2020 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS winter tires

Driving on flooded roads
!
Do not drive through flooded areas. Check
the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water could enter the
vehicle interior or engine compartment. It
can then damage the engine's or automatic
transmission's electronic components. It
can also be sucked in by the engine's air
intake connection and cause engine dam-
age.
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in mind
that: R the water level of standing water should not
be above the lower edge of the front
bumper
R you must not drive faster than walking
speed Driving in winter
G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface
in an attempt to increase the engine's brak-
ing effect, the drive wheels could lose their
grip. There is an increased danger of skid-
ding and accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
! An accumulation of snow and ice, particu-
larly when frozen, caught in the area around
the air intake slots, moving parts, the axles
and the wheel arches may:
R restrict air intake
R damage vehicle parts
R cause malfunctions by restricting the
mobility intended by the design (e.g.
reduced possible steering input).
Regularly check the vehicle and remove
snow or ice when traveling in wintry condi-
tions.
If there is any damage, inform a qualified
specialist workshop.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission may
only briefly coast in neutral position N.
Extended coasting of the wheels, e.g. when
towing, results in transmission damage. Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and brak-
ing maneuvers. Do not use cruise control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position i.
X Try to maintain control of the vehicle using
corrective steering.
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing
point do not guarantee that the road surface is
free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially
in wooded areas or on bridges. If you do not
adjust your driving style, the vehicle may start
to skid. Always adapt your driving style and
drive at a speed to suit the prevailing weather
conditions.
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around freezing
point.
You can find further information under:
R "M+S tires" ( Y page
280)
R "Snow chains" (Y page 281)
R "Driving with summer tires" (Y page 280)
Also observe the notes under "Winter opera-
tion" (Y page 280). Driving off-road
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. 144
Driving tips
Driving and parking

X
Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet grilles.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agents dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
Power washers G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior dam-
age to the tires or chassis components.
Components damaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. 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.
! Under no circumstances use power wash-
ers in the vehicle interior. The pressurized
water and associated spray produced by the
power washer could cause extensive dam-
age to the vehicle.
! When using high-pressure cleaning equip-
ment, maintain a minimum distance of
approx. 1 ft (30 cm
) between the spray noz-
zle and the vehicle parts. Do not use a
power washer with a round-jet nozzle. You
could damage the vehicle or engine parts.
! Keep the water jet moving constantly
while cleaning. This will avoid causing dam-
age to the vehicle.
Do not point the water jet at:
R door joints
R rear view camera
R air bellows
R brake hoses
R wheel balance weights
R electrical components
R electrical connections R
seals
R drive train, especially not at the inter-
mediate bearing of the propeller shaft
Cleaning the engine !
Water must not enter intake or ventilation
openings. When cleaning with high pressure
water or steam cleaners, the spray must not
be aimed directly at electrical components
or the terminals of electrical lines.
Preserve the engine after the engine has
been cleaned. Protect the belt drive system
from exposure to the preservative agent.
Also observe the information under "Power
washers"

(Y page 265).
Cleaning the paintwork !
Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
X Remove impurities immediately, where pos-
sible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
X Soak insect remains with insect remover
and rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
X Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid.
X Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X Use silicone remover to remove wax.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
You could become trapped by the wind-
shield wipers if they start moving while
cleaning the windshield or wiper blades.
There is a risk of injury. Care
265
Maintenance and care
Z

R
Break in new tires at moderate speeds for
the first
65 miles (100 km).
R Do not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
R Replace the tires after six years at the lat-
est, regardless of wear. This also applies to
the spare wheel. Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Only use wheels with tire sizes approved for
Mercedes-Benz.
Prior to the onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are stowed in the vehicle
(Y page

281). Snow chains cannot be moun-
ted on all wheel/tire combinations. Observe
the restrictions on the use of snow chains
under "Wheel/tire combinations"
(Y page 302).
Also observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section ( Y page 297).Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡
(+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehi-
cle to M+S tires. Using summer tires at very
cold temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently.
Mercedes-Benz cannot accept responsibility
for this type of damage. M+S tires
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 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. G
WARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in
(4 mm) are not suitable for use in win-
ter and do not provide sufficient traction.
There is a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ã
in (4 mm) must be replaced immediately.
Use winter tires or all-season tires at tempera-
tures below 45 ‡ (+7 †). Both types of tire
are identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires bearing the i snowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road condi-
tions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety sys-
tems such as ABS and ESP ®
to function opti-
mally in winter. These tires have been devel-
oped specifically for driving in snow.
For safe driving, use M+S tires of the same
make and tread pattern on all wheels.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
If you mount M+S tires that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than the maximum
design speed of the vehicle, affix a corre-
sponding warning label in the driver's field of
vision. You can obtain this at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
X Check the tire pressure (Y page
282).
X Restart the tire pressure monitor
(Y page

288).280
Operation in winter
Wheels and tires

Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never install snow chains to the front
wheels
R always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels. G
WARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains moun-
ted, they may snap. As a result, you could
injure others and damage the vehicle. There
is a risk of an accident.
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:
R wheel
R wheel housing
R wheel 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 win-
try conditions.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains or trac-
tion aids which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The snow chains or traction aids must be of class U or meet the
SAE type U

specification.
Information about snow chains can be
obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Commercial
Van Center.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
R Snow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting
the snow chains, note the permissible tire
and snow chain dimensions. Observe the
restrictions on the use of snow chains under
"Wheel/tire combinations" (Y page 302).
R Mount snow chains only in pairs and only to
the rear wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.
R Only 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.
R The use of snow chains may be restricted by
local regulations. Observe the appropriate
regulations before mounting snow chains.
R When driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Check the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km)
and tighten the chains if required.
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when pulling
away with snow chains installed ( Y page 69).
This allows the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving force
(cutting action). Operation in winter
281
Wheels and tires Z

The markings described above are on the tire
in addition to the tire name (sales designation)
and the manufacturer's name.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate from the data in the example.
Tire size designation, load bearing
index and speed index G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed
could lead to tire damage or the tire burst-
ing. There is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe
the tire load rating and speed rating
required for your vehicle. :
Tire width
; Nominal aspect ration in %
= Tire code
? Rim diameter
A Load bearing index
B Speed index
Tire width: tire width : shows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Aspect ratio: aspect ratio ; is the size ratio
between the tire height and tire width and is
shown in percent. The aspect ratio is calcula-
ted by dividing the tire width by the tire height.
Tire code: tire code = specifies the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires. "D" represents
diagonal tires, "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Rim diameter: rim diameter ? is the diame-
ter of the bead seat, not the diameter of the rim flange. The rim diameter is specified in
inches (in).
Load-bearing index: load-bearing index
A is
a numerical code that specifies the maximum
load-bearing capacity of a tire.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit. The maximum permissible
load can be found on the vehicle's Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar
on
the driver's side (Y page 289).
Example:
The load-bearing index 101 indicates a maxi-
mum load of 1819 lb (825 kg) for the tire. If
two load-bearing indices are specified, the first
number specifies the load-bearing capacity for
single tires, the second the load-bearing capa-
city for twin tires. For further information on
the maximum tire load in kilograms and
pounds, see (Y page 294). For further information on the load-bearing
index, see "Load index" (Y page 294).
Speed rating: speed rating B specifies 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
Q up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
R up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
S up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
W up to 168 mph (270 km/h)
Y up to 186 mph (300 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 i snowflake
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) regard- What you should know about wheels and tires
293
Wheels and tires Z

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