MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-Class 2014 W218 Owner's Manual

Step 3
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Permissible load
(maximumg
ross
vehicle weight rating
fro mt he Tire and
Loading Information
placard minus the
gross weight of all
occupants) 1500 lb
s(68 0k g)
0022 750 lb s(34 0k g) =
750 lb s(34 0k g) 1500 lb
s(68 0k g)
0022 540 lb s(24 5k g)
=960 lb s(43 5k g) 1500 lb
s(68 0k g)
0022 150 lb s(68 kg) =
1350 lb s(61 2k g) Vehicle identificatio
nplate
Even if yo uhavec alculate dthe tota lcargo
carefully, yo ushoul dstill make sure tha tthe
gross vehicle weight rating and the gross axle
weight rating are not exceeded. Details can
be found on the vehicle identification plate on
the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle
(Y page 345).
Permissible gross vehicle weight: the
gross weight of the vehicle, all passengers,
load and trailer load/noseweight (if
applicable) must not exceed the permissible
gross vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum
permissible weight that can be carried by one
axle (front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed
the maximum permissible values (gross
vehicle weight and maximum gross axle
weight rating), have your loaded vehicle
(including driver, occupants, cargo, and full
trailer load if applicable) weighed on a
suitable vehicle weighbridge. All about wheelsa
nd tires Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards
Overview of Tire Quality Grading
Standards Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are
U.S. governments
pecifications. Their
purpose is to provide drivers with uniform
reliablei nformation on tire performance data.
Tire manufacturers have to grade tires using
three performance factors: 001Atread wear
grade, 0010traction grade and 0024temperature
grade. These regulations do not apply to
Canada.N evertheless, all tires sold in North
America are provided with the corresponding
quality grading markings on the sidewall of
the tire.
Where applicable, the tire grading
information can be found on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and maximum
tire width. All about wheels and tires
349Wheels and tires Z

Example:
R
Treadwea rgrade: 200
R Tractio ngrade: AA
R Temperature grade: A
All passenge rcar tires must conform to the
statutory safety requirements in additio nto
these grades.
i Thea ctual values for tires ar evehicle-
specifi cand ma ydeviate from the values in
the illustration.
Treadwear The treadwea
rgrade is acomparative rating
based on the wearr ate of thetirew hen tested
unde rcontrolled conditions on aspecified
U.S. government course. For example, atire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half
times as well on the government course as a
tire graded 100.
The relative performanc eoftires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm, due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate conditions.
Traction G
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
! Avoid wheelspin. This can lead to damage
to the drive train.
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on awet surface as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. Atire marked Cmay have poor
traction performance. The safe speed on
awet, sno wcovered or icy
road is always lower than on dry road
surfaces.
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezin gpoint.
Mercedes-Ben zrecommends aminimum
tread dept hof001Fin(4 mm )ona ll four winter
tires. Observe the legally required minimum
tire tread depth (Y page335). Winter tires can
reduce the braking distance on snow-covered
surfaces in comparison with summer tires.
The braking distance is still much further than
on surfaces that are not icy or covered with
snow. Take appropriate care when driving.
Further informatio nonwinter tires (M+S
tires) (Y page336).
Temperature G
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for atire that is properly inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
excessive heat build-up and possible tire
failure.
The temperature grades are A(the highest),
B, and C. Thes erepresent the tire's
resistanc etothe generatio nofheat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on aspecified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerat eand reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade Ccorresponds to alevel
of performanc ewhich all passenger car tires
must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades Band A
represent higher levels of performanc eonthe
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law. 350
All about wheelsa
nd tiresWheels and tires

Tire labeling
Overview 001A
Unifor mTire Qualit yGrading Standard
(Y page 355)
0010 DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 354)
0024 Maximum tir eload (Y page 353)
0021 Maximum tir epressure (Y page 340)
001E Manufacturer
0025 Tire material (Y page 354)
0009 Tire size designation ,load-bearing
capacity and speed index (Y page 351)
0016 Load index (Y page 353)
001D Tire name
The markings described above are on the tire
in additio ntothe tire name (sales
designation) and the manufacturer's name.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity and speed rating G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing
capacity and the approved maximum speed
could lead to tire damage or the tire bursting.
There is arisk 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. 001A
Tire width
0010 Nominal aspect ratio in %
0024 Tire code
0021 Rim diameter
001E Load bearing index
0025 Speed rating
General: depending on the manufacturer's
standards, the size imprinted in the tire wall
may not contain any letters or may contain
one letter that precedes the size description.
If there is no letter preceding the size
description (as shown above): these are
passenger vehicle tires according to
European manufacturin gstandards.
If "P" precedes the size description :these are
passenger vehicle tires according to U.S.
manufacturing standards.
If "LT" precedes the size description: these
are light truck tires according to U.S.
manufacturing standards.
If "T" precedes the size description: these are
compact emergency spare wheels at high tire
pressure, to be used only temporarily in an
emergency.
Tire width: tire width001Ashows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Aspect ratio: aspect ratio0010is the size ratio
between the tire height and tire width and is
shown in percent.T he aspect ratio is All about wheels and tires
351Wheels and tires Z

