wheel bolts MERCEDES-BENZ C300 4MATIC 2008 W204 Owner's Manual

331 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tires and wheels
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information on tested and
recommended rims and tires for summer
and winter operation. They can also offer
advice concerning tire service and
purchase.Important guidelines

Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.

Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.

Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.

Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss and
damage to the tire beads.

If vehicle is heavily loaded, check tire
inflation pressure and correct as
required.

Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths of less than
1/8in (3 mm).

When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first (on vehicles with
same-sized wheels all around).
Warning!G
Replace rims or tires with the same designa-
tion, manufacturer and type as shown on the
original part. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center for further informa-
tion. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted:

The wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged.

The operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct.
Warning!G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or recom-
mended by Mercedes-Benz, since previous
damage cannot always be recognized on re-
treads. The operating safety of the vehicle
cannot be assured when such tires are used.

359 Operation
Tires and wheels
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The
ratings are molded into the sidewall of the
tire.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two.
Rotating tiresTire rotation can be performed on vehicles
with tires of the same dimension all
around. If your vehicle is equipped with
tires of the same dimension all around,
tires can be rotated, observing a
front-to-rear rotation pattern that will
maintain the intended rotation (spinning)
direction of the tire (
page 334).
In some cases, such as when your vehicle
is equipped with mixed-size tires (different
tire dimension front vs. rear), tire rotation
is not possible.
If applicable to your vehicle’s tire configu-
ration, tires can be rotated according to
the tire manufacturer’s recommended in-
tervals in the tire manufacturer’s warranty
pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should
be rotated every 3 000 to 6 000 miles
(5 000 to 10 000 km), or sooner if neces-
sary, according to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained (
page 334). Rotate tires before the characteristic tire
wear pattern becomes visible (shoulder
wear on front tires and tread center wear
on rear tires).
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side
of the wheels/tires, during each rotation.
Check for and ensure proper tire inflation
pressure.
For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 440).
Warning!G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires
are of the same dimension.
If your vehicle is equipped with mixed-size
tires (different tire dimensions front vs.
rear), tire rotation is not possible.
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts specified for your vehicle’s rims.

443 Practical hints
Flat tire
Jacking up
Take the wheel wrench out of the
vehicle tool kit tray.
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with wheel
wrench).The jack take-up brackets are located
directly behind the front wheel housings
and in front of the rear wheel housings as
indicated by the arrows.
1Take-up bracket
2Jack
3Crank
Place jack2 on firm ground.
Position jack2 under take-up
bracket1 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an
incline.
Warning!G
The jack is designed exclusively for
jacking up the vehicle at the jack take-up
brackets. Make sure the jack arm is fully
seated in the jack take-up bracket.
If you do not position the jack correctly in
the jack take-up bracket, the vehicle can:

fall off the jack

seriously or fatally injure you or others
!Do not position the jack on the body of the
vehicle, as this may cause damage to the
vehicle.


444 Practical hints
Flat tire
Turn crank3 clockwise until jack 2
is fully seated in take-up bracket1
and the jack base evenly meets the
ground.
Continue to turn crank 3 until the
wheel is a maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm)
from the ground.Removing the wheel
Unscrew and remove the wheel bolts.
Remove the wheel.
Mounting the Minispare wheel
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and
wheel hub.
!Do not place wheel bolts in sand or dirt. This
could result in damage to the bolt and wheel hub
threads.
!To avoid paint damage, place wheel flat
against hub and hold it there while installing first
wheel bolt.
Warning!G
Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Damaged wheel hub threads should be
repaired immediately. Do not continue to
drive under these circumstances! Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call
Roadside Assistance.
Incorrect wheel bolts or improperly tight-
ened wheel bolts can cause the wheel to
come off. This could cause an accident.
Make sure you are using the correct wheel
bolts.
Warning!G
Only use genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel
bolts. Other wheel bolts may come loose.
Do not tighten the wheel bolts when the
vehicle is raised. Otherwise the vehicle
could fall off the jack.


445 Practical hints
Flat tire
Guide the Minispare wheel onto the
wheel hub and push it on.
Insert wheel bolts and tighten them
slightly.
Lowering the vehicle
Lower vehicle by turning crank
counterclockwise until vehicle is
resting fully on its own weight.
Remove the jack.1 - 5 Wheel bolts
6 Wheel wrench
Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly,
following the diagonal sequence
illustrated (1 to 5), until all bolts are
tight. Observe a tightening torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Before storing the jack, it should be fully
collapsed, with handle folded in (storage
position).
Store the jack and the other vehicle
tools in the designated storage space
underneath the trunk floor
(
page 420).
Warning!G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
iVehicles with TPMS (USA only):
Do not activate the tire inflation pressure
monitor (
page 344) until a full size wheel/tire
with functioning sensor has been placed back
into service on the vehicle.

504 Index
services 302
System self-check 296
Telephone* 28, 152
“911” emergency call
(Audio system) 231
Answering/ending a call 163
Hands-free microphone 31
Operation 160
Operation (Audio system) 222
Phone book 162
Redialing 163
Redialing (Instrument cluster control
system) 163
Switching on/off (Audio system) 226
Temperature
Display mode 158
Interior temperature 253
Outside temperature indicator 27
Tires 340
Tightening torque, Wheel bolts 445
Tilt/sliding sunroof see Power tilt/sliding
sunroof
Time 170
TIN 358
Tire and Loading Information
Placard 335Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure
Air pressure 339, 356
Checking tire pressure electronically,
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 344
Tires 331
And Rims 467
And Wheels 331
Care and maintenance 332
Chains 361
Cleaning 333
Cold tire inflation pressure 356
Direction of rotation 334
Driving instructions 315
Important notes on tire inflation
pressure 340
Inflation pressure 339
Information placard 335
Inspection 332
Load rating 349, 358
Load rating, Maximum 353, 357
Low tire pressure telltale 383
Minispare wheel 422, 471
Ply composition and material
used 358Problems under-/overinflation 339
Retreads 331
Rotating 359
Run Flat Indicator*
(Canada only) 342
Service life 332
Sizes 467
Snow 360
Speed rating 316, 350, 358
Storing 333
Temperature 340, 355
Terminology 356
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)*, (USA only) 344
Total load limit 358
TPMS* (USA only) malfunction
telltale 383
Traction 316, 358
Tread depth 333
Tread depth, Winter 360
Treadwear indicators 358
Vehicle maximum load on 359
Wear pattern 359
Winter 360