MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2014 Owners Manual

the available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4.
X Step 6 (if applicable): If your vehicle will
be towing a trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your vehicle. This
reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle
(Y page 266). Loading the vehicle
239Wheels and tires Z

Example: steps 1 to 3
The following table shows examples on how to calculate total and cargo load capacities with
varying seating configurations and number and size of occupants. The following examples use
a maximum load of 1500 lbs (680 kg). This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you
are using the actual load limit for your vehicle stated on your vehicle's Tire and Loading
Information placard (Y page 237).
The higher the weight of all the occupants, the smaller the maximum load for luggage.
Additional information when towing a trailer ( Ypage 266).
Step 1 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Combined maximum
weight of occupants and
cargo (data from the Tire
and Loading Information
placard)
1500 lbs (680 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
Step 2
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Number of
people in the
vehicle (driver
and
occupants)
5 3 1
Distribution of
the occupants
Front: 2
Rear: 3 Front: 1
Rear: 2 Front: 1
Weight of the
occupants
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
(68 kg)
Occupant 2: 180 lbs
(82 kg)
Occupant 3: 160 lbs
(73 kg)
Occupant 4: 140 lbs
(63 kg)
Occupant 5: 120 lbs
(54 kg) Occupant 1: 200 lbs
(91 kg)
Occupant 2: 190 lbs
(86 kg)
Occupant 3: 150 lbs
(68 kg) Occupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Gross weight
of all
occupants
750 lbs (340 kg) 540 lbs (245 kg) 150 lbs (68 kg)240
Loading the vehicleWheels and tires

Step 3
Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Permissible load
(maximum gross
vehicle weight
rating from the Tire
and Loading
Information
placard minus the
gross weight of all
occupants)
1500 lbs (680 kg)
Ò750 lbs (340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
Ò540 lbs (245 kg) =
960 lbs (435 kg) 1500 lbs (680 kg)
Ò150 lbs (68 kg) =
1350 lbs (612 kg)
Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total load
carefully, you should still make sure that the
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 237).
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. Trailer load/noseweight
The trailer load/noseweight affects the gross
weight of the vehicle. If a trailer is attached,
the trailer load/noseweight is included in the
load along with occupants and luggage. The
trailer load/noseweight is usually approximately 10% of the gross weight of the
trailer and its load.
Only use a trailer tow hitch that has been
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
Comply with the manufacturer's operating
instructions for operation, care and
maintenance.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards
Overview of Tire Quality Grading
Standards
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards are
U.S. government specifications. Their
purpose is to provide drivers with uniform
reliable information on tire performance data.
Tire manufacturers have to grade tires using
three performance factors:
:tread wear
grade, ;traction grade and =temperature
grade. These regulations do not apply to Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
241Wheels and tires Z

Canada. Nevertheless, 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.
Example:
R Treadwear grade: 200
R Traction grade: AA
R Temperature grade: A
All passenger car tires must conform to the
statutory safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and may deviate from the values in
the illustration. Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
U.S. government course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half
times as well on the government test track as
a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires 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 a wet surface as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on dry road
surfaces.
You should pay special attention to road
conditions when temperatures are around
freezing point.
Mercedes-Benz recommends a minimum
tread depth of ãin(4 mm) on all four winter
tires. Observe the legally required minimum
tire tread depth (Y page 229). 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 information on winter tires (M+S
tires) can be found in the Digital Operator's
Manual. Temperature
G
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire 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. These represent the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire 242
Uniform Tire Quality Grading StandardsWheels and tires

to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level
of performance which all passenger car tires
must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Tire labeling
Overview of tire labeling
:
Uniform tire Quality Grading Standard
(Y page 247)
; DOT tire Identification Number
(Ypage 246)
= Maximum tire load (Y page 246)
? Maximum tire pressures (Y page 233)
A Manufacturer
B Tire material (Y page 246)
C Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity and speed rating (Y page 243)
D Load identification (Y page 245)
E Tire name
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
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 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
; Height-width ratio in percentage
= Tire code
? Rim diameter
A Load bearing index
B Speed rating
General: depending on the manufacturer's
standards, a letter is imprinted into the tire
wall before the size description.
If there is no letter preceding the size
description (as shown above): these are
passenger vehicle tires according to
European manufacturing standards.
If "P" precedes the size description:
passenger vehicle tires according to U.S.
manufacturing standards. Tire labeling
243Wheels and tires Z