calculate
dbydividing the tire width by the tire
height.
Tire code: tire code0024specifies the tire type.
"R "r epresents radia ltires; "D" represents
diagona ltires; "B" represents diagona lradial
tires.
Optionally, tire switham aximum speed of
ove r149 mph (240 km/h )may have "ZR" in
the size description, depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).
Rim diameter: rim diameter0021is the
diameter of the bea dseat, not the diameter
of the rim flange. The rim diameter is
specified in inche s(in).
Load-bearin gind ex: load-bearing index 001E
is an umerica lcode that specifies the
maximum load-bearing capacity of atire.
Do not overload the tire sbyexceedingthe
specified load limit. The maximum
permissibl eload can be found on the
vehicle's Tir eand Loadin gInformati on
placard on th eB-pillar on th edriver's side
(Y page 345).
Example:
Load-bearin gind ex 91 indicates amaximum
load of 1356 lb (61 5kg)that th etires can
bear .For further information on th emaximum
tir el oad in kilograms and lbs, see
(Y page 353).
For further informatio nontheload bearing
index ,see "Load index "(Ypage 353).
Speed rating: speedrating 0025specifie sthe
approved maximum spee dofthetire.
i Tire dat aisvehicle-specific and may
deviate from th edataint heexample.
Regardless of th espee drating ,always
observ ethe spee dlimits. Drive carefull yand
adapt your driving style to th etraffic
conditions.
Summer tires Index Speed rating
Q up to 10
0mph (16 0km/ h) R up to 10
6mph (17 0km/ h) Index Speed rating
S up to 11
2mph (18 0km/ h) T up to 11
8mph (19 0km/ h) H up to 13
0mph (21 0km/ h) V up to 14
9mph (24 0km/ h) W up to 16
8mph (27 0km/ h) Y up to 18
6mph (30 0km/ h) ZR...Y up to 18
6mph (30 0km/ h) ZR...(..Y) ove
r186 mph (30 0km/ h) ZR ove
r149 mph (24 0km/ h) R
Optionally, tires wit hamaximum spee dof
ove r149 mph (24 0km/ h) may have "ZR"
in th esized escription ,dependin gonthe
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR18).
The servic especificatio nismade up of
load-bearing index 001Eand speed rating
0025.
R If the size description of your tire includes
"ZR"a nd there are no service
specifications, ask the tire manufacturer in
order to find out the maximum speed.
If as ervice specification is available, the
maximum speed is limited according to the
speed rating in the service specification.
Example: 245/40Z R18 97Y.In this
example, "97 Y" is the service specification.
The letter "Y" represents the speed rating.
The maximum speed of the tire is limited to
186 mph (300 km/h).
R The size descriptio nfor all tires with
maximum speeds of over 186 mph
(300 km/h) must include "ZR", andthe
service specification must be given in
parentheses. Example:
275/40 ZR 18 (99 Y). Speed rating "(Y)"
indicates that the maximum speed of the
tire is over 186 mph (300 km/h) .Ask the
tire manufacturer about the maximum
speed. 352
All about wheelsa
nd tiresWheels and tires

All-weather tires and winter tires
Index Speed rating
QM
+S1 up to 10
0mph (16 0km/ h) TM
+S1 up to 11
8mph (19 0km/ h) HM
+S1 up to 13
0mph (21 0km/ h) VM
+S1 up to 14
9mph (24 0km/ h) i
Not all tires wit hthe M+S markin gprovide
th ed riving characteristics of winte rtires.
In addition to th eM+S marking, winte rtires
also have the 0012snowflake symbol on
the tir ewall. Tires with this marking fulfill
the requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC)
regarding the tir etraction on snow. They
have been especially developed for driving
on snow.
An electronic speed limiter prevent syour
vehicle fro mexceeding the following speeds:
R allv ehicles (excep tAMG vehicles):
130 mph (210 km/h)
R AMG vehicles: 155 mph (250 km/h)
R AMG vehicles with PerformanceP ackage:
186 mph (300 km/h)
R
The speed rating of tires mounted at the
factory may be higher than the maximum
speed that the electronic speed limiter
permits.
Make sure that your tires have the required
speed rating, e.g. when buying new tires. The
required speed rating for your vehicle can be
found in the "Tires" section (Y page 362).
Further information about reading tire data
can be obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop. Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, load
index
001Amay be imprinted after the letters
that identify speed index 0025on the sidewall
of the tire (Y page 351).
R If no specification is given: no text (as in the
example above), represents astandard
load (SL )tire
R XL or Extra Load: represents areinforced
tire
R Ligh tLoad: represent salight load tire
R C, D, E: represent saload range that
depends on the maximum load that the tire
can carry at acertain pressure
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Maximu mload rating Maximum tire load
001Ais the maximum
permissible weight for which the tire is
approved.
1 Or M+S0012 for winter tires. All about wheelsa
nd tires
353Wheels and tires Z

