MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2016 MY16 Operator’s Manual
Page 251 of 290
RDo not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
RReplace the tires after 6 years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
spare wheel.
Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Prior to the onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are stowed in the vehicle (
Ypage 249).
Also observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section (
Ypage 266).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle
to M+S tire. Using summer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently. We
cannot accept responsibility for this type of
damage.
M+S tires
GWARNING
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 characteristics may be severely affected. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
In order to reduce risks:
Ryou should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
Rnever mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
Ronly use a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel to be replaced for a short time.
Rdo not deactivate ESP®.
Rhave 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.
GWARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ãin
(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 isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety systems
such as ABS and ESP
®to function optimally in
winter. These tires have been developed specif-
ically for driving in snow.
For safe driving, use M+S tire sof 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 that of the vehicle,
affix a corresponding warning label in the driv-
er's field of vision. You can obtain this at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 250).
XReactivate the tire pressure moni-
tor* (
Ypage 255).
Snow chains
GWARNING
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.
Operation in winter249
Wheels and tires
* optionalZ
Page 252 of 290
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
Page 253 of 290
pressure plate are examples. Tire pressure
data are vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data illustrated here. The tire pres-
sure data applicable to your vehicle can be
found on the Tire and Loading Information
placard or tire pressure plate of your vehicle.
HEnvironmental 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 can be found
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
4or
the tire pressure plate on the B-pillar on the
driver's side of your vehicle.
Further information on tire pressure can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard
Example: Tire and Loading Information placard4
The Tire and Loading Information placard is on
the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle
(
Ypage 258).
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 to the
maximum permissible speed of the vehicle.
Tire pressure plate
Tire pressure plate
The tire pressure plate is located on the B-pillar
on the driver's side of the vehicle (Ypage 258).
The tire pressure plate contains recommended
tire pressures :for cold tires. Recommended
tire pressures :apply to the maximum per-
missible load and up to the maximum permissi- ble speed of the vehicle.
Important notes on tire pressure
GWARNING
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.
RCheck the tire for foreign objects.
RCheck 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 gage 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 elec-
tronic 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 dependent
on the driving speed and the load.
Therefore, you should only correct tire pressure
when the tires are cold.
4Only for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg).
Tire pressure251
Wheels and tires
Z
Page 254 of 290
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
Page 255 of 290
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
Page 256 of 290
cle is started as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunc-
tions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the mounting of incompatible
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from func-
tioning properly. Always check the TPMS mal-
function telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that
the replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function prop-
erly.
Vehicles with a tire pressure monitor are equip-
ped with sensors in the wheels that monitor the
tire pressure of all four tires. The tire pressure
monitor monitors the pressure in all four tires;
you set this pressure when you activate the tire
pressure monitor. The tire pressure monitor
warns you when the pressure drops in one or
more of the tires. The tire pressure monitor only
functions if the corresponding sensors are
installed on all wheels.
You should always adjust the tire pressure
according to the vehicle load. Restart the tire
pressure monitor if you change the tire pres-
sure.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you if a
tire pressure is incorrect. Observe the notes on
the recommended tire pressure (
Ypage 250).
The tire pressure moni tor i
s not able to warn you
of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. following pen- etration by a foreign object. In this event, brake
the vehicle until it comes to a standstill. Do not
carry out any sudden steering maneuvers.
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:
Rif the h warning lamp is lit continuously,
the tire pressure on one or more tires is sig- nificantly too low. The tire pressure monitor is
not malfunctioning.
RUSA only: if the hwarning lamp flashes for
60 seconds and then remains lit constantly,
the tire pressure monitor is malfunctioning.
Only vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
on-board computer displays information on tire
pressure. After a few minutes of driving, the cur-
rent tire pressure of each tire is shown in the on-
board computer.
USA only: if the tire pressure monitor is mal-
functioning, it may be more than 10 minutes
before the malfunction is shown. The htire
pressure warning lamp flashes for 60 seconds
and then remains lit. When the malfunction has been rectified, the htire pressure warning
lamp goes out after a few minutes of driving.
