Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
R the tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
R the tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as
steering 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
including the spare wheel:
R monthly, at least
R if the load changes
R before beginning a long journey
R under different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
The tire pressure monitor will not warn you of: R an incorrectly set tire pressure
R sudden loss of tire pressure, for example
caused through intrusion from a foreign
object G
WARNING
If you fit unsuitable accessories onto tire
valves, the tire valves may be overloaded
and malfunction, which can cause tire pres-
sure loss. Due to their design, retrofitted tire
pressure monitors keep the tire valve open.
This can also result in tire pressure loss.
There is a risk of an accident.
Only screw the standard valve cap or other
valve caps approved by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle onto the tire valve. !
The pressure difference between tires on
any one axle must be no greater than
10 kPa
(0.1 bar/1.5 psi).
i The specifications shown on the sample
Tire and Loading Information placard and
tire pressure table are examples. Tire pres-
sure data are vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data illustrated here. The tire
pressure specifications that are valid for
your vehicle can be found on the Tire and
Loading Information placard and the tire
pressure table on the vehicle. H
Environmental note
Check the tire pressure regularly, at least
every
14 days.
General notes You will find information on tire pressure for
the vehicle's factory-mounted tires on the
plates described here.
The recommended tire pressure for various
operating conditions can be found on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the B-pillar
on the driver's side of the vehicle or on the tire
pressure table inside the fuel filler flap.
Further information on tire pressure can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard Example: Tire and Loading Information placard
The Tire and Loading Information placard is on
the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle.
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains recommended tire pressures : for cold
tires. Recommended tire pressures : are
valid for the maximum permissible load and up 282
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
Important notes on tire pressure
G
WARNING
If the tire pressure drops repeatedly, the
wheel, valve or tire may be damaged. Tire
pressure that is too low may result in a tire
blow-out. There is a risk of an accident. R Check the tire for foreign objects.
R Check whether the wheel is losing air or
the valve is leaking.
If you are unable to rectify the damage, con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
Use a suitable pressure gauge to check the
tire pressure. The outer appearance of a tire
does not permit any reliable conclusion about
the tire pressure. On vehicles equipped with
the electronic tire pressure monitor, the tire
pressure can be checked using the on-board
computer.
The tire temperature and pressure increase
when the vehicle is in motion. This is depend-
ent on the driving speed and the load.
Therefore, you should only correct tire pres-
sure when the tires are cold.
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 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 pressure when the tires are
warm, it results in a higher value than when
the tires are 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 pressure for
cold tires on the tire pressure table in the fuel
filler flap. Driving with tire pressure that is too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tires
R cause increased tire damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics and thus the driving safety (e.g.
hydroplaning) Underinflated or overinflated tires
Underinflated tires: G
WARNING
Tires with pressure that is too low can over-
heat and burst as a consequence. In addi-
tion, they also suffer from excessive and/or
irregular wear, which can severely impair the
braking properties and the driving character-
istics. 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:
R fail from being overheated
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R have an adverse effect on fuel consumption
Overinflated tires G
WARNING
Tires with excessively high pressure can
burst because they are damaged more eas-
ily 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:
R increase the braking distance
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R adversely affect ride comfort
R be more susceptible to damage284
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
For further information on displaying the cur-
rent tire pressures, refer to "Checking the tire
pressure electronically"
(Y page 287).
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Risk of accident due to incorrect tire
pressure
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommen-
ded by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehi-
cle placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If
your vehicle has tires of a different size than
the size indicated on the vehicle placard or
the tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure
for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitor-
ing system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-
inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's han-
dling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substi-
tute for proper tire maintenance, and it is
the driver's responsibility to maintain cor-
rect tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination
of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when 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 telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent
vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illumina-
ted, the system may not be able to detect or
signal low tire pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety of rea-
sons, including the installation of replace-
ment or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from func-
tioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or wheels
on your vehicle to ensure that the replace-
ment or alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function properly.
It is the driver's responsibility to set the tire
pressure to the recommended cold tire pres-
sure suitable for the operating conditions
(Y page
282).