Do not overloa
dthe tires by exceeding the
specifie dloa dlimit .The maximum
permissibl eloa dc an be found on the
vehicle' sTirea nd Loading Information
placard on the B-pillar on the driver's side
(Y page 345).
i Thea ctual values for tires ar evehicle-
specific and ma ydevia te fro mthe values in
the illustration.
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN) U.S. tire regulations prescribe that every tire
manufacturer or retreader must imprint aTIN
in or on the sidewall of every tire produced. The TIN is
auniqu eidentification number. The
TIN enables the tire manufacturers or
retreaders to inform purchasers of recall sand
other safety-relevant matters. It makes it
possible for the purchaser to easily identify
the affected tires.
The TIN is made up of manufacturer
identification code 0010,tire size 0024,tire type
code 0021and manufacturing date 001E.
DOT (Department of Transportation): tire
symbol 001Aindicates that the tire complies
with the requirements of the U.S. Department
of Transportation.
Manufacturer identification code:
manufacturer identification code 0010provides
detail sont he tire manufacturer. New tires
have acode with two symbols. Retreaded
tires have acode with four symbols.
For further information aboutr etreaded tires,
see (Y page 334). Tires
ize:identifier 0024describes the tire size.
Tiret ypec ode: tire type code 0021can be used
by the manufacturer as acode to describe
specific characteristics of the tire.
Date of manufacture: date of manufacture
001E 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, atire that is marked with
"3208", was manufactured in week 32 in
2008.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Tire characteristics This information describes the type of tire
cord and the number of layers in
sidewall
001Aand under tire tread 0010.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Definition of termsf or tires and loading Tire ply composition and material used
Describes the number of plies or the number
of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire
tread and sidewall. These are made of steel,
nylon, polyester and other materials.
Bar
Metric unit for tire pressure.
14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi) and354
All about wheelsa
nd tiresWheels and tires

100 kilopascals (kPa
)are the equivalent of
1b ar.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of
the United States Department of
Transportation.
Normal occupant weight
The numbe rofoccupants for which the
vehicl eisdesigned multiplie dby
68 kilograms (150 lb).
Uniform Tire Quality Gradin gStandards
Au niform standard to grade the quality of
tire swithr egards to trea dquali ty,tire traction
and temperatur echaracteristics. Rating sare
determine dbytire manufacturer susing U.S.
government testing procedures. The ratings
ar em olde dinto the sidewall of the tire.
Recommende dtire pressure
The recommende dtire pressure applie sto
the tire smounted at the factory.
The Tire and Loading Informatio nplacard
contain sthe recommende dtirep ressures for
cold tires on afully loaded vehicle and for the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
The tir epressure table contain sthe
recommende dpressures for cold tires for
various operating conditions, i.e. differing
load and speed conditions.
Increased vehicle weight du etooptional
equipment
This is the combined weight of all standard
and optional equipmen tavailablef or the
vehicle, regardless of whethe ritisactually
installed on the vehicle or not.
Rim
This is the part of the wheel on which the tire
is mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight
rating. The actual load on an axle must never
exceed the gross axle weight rating. The
gross axle weight rating can be found on the vehicle identification plate on the B-pillar on
the driver's side.
Speed rating
The speed rating is part of the tire
identification. It specifies the speed range for
which the tire is approved.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, the spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants,
luggage and the drawbarn
oseweight, if
applicable. The gross vehicle weight must not
exceed the gross vehicle weight rating GVWR
as specified on the vehicle identification plate
on the B-pillar on the driver's side.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The GVWR is the maximum permissible gross
weight of afully loaded vehicle (the weight of
the vehicle including all accessories,
occupants, fuel, luggage and the drawbar
noseweight, if applicable). The gross vehicle
weight rating is specified on the vehicle
identification plate on the B-pillar on the
driver's side.
Maximu mloaded vehicle weight
The maximum weight is th esum of:
R thec urbw eight of th evehicle
R thew eight of th eaccessories
R thel oad limit
R thew eight of th efactory installe doptional
equipment
Kilopascal (kPa)
Metric unit for tir epressure. 6. 9kPa
correspond sto1psi. Another unit for tire
pressure is bar. Ther eare 10 0kilopascals
(kPa) to 1bar.
Load index
In addition to th eload-bearing index ,the load
index may also be imprinted on th esidewall
of th etire. This specifie sthe load-bearing
capacity more precisely. All about wheels and tires
355Wheels and tires Z