The tire p
ressure values indicated by the on-
board computer may differ from those meas-
ured at a gas station with a pressure gage. The
tire pressures shown by the on-board computer
refer to those measured at sea level. At high
altitudes, the tire pressure values indicated by a pressure gage are higher than those shown by
the on-board computer. In this case, do not
reduce the tire pressures.
If radio transmitting equipment (e.g. wireless
headphones, two-way radios) is operated inside
the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle, this
can interfere with the operation of the tire pres-
sure monitor.
Checking the tire pressure electroni-
cally (vehicles with steering wheel but-
tons)
Tire pressure display
254Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
Page 257 of 290
Using the steering wheel buttons
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the ignition
lock.
XPress the VorU button repeatedly
until the standard display is shown
(
Ypage 167).
XPress the 9or: button repeatedly
until the current pressure of the individual
tires is shown in the display.
If the vehicle is parked for longer than
20 minutes or you then drive at less than 18 mph
(30 km/h), the Tire pres. displayed
after driving for several minutesmes-
sage appears.
iThe tire pressure value shown in the display
may differ from those measured at a gas sta-
tion using a pressure gage. The on-board
computer will generally give you a more exact
value.
Tire pressure loss warning system
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
If the tire pressure monitor detects a pressure
loss in one or more tires, the on-board computer
displays the yellow Tire
pres.Adjustpres.warning message. The htire pressure loss
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 202) flashes for about 60 seconds and
then remains lit.
The pressure of the affected tire is highlighted in
yellow in the on-board computer (
Ypage 176).
If the tire pressure monitor detects a significant
pressure loss in one or more tires, the on-board
computer displays the red Tire pres.
Warn‐ingTiredefectwarning message. Theh
tire pressure loss warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster (
Ypage 202) flashes for about 60
seconds and then remains lit. An additional
warning tone sounds.
The pressure of the affected tire is highlighted in
yellow in the on-board computer (
Ypage 176).
Restarting the tire pressure monitor
When you restart the tire pressure monitor, the
currently set tire pressure are taken as refer-
ence values for monitoring. In most cases, the tire pressure monitor detects
the new reference values automatically, e.g.
after you have:
Rchanged the tire pressure
Rchanged wheels or tires
Rinstalled new wheels or tires
However, you can also define reference values
manually as described here.
Before restarting the tire pressure monitor:
XSet the tire pressure to the value recommen- ded on the Tire and Loading Information plac-
ard or the tire pressure table on the B-pillar on
the driver's side (
Ypage 250).
Observe the notes on tire pressure when
doing so (
Ypage 250).
XMake sure that the tire pressure is correct on
all four wheels.
Restarting the tire pressure monitor (vehi-
cles without steering wheel buttons):
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the ignition
lock.
XPress the 4menu button on the instrument
cluster repeatedly until the display shows the
following message:
+CAL- TPMS
XPress the fbutton on the instrument clus-
ter.
The display shows:
OK TPMS
The tire pressure monitor activation process
has begun. The tire pressures measured for
the individual wheels are stored as the new
reference values, provided that the tire pres-
sure monitor considers them to be plausible.
If you wish to cancel the restart:
XPress the gbutton or the 4menu button on
the instrument cluster.
The activation process is canceled automati-
cally if 30 seconds elapse without input.
Restarting the tire pressure monitor (vehi-
cles with steering wheel buttons):
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XPress the VorU button on the steering
wheel until the standard display (Ypage 167)
appears in the display.
XPress the 9or: button on the steering
wheel repeatedly until the current pressure of
Tire pressure255
Wheels and tires
Z
Page 258 of 290
the individual tires is displayed or the display
shows the following message:
Tire pres. displayed after driving
for several minutes
XPress the9reset button on the instrument
cluster.
The display shows the following message:
Monitor current tire pressure?
XPress the Wbutton on the steering wheel.
The display shows the following message:
Tire pres. monitor reactivated
The tire pressure monitor activation process
has begun. The tire pressures measured for
the individual wheels are stored as the new
reference values, provided that the tire pres-
sure monitor considers them to be plausible.
If you wish to cancel the restart:
XPress the Xbutton on the steering wheel.
256Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
Page 259 of 290
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
Page 260 of 290
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