Note that the correct tire pressure for the cur-
rent operating conditions must first be pro-
gramed into the tire pressure monitor. If a sub-
stantial pressure loss occurs, the warning
threshold for the warning message is aligned
to the taught-in reference values. Restart the
tire pressure monitor after adjusting the cold
tire pressure ( Y page 288). The current pres-
sures are saved as new reference values. This
will ensure that a warning message will only
appear if the tire pressure drops significantly.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you if
a tire pressure is incorrect. Observe the notes
on the recommended tire pressure
(Y page 282).
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. following
penetration by a foreign object. In this event,
brake the vehicle until it comes to a standstill.
Avoid sudden steering movements.
The tire pressure monitor has a yellow h
warning lamp in the instrument cluster for indi-
cating pressure loss/malfunctions (USA) or
pressure loss (Canada). Depending on how the
warning lamp flashes or lights up, an underin-
flated tire or a malfunction in the tire pressure
monitor is displayed:
R if the h warning lamp is lit continuously,
the tire pressure on one or more tires is sig- 286
Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
Tire pressure tables
Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 6614 lbs (3.0 t)!
The pressure difference between tires on any one axle must be no greater than
10 kPa
(0.1 bar/1.5 psi).
The following tire pressure values apply to vehicles with: R a permissible gross weight of 6614 lbs (3.0 t)
R a gross axle weight rating of 3307 lbs(1500 kg) on the rear axle and
R the tires referred to under "Wheel/tire combinations" (Y page 302)
Always observe the notes under "Information on tire pressures" (Y page 282).
Tire pressure for the spare wheel is 350 kPa (3.5 bar/51 psi).
Partially laden vehicle Fully laden vehicle
Tire size Front axle Rear axle Front axle Rear axle
225/55 R 17 XL 280 kPa
(2.8 bar/ 41 psi) 270 kPa
(2.7 bar/ 39 psi) 310 kPa
(3.1 bar/ 45 psi) 310 kPa
(3.1 bar/ 45 psi) Loading the vehicle
Instruction labels for tires and loads
G
WARNING
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 acci-
dent.
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. Example: Tire and Loading Information placard on
the B-pillar, driver's side
Two instruction labels on your vehicle show
the maximum possible load.
(1) 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 occu-
pants 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 on the B-pillar on the driver's side. The vehicle
identification plate informs you of the per-
missible gross weight. It is made up of the
vehicle weight, all vehicle occupants, the Loading the vehicle
289
Wheels and tires Z
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. You can
find the maximum gross axle weight rating on
the
B-pillar on the driver's side ( Y page 304).
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 must never
exceed the permissible gross weight (GVWR)
specified on the B-pillar on the driver's side
(Y page 304).
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 permissible gross weight is
specified on the vehicle identification plate on
the B-pillar on the driver's side (Y page 304).
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
is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the equivalent
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 equipment 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 ratioRelationship 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 surface.
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)296
What you should know about wheels and tires
Wheels and tires
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation.
You may mount a spare wheel against the
direction of rotation. Observe the time restric-
tion 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 X
Stop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic and on a level, firm and non-slip
surface.
X If your vehicle poses a risk to approaching
traffic, switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Turn the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
X Shift the transmission to position j.
X Switch off the engine.
X Passengers should leave the vehicle. Make
sure that the passengers are not endan-
gered as they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while the wheel is being changed. Any-
one who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Place the warning triangle or warning lamp
at a suitable distance.
Observe the legal requirements on the cor-
rect use of the warning triangle or warning
lamp for the country in which you are cur-
rently driving
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
Observe the safety notes on parking under
"Driving and parking"
(Y page 138)
X On 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. X
On slight inclines: place chocks or other
suitable objects under the wheels on the
front and rear axles opposite the wheel to
be changed.
X If included in the vehicle equipment, take
the tire-changing tool kit out of the vehicle
tool kit (Y page
270).
Apart from some country-specific variants,
vehicles are not equipped with tire-changing
tools. Some tools for changing a wheel are
specific to the vehicle. Consult a qualified
specialist workshop for more information on
which tools are required to perform a wheel
change on your vehicle.
X If included in the vehicle equipment, remove
the spare wheel from the spare wheel
bracket
(Y page 303). Observe the safety
notes listed under "Spare wheel"
(Y page 302).
X Carefully remove the hub caps. X
Using lug wrench :, loosen the wheel bolts
on the wheel to be changed counter-clock-
wise by about one full turn. Do not remove
the wheel bolts.