Cur
bw eight
The weight of avehicle with standard
equipment includin gthe maximum capacity
of fuel, oil and coolant .Italso includes the air-
conditionin gsystem and optional equipment
if these are installed in the vehicle, but does
not include passengers or luggage.
Maximu mload rating
The maximum tir eload is the maximum
permissible weight in kilograms or lbs for
which atireisa pproved.
Maximu mpermissible tir epressure
Maximum permissible tir epressure for one
tire.
Maximu mload on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividin gthe maximum axle load of one axle
by two.
PSI (pounds per squar einch)
As tandar dunitofm easure for tire pressure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and tire
width in percent.
Tirep ressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an
outward forc etoeach square inch of the tire's
surface. The tire pressure is specified in
pounds per square inch (psi), in kilopascal
(kPa) or in bar. The tire pressure should only
be corrected when the tires are cold.
Cold tirep ressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked without
direct sunlight on the tires for at least three
hours and
R if the vehicle has been driven for less than
1m ile (1.6 km). Tread
The part of the tire that comes intoc
ontact
with the road.
Bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to preven tthe tire from
comin gloose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
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 kilograms (5 lbs).
These optional extras, such as high-
performance brakes, level control, aroof rack
or ah igh-performanc ebattery, are not
included in the curb weight and the weight of
the accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
This is aunique identifier which can be used
by atire manufacturer to identify tires, for
example for aproduct recall, and thus identify
the purchasers. The TIN is made up of the
manufacturer's identity code, tire size, tire
type code and the manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of atire.
Traction
Traction is the result of friction between the
tires and the road surface.
Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are
distributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread
is level with the bars, the wear limit of 0014in
(1.6 mm) has been reached. 356
All about wheels and tiresWheels and tires

Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupant
sinavehicleat
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Rated cargo and luggagel oadp lus
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the
number of seats in the vehicle. Changing
awheel Flat tire
You can find information on wha ttodointhe
event of aflat tire in the "Breakdown
assistance" section (Y page 321).
Information on driving with MOExtended tires
in the event of aflat tire can be found under
"MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
characteristics" (Y page 321).
Vehicle with emergency sparew heel:in
the event of aflat tire, the emergenc yspare
wheel is mounted as described under
"Mounting awheel" ( Ypage 358). Rotating the wheels
G
WARNING
Interchangin gthe front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions.
The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is arisk of
accident.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels
and tires are of the same dimensions.
! On vehicles equipped with atire 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 aqualified
specialist workshop. Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting
awheel" section
(Y page 358).
The wear patternsont he front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before aclear 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 wheels according to the
intervals in the tire manufacturer's warranty
book in your vehicle documents. If this is not
available, the tires should then be replaced
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if the tire wear requires
this. Do not change the direction of wheel
rotation.
Cleant he contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time awheel
is interchanged. Check the tire pressure and,
if necessary, restart the tire pressure loss
warning system or the tire pressure monitor. Direction of rotation
Tires with aspecified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is arisk
of hydroplaning. You will only gain these
benefits if the correct direction of rotation is
maintained.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation. Storing wheels
Storew heels that are not being used in acool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. Cleaningt
he wheels G
WARNING
The water jet from acircular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage Changing
awheel
357Wheels and tires
Z

to the tire
sorchassiscomponents.
Components damage dinthisw ayma yfail
unexpectedly .There is arisk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced
immediately. Mounting
awheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
leve lground.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Vehicles with AIRMATIC :make sure that
"normal" leve lisselecte d(Ypage 189).
X Switch off th eengine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
th eS martKey from th eignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver' sdoor.
The on-board electronics no whave status
0.T his is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 147).
X If included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tire-change tool kit from the
vehicle (Y page 320).
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away. Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away If your vehicle is equipped with
awheel chock,
it can be found in the tire-change tool kit
(Y page 320).
The folding wheel chock is an additional
safety measure to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away,f or example when changing a
wheel.
X Fold both plates upwards 001A.
X Fold out lower plate 0010.
X Guidet he lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate 0024. Securing the vehicle on level ground
X
On level ground: place chocksorother
suitable items under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonallyo pposite the
wheel you wish to change. 358
Changing
awheelWheels and tires