum gross axle weight rating is
the maximum weight that can be carried by
one axle (front or rear axle). Do not exceed
the maximum gross vehicle weight or the
maximum gross axle weight rating for the
front or rear axle.
Tire and Loading Information placard
General notes
Only vehicles with a gross weight of less than
10,000 lbs (4,536 kg) have a Tire and Loading
Information placard on the B-pillar on the driv-
er's side.
7Super Single tires.
258Loading the vehicle
Wheels and tires

is marked with "3208", was manufactured in
week 32 in 2008.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Tire characteristics
This information describes the type of tire cord
and the number of layers in sidewall :and
under tire tread ;.
iTire data is vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data in the example.
Definitions for tires and loading
Tire structure and characteristics
Describes the number of layers or the number of
rubber-coated belts in the tire tread and the tire
wall. These consist 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
United States Department of Transportation.
Average weight of vehicle occupants
The number of occupants for which the vehicle
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 tem-
perature characteristics. The quality grading
assessment is made by the manufacturer fol- lowing 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 pres-
sures specified for the tires mounted on the
vehicle at the factory.
The tire and load information table
8contains the
recommended tire pressures for cold tires, the
maximum permissible load and the maximum
permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recommen-
ded tire pressure for cold tires under various
operating conditions, i.e. loading and/or speed
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 moun-
ted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
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 iden-
tification plate on the driver seat frame
(
Ypage 276).
Speed index
The speed index is part of the tire identification.
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, luggage and
the drawbar noseweight if applicable. The gross
vehicle weight may never exceed the gross vehi-
8Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg).
264What you should know about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires

Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a code
that contains the maximum load bearing capa-
city of a tire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the tires
and the road surface.
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 distrib-
uted over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level
with the bars, the wear limit ofáin(1.6 mm )
ha sbeen re ached.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over des-
ignated 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 vehicle
(
Ypage 272).
Information about installing a wheel can be
found in the "Wheel change" section
(
Ypage 267).
Changing wheels
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 located
in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used near
the valve. This could damage the electronic
components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(
Ypage 267).
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 intervals
in the tire manufacturer's warranty book in your
vehicle documents. If no warranty book is avail-
able, 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 rota-
ted.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire
pressure monitor if necessary.
Diagram showing tire rotation for single and dual
tires
Single tires: if the tires are of identical dimen-
sions, you can rotate both wheels on both the
front and rear axles so that the tires' original
direction of rotation is maintained. On unidirec-
266Changing wheels
Wheels and tires

tional tires, an arrow on the sidewall shows the
prescribed direction of rotation of the tire.
Twin rear tires:if the tires are of identical
dimensions, you can rotate the wheels on the
front axle and the inner wheels on the rear axle
in pairs such that the original direction of tire
rotation is retained. With unidirectional tires,
you may rotate the outside wheels at the rear
axle from one side to the other.
Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation have
additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydro-
planing. You will only gain these benefits if the
correct direction of rotation is observed.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates its
correct direction of rotation.
You may mount a spare wheel against the direc-
tion of rotation. Observe the time restriction on
use as well as the speed limitation specified on
the spare wheel.
Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the tires
from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
Mounting a wheel
Vehicle preparation
XStop the vehicle as far away as possible from
traffic and on a level, firm and non-slip sur-
face.
XIf your vehicle poses a risk to approaching
traffic, switch on the hazard warning lamps.
XApply the parking brake.
XTurn the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
XMove the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XPassengers should leave the vehicle. Make
sure that the passengers are not endangered
as they do so.
XMake sure that no one is near the danger area
while the wheel is being changed. Anyone
who is not directly assisting in the wheel change should, for example, stand behind the
barrier.
XPlace the warning triangle or warning lamp at
a suitable distance.
Observe legal requirements.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
iObserve the safety notes on parking in the
section on "Driving and parking"
(
Ypage 130).
XOn level terrain: place chocks or other suit-
able objects under the front and rear of the
wheel that is diagonally opposite the wheel to
be changed.
XOn slight inclines: place chocks or other
suitabl e objects under the wheels on the front
and rear axles opposite the wheel to be
changed.
XTake the vehicle tool kit and the jack from the
footwell on the front-passenger side
(
Ypage 240).
XRemove the spare wheel from the spare wheel
bracket (Ypage 273). Observe the safety
notes in the "Spare wheel" section
(
Ypage 272).
XOn wheels with wheel bolts, remove the hub
caps.
XAssemble the lug wrench extension using the
middle rod and the rod with the largest diam-
eter from the three-piece jack pump lever.
XStarting with the middle rod, slide the lug
wrench extension as far as it will go onto the
lug wrench.
XUsing lug wrench :, loosen the wheel bolts/
wheel nuts on the wheel to be changed by
about one full turn. Do not unscrew the wheel bolts/nuts completely.
Changing wheels267
Wheels an d tires
Z