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
jacking point of the vehicle. The base of the
jack must be positioned vertically, directly
under the jacking point of the vehicle. 298
Changing wheels
Wheels and tires
X
Turn the jack back to its out-of-use position.
X Stow the jack and the rest of the tire-
change tool kit in the vehicle again.
X Wheel with hub cap: position the opening
for the tire valve in the hub cap over the tire
valve.
X Push the edge of the hub cap with both
hands against the wheel until it clicks into
place. Make sure the hub cap retaining
catches engage on the steel wheel.
X If included in the vehicle equipment, secure
the faulty wheel in the spare wheel bracket
(Y page
303). Otherwise, transport the
faulty wheel in the cargo compartment.
X Check the tire pressure of the newly moun-
ted wheel and adjust it if necessary.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
( Y page
282).
Vehicles with the tire pressure monitor sys-
tem: all mounted wheels must be equipped
with functioning sensors.
X Retighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts to
the specified tightening torque after the
vehicle has been driven for
30 miles
(50 km).
When using a wheel/spare wheel with a new
or newly painted wheel rim, have the wheel
bolts/nuts retightened again after approx-
imately
600 to 3,000 miles (1,000 to
5,000 km). Observe the specified tightening
torque. Wheel and tire combinations
General notes
! Retreaded tires are neither tested nor rec-
ommended by Mercedes-Benz, since previ-
ous damage cannot always be detected on
retreaded tires. As a result, Mercedes-Benz
cannot guarantee vehicle safety if retreaded
tires are mounted. Do not mount used tires
if you have no information about their previ-
ous usage.
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use tires, wheels and accessories which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your vehicle.
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the driving safety systems, such as
ABS or ESP
®
.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz. Certain
characteristics, e.g. handling, vehicle noise
emissions or fuel consumption, may other-
wise be adversely affected. In addition,
when driving with a load, tire dimension var-
iations could cause the tires to come into
contact with the bodywork and axle compo-
nents. This could result in damage to the
tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for dam-
age resulting from the use of tires, wheels
or accessories other than those tested and
approved.
Further information on wheels, tires and
approved combinations can be obtained
from a qualified specialist workshop.
! Large wheels: the lower the section width
for a certain wheel size, the lower the ride
comfort is on poor road surfaces. Roll com-
fort and suspension comfort are reduced
and the risk of damage to the wheels and
tires as a result of driving over obstacles
increases.
You will find a table with the recommended
tire pressures for various vehicle loads on the
inside of your vehicle's fuel filler flap or under
"Tire pressure tables"
(Y page 289). You can
find further information under "Tire pressure"
( Y page 282).
Check tire pressures regularly and only when
the tires are cold.
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)
i Not all wheel/tire combinations can be
installed at the factory in all countries. Wheel and tire combinations
301
Wheels and tires Z
Tires
R 17 Tires Steel wheels
225/55 R17 RF (XL) 101V 6.5 J x 17 H2 ET 50
225/55 R17 RF (XL) 101H 6.5 J x 17 H2 ET 50
R 17
Tires Alloy wheels
225/55 R17 RF (XL) 101V 7 J x 17 H2 ET 51
225/55 R17 RF (XL) 101H 7 J x 17 H2 ET 51
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 charac-
teristics may be severely affected. There is a
risk of an accident.
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 permissible
speed of
50 mph (80 km/h). General notes
The procedure for mounting the spare wheel is
described in "Mounting a wheel"
(Y page 298).
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 282)
R the fastenings of the spare wheel bracket
The spare wheel is located either in the left
rear compartment or in a spare wheel bracket
under the vehicle.
Replace the tires after six years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
spare wheel.
Vehicles with tire pressure monitor: the
spare wheel is not equipped with a sensor for
monitoring tire pressure. If you have installed
a spare wheel, the tire pressure monitor will
not function for this wheel. The system may
continue to show the tire pressure of the
wheel that has been removed for a few
minutes. The value displayed for the position
where the spare wheel is installed is not the
same as the current tire pressure of the spare
wheel.
When you are driving with the spare wheel
mounted, the tire pressure monitor cannot
function reliably. Only restart the tire pressure
monitor when the defective wheel has been
replaced with a new wheel and sensor.
More Information can be found under "Tire
pressure monitor" (Y page 285). 302
Spare wheel
Wheels and tires