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DOT (Department of Transportation):
tire
symbol : indicates that the tire complies
with the requirements of the U.S. Department
of Transportation.
Manufacturer identification code: manufac-
turer identification code ; provides details on
the tire manufacturer. New tires have a code
with two symbols. Retreaded tires have a code
with four symbols.
Further information about retreaded tires
(Y page
278).
Tire size: identifier = describes the tire size.
Tire type code: tire type code ? can be used
by the manufacturer as a code to describe
specific characteristics of the tire.
Date of manufacture: date of manufacture
A provides information about the age of a
tire. The first and second positions represent
the week of manufacture, starting with "01"
for the first calendar week. Positions three and
four represent the year of manufacture. For
example, a tire that is marked with "3208" was
manufactured in week 32 in 2008.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate 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 ;.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may devi-
ate 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, poly-
ester, 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 Transporta-
tion.
Average weight of vehicle occupantsThe 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 govern-
ment. 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 1
contains
the recommended tire pressures for cold tires,
the maximum permissible load and the maxi-
mum permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recom-
mended tire pressure for cold tires under vari-
ous 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.
1 Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than
10,000 lbs (4536 kg).What you should know about wheels and tires
295
Wheels and tires Z
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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
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Tire tread
The part of the tire that 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 com-
ing loose from the wheel rim.
SidewallThe 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
(5 lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, a roof rack or a high-performance bat-
tery, 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 iden-
tify 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.
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 of á in (1.6 mm)
has been reached. Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over des-
ignated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload weightNominal load and goods/luggage load plus
68 kg (150 lbs) multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle. Changing wheels
Rotating the wheels
! 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 under "Mounting a wheel"
(Y page
298).
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 tires according to the intervals
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. Avoid oily or greasy cleaning
agents.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire
pressure monitor if necessary. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation have
additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of
hydroplaning. You will only gain these benefits
if the correct direction of rotation is observed. Changing wheels
297
Wheels and tires Z
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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
Page 301 of 320

G
WARNING
On uphill and downhill slopes, the jack could
tip over with the vehicle raised. There is a
risk of injury.
Do not change wheels on uphill or downhill
gradients. Notify a qualified specialist work-
shop.
! Only position the jack on the jacking
points intended for this purpose. You could
otherwise damage the vehicle.
Observe the following when raising the vehi-
cle:
R To raise the vehicle, only use the vehicle-
specific jack that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. If the jack is
used incorrectly, it could tip over while the
vehicle is raised.
R The vehicle's jack is intended only to raise
the vehicle for a short time when changing a
wheel. It is not suited for performing mainte-
nance work under the vehicle.
R Avoid changing the wheel on uphill and
downhill slopes.
R Before raising the vehicle, secure it from
rolling away by applying the parking brake
and inserting wheel chocks. Never disen-
gage the parking brake while the vehicle is
raised.
R The jack must be placed on a firm, flat and
non-slip surface. On a loose surface, a large,
load-bearing underlay must be used. On a
slippery surface, a non-slip underlay must
be used, e.g. rubber mats.
R Make sure that the distance between the
underside of the tires and the ground does
not exceed
1.2 in(3 cm).
R Never place your hands or feet under the
raised vehicle.
R Never lie under the raised vehicle.
R Never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised.
R Never open or close a door or the tailgate/
door when the vehicle is raised.
R Make sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised. Jacking points : (rubber stoppers) are loca-
ted just behind the front wheel arches and just
in front of the rear wheel arches.
X Place jack ; beneath corresponding jack-
ing points :.
X Turn handwheel = until jack plate ; sits
securely on jacking point :.
X Make sure the base of jack ; is positioned
vertically beneath jacking point :.
X Assemble adapter ? and ratchet A from
the vehicle tool kit.
X Place adapter ? and ratchet A on the hex-
agon nut of jack ; so that the lettering
AB/DOWN is visible.
X Turn ratchet A in the AUF/UP direction
until the tire is a maximum of 3 cm off the
ground.
When doing so, jack ; may move to one of
the side support surfaces.
Removing a wheel !
Do not place wheel bolts in sand or on a
dirty surface. The bolt and wheel hub
threads could otherwise be damaged when
you screw them in.
X Unscrew the wheel bolts.
X Remove the wheel. Changing wheels
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Wheels and tires Z
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Mounting a new wheel
G
WARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel bolts/hub threads can cause the
wheel bolts to come loose. As a result, you
could lose a wheel while driving. There is a
risk of accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event
of damage to the threads, contact a quali-
fied specialist workshop immediately. Have
the damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving. G
WARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes on "Changing a wheel"
(Y page 297).
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the
respective wheel.
! 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. X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact sur-
faces.
X Slide the new wheel onto the wheel hub and
push it on.
X Screw in the wheel bolts and tighten them
lightly.
Lowering the vehicle G
WARNING
The wheels could come loose if the wheel
bolts or wheel nuts are not tightened to the
prescribed tightening torque. There is a risk
of an accident.
Ensure that the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
are tightened to the prescribed tightening
torque.
If you are not sure, do not move the vehicle.
Contact a qualified specialist workshop and
have the tightening torque checked immedi-
ately. :—A
Wheel bolts
X Place the adapter and the ratchet on the
hexagon head nut of the jack such that the
lettering AB/DOWN is visible.
X Turn the ratchet in the AB/DOWN direction
until the vehicle is once again standing
firmly on the ground.
X Put the jack aside.
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indicated (:
to A).
Tighten the wheel bolts to the following
tightening torques:
R Steel wheel 147 lb-ft (200 Nm)
R Alloy wheel 133 lb-ft (180 Nm)300
Changing wheels
Wheels and tires
Page 303 of 320

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
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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