If "P" precedes the size description: 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 width:shows the nominal
tire width in millimeters.
Height-width ratio: height-width ratio;is
the ratio between tire height and tire width.
The aspect ratio is calculated by dividing the
tire width by the tire height. The resulting
quotient is given as a percentage.
Tire code: tire code=shows the tire type.
"R" represents radial tires; "D" represents
diagonal tires; "B" represents diagonal radial
tires.
Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR" in
the size description, depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR 18).
Rim diameter: rim diameter?is the
diameter of the bead seat, not the diameter
of the rim flange. The rim diameter is
specified in inches (in).
Load bearing index: Bload bearing index
A (also load index) 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-pilla ron the driver's side
(Y page 237).
Example:
Load-bearing index 91 indicates a maximum
load of 1356 lbs (615 kg) that the tires can
bear. For further information on the maximum
tire load in kilograms and pounds, see
(Y page 246).
For further information on the load bearing
index, see "Load index" (Y page 245).Speed rating:
speed ratingBspecifies the
approved maximum speed of the tire.
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
Regardless of the speed rating, always
observe the speed limits. Drive carefully and
adapt your driving style to the traffic
conditions.
i Since 2009, tires in Europe which
correspond to the noise limitations of
Directive ECE-R 117 show an >>S<<
(Sound) mark. This identification follows
the type approval number and has no
connection with the speed rating.
Summer tires 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)
ZR...Y up to 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR...(..Y) over 186 mph (300 km/h)
ZR over 149 mph (240 km/h)
R
Optionally, tires with a maximum speed of
over 149 mph (240 km/h) may have "ZR"
in the size description, depending on the
manufacturer (e.g. 245/40 ZR18).
The service specification is made up of
load-bearing index Aand speed rating
B.
R If the size description of your tire includes
"ZR" and there are no service 244
Tire labelingWheels and tires

specifications, ask the tire manufacturer in
order to find out the maximum speed.
If a service specification is available, the
maximum speed is limited according to the
speed rating in the service specification.
Example: 245/40 ZR 18 97
Y.In this
example, "97 Y" is the service specification.
The letter "Y" represents the speed rating
and the maximum speed of the tire is
limited to 186 mph(300 km/h).
R The size description for 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). The 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.
All-weather tires and winter tires Index Speed rating
Q M+S
4 up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S
4 up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S
4 up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V M+S
4 up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
i
Not all tires with the M+S marking provide
the driving characteristics of winter tires.
In addition to the M+S marking, winter tires
also have the isnowflake symbol on
the tire wall. Tires with this marking fulfill
the requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC).
These tires have been developed
specifically for driving on snow.
When the electronic speed limiter is set, your
vehicle is prevented from exceeding 130 mph
(210 km/h). 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 255).
Further information about reading tire data
can be obtained from any qualified specialist
workshop. Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, load
rating
:may be imprinted after the letters
that identify speed rating Bon the sidewall
of the tire (Y page 243).
R If no specification is given: no text (as in the
example above), represents a standard
load (SL) tire
R XL or Extra Load: represents a reinforced
tire
R Light Load: represents a light load tire
R C, D, E: represents a load range that
depends on the maximum load that the tire
can carry at a certain pressure
i Tire data is vehicle-specific and may
deviate from the data in the example.
4 Or M+Si for winter tires. Tire labeling
245Wheels and tires Z

Maximum load rating
Maximum tire load
:is the maximum
permissible weight for which the tire is
approved.
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 237).
i The actual values for tires are vehicle-
specific and may deviate from the values in
the illustration. DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
U.S. tire regulations prescribe that every
manufacturer of new tires or retreader has to
imprint a TIN in or on the sidewall of each tire
produced. The TIN is a unique identification number. The
TIN enables tire manufacturers to inform
purchasers of recalls and 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
;, tire size=, tire type
code ?and manufacturing date A.
DOT (Department of Transportation): tire
symbol :indicates that the tire complies
with the requirements of the U.S. Department
of Transportation.
Manufacturer identification code:
manufacturer identification code ;provides
details on the tire manufacturer. New tires
have a code with two symbols. Retreaded
tires have a code with four symbols.
For further information about retreaded tires,
see (Y page 228).
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
deviate from the data in the example. Tire characteristics246
Tire labelingWheels and tires

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
deviate from the data in the example. Definition of terms for tires and
loading
Tire ply composition and material used Describes the number of layers or the number
of rubber-coated belts in the tread and the
sidewall of the tire. These are made of steel,
nylon, polyester 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
Transportation.
Normal occupant weight The 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 regards to tread quality, tire traction
and temperature characteristics. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using U.S.
government testing procedures. The ratings
are molded into the sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure The recommended tire pressure applies to
the tires mounted at the factory. The Tire and Loading Information placard
contains the recommended tire pressures for
cold tires on a fully loaded vehicle and for the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the
recommended pressures for cold tires for
various operating conditions, i.e. differing
load and speed conditions.
Increased vehicle weight due to
optional equipment
This is 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.
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.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
The GTW is the weight of a trailer including
the weight of the load, luggage, accessories
etc. on the trailer.
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 drawbar noseweight, if
applicable. The gross vehicle weight must not Tire labeling
247Wheels and tires Z

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 a fully 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.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight 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
corresponds to 1 psi. Another unit for tire
pressure is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the
equivalent of 1 bar.
Load index In addition to the load-bearing index, the load
index may also be imprinted on the sidewall
of the tire. This specifies the load-bearing
capacity more precisely.
Curb weight The weight of a vehicle with standard
equipment including the maximum capacity
of fuel, oil and coolant. It also includes the air-
conditioning system and optional equipment
if these are installed in the vehicle, but does
not include passengers or luggage. Maximum load rating The maximum tire load is the maximum
permissible weight in kilograms or lbs 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)
A standard unit of measure for tire pressure.
Aspect ratio Relationship between tire height and tire
width in percent.
Tire pressure
This is pressure inside the tire applying an
outward force to each 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 tire pressure 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 not been driven further
than 1 mile (1.6 km)
Tread The part of the tire that comes into contact
with the road.248
Tire labelingWheels and tires